Sacha Lord calls for Government to collaborate and rethink tiered restrictions

In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock sent via his solicitor, Lord said the Government must provide adequate evidence if it plans to move the city back into the highest tier on 3 December.

He also called on the Government to assemble a task force to help advise the Government on making modifications to the tiered regulations, and offered to work directly with ministers on alternative routes to the curfew and restrictions in order to avoid a continuation of last-minute rule changes and damaging blanket policy.

Last month Lord commenced a Judicial Review​​ into the legality of the Government implementing emergency restrictions on Greater Manchester's hospitality sector without scientific evidence.

The region was the first in the country to have Tier 3 restrictions, which includes ordering wet-led pubs and bars  to close and banning social mixing between households, forced upon it by central Government​​ after talks between Westminster and local leaders on a financial support package for businesses ended dramatically without a deal reached.

Lord has stated that his legal case to challenge the restrictions will restart next month if no scientific evidence to support the restrictions is presented.

“There is no more important period of time in the hospitality and leisure industry than December, and my client is anxious to play his part to ensure as many businesses as possible can survive into 2021,” the letter reads.

“The return to a local tiered approach is broadly welcomed by our client, though in a modified form that he believes will support the suppression of the virus but also maintain jobs, businesses and social society.”

Commenting on the letter, Lord said this was the Government’s 'last chance to show they take this sector seriously'.

“While the economy as a whole will be pleased to come out of the full lockdown, for many in the hospitality sector tier 3 is a ticking time bomb, with little financial incentive to remain in business.

“This lockdown period is a real opportunity for them to work with us, the people who know this sector best, to avoid the same mistakes being made and causing business closures on a colossal scale.”