Councils in England have been given sweeping new powers to close shops, cancel events and shut outdoor public spaces to manage local outbreaks of coronavirus. Many have taken to social media to question as to whether this power will be exercised fairly and equitably.
The PM said the move would enable councils to respond more quickly to outbreaks “where speed is paramount”.
The Local Government Association said it hoped it would prevent the need for stricter local lockdown measures at a national level.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Friday’s Downing Street press briefing: “It has to be right that we take local action in response to local outbreaks – there is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country”.
Johnson also said ministers would receive clearer guidance on where they can intervene to “close whole sectors or types of premises in an area” and advise people in specific postcodes to stay at home.
Government guidance says the move “significantly” increases councils’ powers, and as such, should be used “with discretion”.
Johnson said the additional powers would allow local authorities “to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount”, in what he called “lightning lockdowns”.
The new powers for councils came as the PM sets out a “roadmap” for a return to “normality” by Christmas as part of an easing of the lockdown in England.
Johnson said it was his “sincere hope” the remaining restrictions could be reviewed in November, at the earliest, and possibly dropped by Christmas.
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