North Somerset Tier 3 Designation Concerns

Posted on 29th November, 2020

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UPDATE 17 DEC 20: North Somerset now Tier 2 - See 19 DEC 20 Tier Map and COVID19 mapping (e.g 12DEC20).

Govt Review of local restriction tiers (PDF) and Full list of local restriction tiers by area (PDF). See also Govt Winter Plan (Nov 20 & 02 Dec 20) and Summary (PDF & Download

UPDATE 16 DEC 20: Express article and Tier Mapping. See BOB Issues page for any MP facebook updates.

 

UPDATE 11 DEC 20:

"The Supreme Court decision to refuse to hear an appeal relating to a Judicial Review into lockdown, means that unelected Judges have set a precedent which now makes it impossible to challenge the Government’s use of the Public Health Act 1984 to trample over Civil Liberties and to emasculate Parliament in the process." (PDF)

 

UPDATE: 04 DEC 20 Reponse to Tier 3 Queries p1 & p2, from Penrose MP

 

UPDATE: 01 DEC 20 Tweet by Penrose MP and Matt Hancock Health Secetary response.

 

UPDATE: 26 NOV 20 PCR-based COVID testing has failed and is not a proper basis to lockdown the nation, let alone decide on tiers for restrictions Briefing paper for MPs – 26 th November 2020

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On 27 November Local MPs Liam Fox MP (North Somerset) & John Penrose MP (Weston-super-Mare) issued a Joint Statement on social media (MP Facebook links), regarding North Somerset's Tier 3 Lockdown designation, stating:

  • "... we cannot agree with the way it has been applied to North Somerset"
  • "Our infection rate has fallen ... well below the Bristol Rate"
  • "... we have been placed in Tier 3 because we are regarded as "a natural travel to work area" along with Bristol and South Gloucestershire"
  • "This isn't right or fair. We hope that, at the review point in 14 days times, this methodology can be changed ...". Why wait 14 days?

How many more local small businesses will go out of operation during this time, especially as the next review date is stated to be 16 December, after the majority of Christmas shopping expenditure may have been completed? How many more families will be broken due to these COVID19 policy restrictions? It is worth noting:

  • COVID19 Regulations Memorandum Para 12.1 "An Impact Assessment has not been prepared for .." the COVID19 Restrictions, including economic, health, education, etc.
  • John Penrose MP confirmed, "Governments normally only produce an impact assessment if the measure in question is expected to be in force for more than a year", i.e. March next year?! (See letter Q2 and Blog)
  • The Memorandum continues, "... however, Office of National Statistics data indicates that these closures will affect 13.1% of the UK’s business units." Is this the current figure?
  • With Para 13.1 stating, "The legislation applies to activities that are undertaken by small businesses" What does this mean? What about large businesses?
  • See The Legal Challenge to the UK Govt Lockdown

How will the current North Somerset Local Plan and West of England Spatial Development Strategy consultations, that encourage joint working with Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, affect future Lockdown policy designations? (Blog)

 

The former Supreme Court judge Lord Jonathan Sumption states, "Fear has been 'skilfully and deliberately' used by government to ensure compliance" (03NOV20 - 7mins)

  • Lord Sumption, " ...has criticised the government's approach to the coronavirus pandemic, saying it has employed fear as a means to justify its actions ... he warned that Downing Street could hold on to its emergency powers after there is no need for them: "The problem is that fear is the main pillar of every authoritarian government. Fear has been skilfully and I fear deliberately employed throughout this crisis."
  • NOTE1: "As of 19 March 2020, COVID-19 [was] no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK" (Public Health England June Report) . Also see John Penrose MP letter confirming this in August 2020. (Blog)
  • NOTE2: The COVID19 Regulations confirm that, "... the Secretary of State is of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make this instrument without a draft having been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament." (BOB)

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