Leeds businesses react to forced closures as Boris Johnson announces national lockdown

Boris Johnson has announced a new national lockdown with people in England to be confined to their homes, yet again, from Thursday.

-> How national lockdown affects Leeds Tier 3 lockdown - all the changes explainedMr Johnson chaired Cabinet this afternoon where the new measures were agreed, before he spoke with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

He will head to the Commons on Monday to outline the measures and take questions from MPs, before a vote on the new rules on Wednesday ahead of them coming into force at 00.01am on Thursday.

Under the measures announced tonight people can only leave home for specific reasons including for education, work if they cannot work from home, for exercise and recreation outdoors, for medical reasons, to escape injury or harm, to shop for food and essentials and to provide care for vulnerable people.

Schools, colleges, and universities are to remain open under the new measures.

Individuals can also meet with one other person at a social distance in somewhere such as a park, but only if both people are solo.

-> Second national lockdown announced as shops and pubs to close - what Boris Johnson said in speechIt is being urged that workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home, for example in construction and manufacturing, however non-essential shops and leisure venues will all be closed, as will pubs, bars and restaurants.

Takeaway services and click and collect can continue, and support bubbles will remain intact.

Martin Greenhow, the managing director of MOJO bars across the country including Leeds, questioned how long we will "play hide and seek with the virus".

Reacting to the lockdown, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Martin said: "Lock downs of any type are a disaster for jobs, a disaster for our economy and a disaster for our society.

"We have to bolster the NHS to manage the crisis instead of constantly trying to escape the inevitable."

-> Leeds reacts as Boris Johnson announces national lockdown measuresDanny Redshaw, 39, is the owner of Five Star Sports - a multi-sports coaching company working within primary schools, high schools and local communities.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post the academy would be forced to shut again under the new restrictions - with no income.

Danny said: "If the lockdown is as before, then it would completely shut us down once again with no way of earning an income as our business relies on providing children with sporting activities on evenings and weekends.

"Through the summer, we were able to run outdoor sessions.

"We wouldn't be able to do that now due to the early, dark nights."

Lauren Middleton is a mum who owns beauty salon 'Beauty by Lauren' in Leeds.

She said the new lockdown announcement has left her feeling anxious with Christmas on the horizon.

As her business is only a few months old, Lauren worries she will not be financially supported during the lockdown period.

She said she would be forced to go onto universal credit to make ends meet.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Lauren said: "I have been self employed two months and with the announcement, I will have to close.

"I won't get any government help due to being self employed at such a short amount of time meaning I will have to go on to universal credit (which is a 6 week wait).

"I am very anxious as I have two kids under the age of five to feed and I also have Christmas coming up."

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