I know that many people in Sheffield Hallam will be worried about the rising infection rates and the surge of covid-19 cases reported in today’s announcement.

When the Prime Minister came to the House of Commons a few weeks ago, he said the measures he outlined would control the virus. Unfortunately, his statement today is a sign of the government’s failure to take the decisive action necessary to get a grip on the crisis.

Throughout the public health emergency, many people have faced uncertainty in their jobs and businesses, and the City Council has struggled through a lack of adequate funding. Today, the government announced a raft of new public health restrictions for areas that are in the high-risk category, but no new financial support.

It’s vital that Sheffield receives the package of support we need to implement these measures, deal with the public health emergency, and provide financial security to all those who are worried about their jobs and businesses.