Leicester pubs, cafes and bars can reopen, city MP says
Pubs, cafes and restaurants can reopen in Leicester – and residents can go on holiday with their own household, a city MP has said.
Liz Kendall, Labour MP for Leicester West, said that despite an “unbelievably difficult period” for the city, the hard work and sacrifice of residents had paid off.
She added that leisure centres, gyms and public swimming pools will remain closed and multiple households will not be permitted to meet indoors, but did not say when the changes to the rules would come into effect.
Stricter lockdown restrictions were put in place in Leicester and other nearby areas by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on June 29 after a spike in Covid-19 infections.
Just been on call with Minister about #LeicesterLockdown. The great news is our pubs, cafes, bars & restaurants can re-open and people can go on holiday with their own household. But leisure centres, gyms & pools still closed, and no meeting up with other households indoors. 1/2
— Liz Kendall (@leicesterliz) July 30, 2020
Writing on Twitter on Thursday evening, Ms Kendall said: “Just been on call with Minister about #LeicesterLockdown.
“The great news is our pubs, cafes, bars & restaurants can re-open and people can go on holiday with their own household.
“But leisure centres, gyms & pools still closed, and no meeting up with other households indoors.
“This has been an unbelievably difficult period for our city but peoples hard work & sacrifices have paid off.
She added that the Government handling of the lockdown had been “totally shambolic” and that lessons needed to be learnt to prevent similar situations in future.
Responding to questions from local residents, she added: “To everyone asking questions, I’m really sorry I don’t have any more details, this is just what we were told on the call.
Hurray!!! After much pushing and shoving I have just had it confirmed by the Department of Health that Oadby and Wigston is moving OUT of lockdown and will be the same as the rest of Leicestershire.
— Neil O'Brien MP (@NeilDotObrien) July 30, 2020
“But I wanted to let people know as soon as possible what’s happening as it is quite frankly a disgrace we’ve been left waiting so long without any proper info.”
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has yet to confirm any official changes to lockdown measures in Leicestershire.
Neil O’Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby & Wigston, tweeted: “Hurray!!! After much pushing and shoving I have just had it confirmed by the Department of Health that Oadby and Wigston is moving OUT of lockdown and will be the same as the rest of Leicestershire.”
