A BRADFORD MP has hit out at the Government's 'inability to get to grips with the virus' in the wake of the national lockdown decision made last night.

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, said: “The Government’s serious inability to get to grips with this virus by failing to deliver the ‘world beating’ testing system promised in May, refusing to ensure that those who need to self-isolate are financially able to do so, and actually helping to spread the virus through the Eat Out to Help Out scheme have now forced them into this position of announcing a new national lockdown.

“However, the Prime Minister failed to set out how the Government will support people and businesses throughout this new lockdown, no real detail on the extension of the furlough scheme, no mention of assistance for those businesses forced to close and those which will lose trade, no mention of income protection for those unable to work and the self-employed, and no guarantee that those originally excluded will not be ignored again.

"The poorest and most disadvantaged are those who faced the biggest health and economic impacts of this virus, and I will continue to press the Government to ensure that those whose jobs and livelihoods are under threat because of the virus and the restrictions that have been imposed are properly supported, and to ensure that no-one is dragged into poverty and unable to put food on the table as a result.

“Whilst I know that these restrictions and a return to where we were several months ago will be both deeply disappointing and frustrating to many people, particularly after the sacrifices that we have already made, I urge everyone to follow them as instructed."