This whole 'local lockdown' is really getting on my nerves
It's all about politics, and absolutely nothing to do the number of cases, if it was, it'd just be the towns that have high numbers locked down like it has been with the rest of the local lockdowns!
This isn't about reducing the spread, it's about the mostly Labour councils trying to one up the government.
Hancock was basically backed into a corner and had no choice but to put the North East into lockdown, if he hadn't the Labour MPs would have had a field day with the headlines of 'Hancock refused to lockdown North East'
I have to admit, what they did was clever. They've managed to anger their own voters (the students) and put the blame on the Conservatives at the same time!
Nothing they've announced today is going to reduce the spread of COVID in the north east.
If pubs are the problem, then close them completely.
If people being close together is the problem, close the leisure industry again.
There's absolutely no need for blanket restrictions over the whole of the North East.
Most of Northumberland has very few cases yet is included. Same with South West Durham. Everyone's favourite Barnard Castle has had 0-2 cases, yet is in lockdown.
RE: Politics (and other political stuff)