{"id":214400,"date":"2020-10-02T08:11:50","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T08:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=214400"},"modified":"2020-10-04T07:42:52","modified_gmt":"2020-10-04T07:42:52","slug":"lockdown-rules-rejected-by-middlesbrough-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=214400","title":{"rendered":"Lockdown rules REJECTED by Middlesbrough Mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paul Sims and Natasha Park \u2013 The Sun Oct 1, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Anti lockdown protesers dressed as Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock during demonstration in London on Sept 26. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

COVID lockdowns were thrown into chaos today after a mayor declared war on tough new restrictions – and vowed: “We will defy the government” despite asking for new measures just days ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston<\/strong><\/span><\/a> fought back after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the latest measures<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in a Commons address.<\/span><\/p>\n

-> Govt recommends aagainst ALL social mixing between households \u2013 inside and out.<\/strong><\/span>
\n-> Fines up to \u00a3200 for meeting inside<\/strong><\/span>
\n-> Do not attend amateur sports events<\/strong><\/span>
\n-> Avoid care homes and only make visits in \u201cexceptional circumstance\u201d<\/strong><\/span>
\n-> Only travel if essential i.e. school or work<\/strong><\/span>
\n-> Bolton pubs can reopen with table service<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A ban on different households meeting will be introduced after a spike in infections.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will be illegal to meet in settings, such as pubs and restaurants, in the Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Halton and Hartlepool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Incidence rates in Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Halton and Warrington are above 170 per 100,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today’s news means around\u00a020million people across the UK are now living under local lockdown restrictions<\/strong><\/span>.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

But Mr Preston vowed not to obey the new rules – despite calling for a household mixing ban just two DAYS earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an angry Twitter video today he fumed: “We tried to communicate with govt but they didn\u2019t listen.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They\u2019re imposing restrictions that\u2019ll kill viable jobs & damage mental health I do not accept the government\u2019s intended restrictions – they\u2019re based on ignorance.”<\/span><\/p>\n

He accused Mr Hancock of acting\u00a0with a “monstrous and frightening lack of communication and ignorance”.<\/span><\/p>\n

His words are likely to spark a rebellion and\u00a0throw\u00a0the local lockdowns into chaos, but he doesn’t actually have any legal power to reject the rules and set his own laws.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it may mean people in the area are less likely to stick by the strict new laws if they don’t believe they are necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet he said just days earlier that household mixing should be stopped – though the council’s plan was for that to be restricted to homes and not pubs and other venues.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said: \u00a0“We’ve thought long and hard about this and I’ve concluded it’s the right thing for Middlesbrough.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Our infection rate is growing at an alarming rate and covid has already caused too much damage and pain to families around our town for us to stand by.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Test and Trace data tells us infection is mainly being spread within households. It’s on that basis that we’re going to ask government to restrict socialising in homes.”<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s unclear exactly what the Mayor is unhappy with about the new restrictions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Preston today said the Government have introduced new rules based on “factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication and ignorance.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don’t accept the statement at all, I don’t accept the measures, we need to talk to Government they need to understand our local knowledge, expertise and ability to get things done and preserve jobs and wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re really disappointed. As things stand we defy the Government and do not accept these measures.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We need to get Covid under control and we need to work with people to find a way of preserving jobs and mental health.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Govt Restrictions Are Unacceptable<\/p>\n

We tried to communicate with govt but they didn\u2019t listen<\/p>\n

They\u2019re imposing restrictions that\u2019ll kill viable jobs & damage mental health<\/p>\n

I do not accept the government\u2019s intended restrictions – they\u2019re based on ignorance<\/p>\n

Updates to follow pic.twitter.com\/ZqtE1ES8gm<\/a><\/p>\n

— Andy Preston Mayor (@Tees_Issues) October 1, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n