Business leaders ‘disappointed’ at Leeds remaining in tier 3

A Leeds MP and the head of the organisation representing the city centre’s traders have added their voices to Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake, who today pleaded with the government to tell local authority leaders what more they could do to enter the softer tier 2 restrictions.

It follows Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s announcement in Parliament today that only Bristol and North Somerset would move from tier 3 to tier 2 – meaning many of Leeds and West Yorkshire hospitality businesses must remain closed.

Andrew Cooper is chief executive of LeedsBID – an organisation which lists city centre businesses among its members. He said: “It is really disappointing particularly for the hospitality sector that Leeds has not gone into a lower tier today and we understand that 68% of the population is now in tier 3.”

Leeds East MP Richard Burgon (Lab) tweeted: “Areas like mine in Tier 3 just don’t get the financial support they need. Businesses and self-employed people are being hung out to dry.

“Sick pay is so low it stops people from self-isolating. Restrictions will last many more weeks. The government needs to bail out our communities.”

Leeds Northeast MP Fabian Hamilton (Lab) added: “We certainly need restrictions in place, but it’s disappointing that after weeks of falling infection rates, the Government has left Leeds in Tier 3.

“All businesses that will continue to be closed over the festive period must be properly supported by the Government.”

Mr Cooper called on people to continue to shop in Leeds any way they could, adding: “We continue to support the businesses in the city centre which have invested significantly to ensure the shopping experience before Christmas is a safe one.

“There are numerous car parking offers and we are encouraging shoppers to check our christmas.welcometoleeds.co.uk website to get all the latest information they need in order to shop safely in the run-up to Christmas. It is also a great opportunity to walk around the city centre and experience the new Christmas installations and festive lights.”

Speaking earlier today, Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said that while she understood the Government’s “cautious” approach, she felt there was a sense of unfairness at how decisions were made.

She added: “I would ask for a consistency from government that they tell us exactly what it is they are expecting us to do.

“Its the uncertainty, the sense that there is a changing of the rules, and a real sense of a lack of fairness in the way some decisions are made. There are areas in the north that have been under restrictions for such a long time.

“We feel we have done an enormous amount to comply with what has been asked of us. We will be asking the question urgently now – what more does the Government want us to do to make sure we can move forward and unlock our economy?”