West Yorkshire will not enter into Tier 3 ahead of national lockdown, leaders confirm

West Yorkshire will not enter into Tier 3 restrictions ahead of the national lockdown on Thursday, it has been confirmed.
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It was announced last week that all areas of West Yorkshire, including Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield, would enter into Local Covid Alert level: Very High on Monday.

But following Boris Johnson's decision to announce a new four week national lockdown from Thursday, it has now been confirmed that Tier 3 restrictions will not be implemented in the county as planned.

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Instead, Tier 2 restrictions will remain in place until the arrival of the national measures on Thursday, November 5.

West Yorkshire will not enter into Tier 3 restrictions ahead of the national lockdown on Thursday, it has been confirmed. Photo: Alberto Pezzali-Pool/Getty Images#West Yorkshire will not enter into Tier 3 restrictions ahead of the national lockdown on Thursday, it has been confirmed. Photo: Alberto Pezzali-Pool/Getty Images#
West Yorkshire will not enter into Tier 3 restrictions ahead of the national lockdown on Thursday, it has been confirmed. Photo: Alberto Pezzali-Pool/Getty Images#

In a joint statement, West Yorkshire's political leaders said they were "frustrated and angry" about the decision to announce the national restrictions.

The statement reads: "Following several days of intense discussions with Ministers about the introduction of new restrictions in West Yorkshire, we are frustrated and angry about the government’s timing, handling and communications around the plans for a national lockdown.

"​Firstly, for our residents and businesses, we must clear up understandable confusion: the region will now NOT be moving into Tier Three (Very High) measures on Monday as planned; we will remain in Tier Two (High) restrictions, and then follow the national measures from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December.

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"The residents and businesses of West Yorkshire had only just begun to prepare for Tier Three measures to hit on Monday, and they are now having to change their plans once again.

"We have worked hard over the last few days to advocate for the people and businesses of West Yorkshire. It is imperative that Government now honours the financial commitments made to the people and businesses of the region during these discussions in writing again now.

"We received verbal assurances this evening that support packages will be provided, but await written confirmation from Government.

"We remain extremely concerned about the rising infection rates in the region. The urgency for people to restrict their social interactions is still as real as it was when Tier 3 was announced last week. Our hospitals are under tremendous strain and we would collectively implore everyone to follow the regulations, stay apart, wash your hands and wear your face covering.

"We must now pull together, comply with the rules and take every action we can to face this challenge as a community and as a nation. We have to do this to beat this virus."

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