I have been inundated by residents who are baffled that our area entered lockdown in Tier 1 and will come out of it into Tier 3. This will be seriously damaging to local businesses and places deep restrictions on our social lives. I have been pressing for full transparency on the basis of this decision, and challenging why Warwick District has been placed in the highest Tier alongside other areas, rather than being judged as a lower-tier Local Authority area which would make most sense under a localised tier system. My full views are covered elsewhere, so I’ll just say let’s stick to the restrictions and hope that we can move to Tier 2 when reviewed on 16th December.
I recognise the continued challenges for pupils, parents and our schools. Headteachers, staff and governors are doing a miraculous job trying to keep schools open under very difficult circumstances. Covid-19 cases do continue to provide disruption to learning however – this is why I have been repeatedly challenging the Secretary of State for Education in the House of Commons about the need for more laptops to be urgently made available. Some of our most disadvantaged pupils remain without access to remote learning and this is hugely damaging for the life opportunities of those children.
We are getting extremely close to end of the Brexit transition period, which will end on 31st December. The British public were promised a deal by the Prime Minister. No deal will be disastrous for British businesses in sectors across the economy from manufacturing to farming. Jaguar Land Rover, for example, has warned that it could be forced to close plants if the right Brexit deal is not agreed. The Government’s own analysis forecasted that in the West Midlands, the economy will be 9.6% smaller in 15 years if we have a no-deal Brexit. We need clarity as soon as possible so businesses can prepare for Brexit in what is already a worrying time.
As ever, I can be contacted by email at ‘[email protected]’ or by ringing my office on 01926 882006.
