Liversedge councillor slams people 'blatantly ignoring rules' as Kirklees put under lockdown again

Councillor David Hall, who leads the Conservative group on Kirklees Council, made the comments after the district was put under local lockdown on Friday at midnight after the area displayed a spike in positive coronavirus cases.

Mr Hall said the reason behind the spike in cases was because people have been ‘ignoring the rules’.

He said: “The plain fact is that there have been far too many people ignoring the rules on social distancing: many blatantly.

“Others complain that the rules are ‘complicated’ as an excuse to bend the rules to suit their own family and friends.

“My own children have not hugged their grandparents for 19 weeks, and yes that is a painfully hard situation to bear, but we have to stick with it. The rules are simple: they are on the Government website for all to see.

“I would urge everyone to observe them to the letter, so that we have the best chance of an early lifting of this lockdown.”

The borough was pre-warned it would go into lockdown on Thursday at 9:15pm.

Questions were also asked about the late-night timing of the Kirklees being placed under further Covid restrictions.

Another concern was raised why it could not have been made sooner to give residents – and local authorities – more time to prepare.

It has been suggested that the Government’s decision was a knee-jerk reaction to the potential for extended Muslim families gathering to celebrate the Eid al-Adha festival in areas of concern with a high risk of infection.

Leader of the Labour-run authority, Coun Shabir Pandor, said: “We deserve answers and I’ll hold Government to account on this.

“I will be talking with Government about how we can make sure these restrictions are temporary and if we continue to see a fall in cases here, I will be arguing strongly for them to be lifted as soon as possible.”

Government health secretary Matt Hancock denied that the action being taken was aimed at curtailing Eid celebrations.

He offered sympathy to those people preparing to celebrate Eid and said he was frustrated for those affected by the new measures.