Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin weighs in on debate over localised Covid restrictions

The Batley and Spen MP says she recognises that action is needed where infection rates are rising but that it “doesn’t make sense” to apply the same blanket restrictions to areas in the borough where there are very few cases.

Ms Brabin spoke out after fellow Kirklees MPs Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) and Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) put pressure on Labour-led Kirklees Council to adopt a postcode level approach to local restrictions.

It follows calls for outlying rural areas, which are experiencing low or zero infection rates, to be free of restrictions.

The Kirklees dashboard revealed no new cases of coronavirus recorded in the week commencing August 10 in Birstall, Birkenshaw, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, Liversedge or Heckmondwike Town.

There were seven in Heckmondwike North, seven in Staincliffe and Healey, eight in Batley Centre, four in Upper Batley and Soothill and three in Batley Carr and Mount Pleasant.

With “very low numbers” of Covid-19 patients across Batley and Spen Ms Brabin said the Government should target its restrictions where they are needed most.

She said: “The Government needs to listen to local voices here in Kirklees who are telling them that a crude lockdown is not beneficial for our community, and instead implement a localised approach to Covid restrictions.

“Thanks to everyone following the guidelines we currently have very low numbers of Covid-19 patients and deaths across Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust Hospitals in recent weeks, and Kirklees Council data is showing that Batley and Spen currently has a very low number of new cases.

“I hope the Government recognises this so that parts of my constituency can see the restrictions lifted later this week.”

Conservatives Mr McCartney and Mr Eastwood have said a consensus between MPs and Kirklees Council is vital if recommendations are to be put to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty for their consideration.

That consensus would cover which areas of Kirklees could be released from restrictions.

Leader of the Conservative group on Kirklees Council, Coun David Hall (Liversedge and Gomersal), has reiterated calls for the authority to implement special restrictions at postcode level based on low infection rates.

He said such an approach would give the virus “a short, sharp shock” in time for schools reopening in early September.

Leader of Kirklees Council, Coun Shabir Pandor (Lab, Batley West), said he was aiming to come to a consensus over which places in the borough should still be under restrictions and which should not, and would work with opposition leaders to achieve it.