Major row raging over plans to deal with Kirklees COVID-19 restrictions

Despite 48 hours of talks between council chiefs, political group leaders and MPs no consensus has been reached.

As a result Kirklees Council and MPs Barry Sheerman, Tracy Brabin, Mark Eastwood and Jason McCartney have been unable to present formally agreed recommendations to Government.

That means Kirklees is unlikely to be released from restrictions on Friday.

Council Leader Coun Shabir Pandor expressed his frustration in a lengthy statement in which he sent a message to Westminster urging Health Secretary Matt Hancock to lift restrictions “for the whole of Kirklees”.

He added: “Put your faith in us as a borough to continue with the work we’re doing to keep people safe and bring our infection rates down.”

Coun Pandor also distanced himself from a joint statement issued by Clr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, which was released on behalf of councils in Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

That presented a united call to the Government to lift restrictions in their entirety across all three areas.

Mr McCartney, the Conservative MP for Colne Valley, described it as “a thinly-veiled attack” on MPs like himself who have called for postcode level restrictions in areas of infection

He said attempts at creating a consensus had been torpedoed by political in-fighting, which meant residents were suffering as a result.

He commented; “It’s really disappointing that Susan Hinchcliffe has tried to get the other leaders on board with a thinly-veiled attack on MPs.

“Politicians of all colours have been working really hard to work together towards a general consensus – to lift the restrictions as a whole – and if that’s not possible to focus the resources where they need to be.

“It’s about supporting residents where there are cases with the measures that are required, and in other areas take them out of the restrictions

“Let’s get some of our areas open again.”

But Mr McCartney was accused of having no interest in consensus politics by Green Group leader Coun Andrew Cooper, who has been involved in the discussions.

He said: “Jason McCartney is the problem. We did have a consensus until he started trying to exert his view on politicians from across the spectrum.

“He doesn’t understand the nature of consensus politics.”

Coun Cooper confirmed no formal recommendations on the lifting of restrictions had been sent to the Government for consideration.

He said the blame for that “lies with the failure of one politician to understand that he needs to work with people from other parties”.

He added: “The restrictions are not working.

“We need to look more seriously at obeying national guidelines properly, such as wearing face masks. They are more important than these local restrictions which have no value and are not being properly observed.”