Leeds residents react to news Leeds and West Yorkshire will stay in Tier 3 over Christmas

The announcement today that Leeds and West Yorkshire will be staying in Tier 3 was met with mixed reactions.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed that despite the fall in cases that there will not be a change today, meaning that pubs will stay closed and other businesses will remain as takeaways only.

Many people went online to comment their opinions on the lack of tier changes.

A lot of residents are unhappy with the decision to stay in Tier 3, as Leeds has fewer cases than in some areas in Tier 2.

Emillia Pilling committed: “Following Christmas and their mixing strategy the cases will rise again.

“I honestly don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, there seems to be no formal guidance for how to escape these draconian measures.”

Twitter user Geraldine Stone said: “Feels like the last two weeks have been for nothing. Rates are going down below the average yet we’re still in Tier 3. Totally disheartening.”

Phil Symons said: “Absolute shambles! Makes you wonder why we bother sticking to the rules if there is literally no way out of Tier 3.

“That was always going to be the problem of going into Tier 3 in the first place, there’s no obvious way out!”

Many commented on the way the government has treated cities in the South compared to the North, claiming that it has been biased against Northern towns.

Shaun Keating commented: “Lower numbers than London had when they went into Tier 2 over a month ago yet here we go again, everyone being stuffed because of London.

“And people still trust everything that’s going on with those in charge over this farce.”

Commenter Tony Bastin said: “And yet London had a higher rate than Leeds that was rising and they were in Tier 2 only yesterday.”

Adam Cameron said: “So now that infection rates are soaring in London it appears the whole country has to suffer and remain in Tier 3.

“For the past few weeks Londoners and their businesses have benefited from being able to remain open, and we have to stay shut #NorthSouthDivide.”

Many also commented that Leeds has lower rates than many cities in West Yorkshire, with Laura Bailey saying: “We have gotten our rates down.

“But we’re next door to Kirklees who have got very high rates, we cannot bring them down so why are we still in Tier 3?”

However, some people agree that Leeds should stay in Tier 3 over the festive period.

Twitter user Molly Pukes commented: “Impossible to reduce tiers when we’re approaching the madness that is completely releasing tier rules over Christmas.”

On Facebook, Robert Taylor commented: “This will prevent further restrictions in the new year so right call by the government.”

Many are mentioning Christmas as the determiner for the lack of change, with Mary Day saying, “A trade-off between the relaxation of tiers and Christmas, I would rather have Christmas”.

Many also claimed that Christmas is not reason enough to relax restrictions, with Andy Leatham commenting: “I’m glad. Living is for life, not just for Christmas.

The government will review the tiers again in 14 days.