Welsh Conservatives call for local lockdowns to remain in some parts of Wales

The Welsh Conservatives have called for the Welsh Government to reverse plans to bring all of Wales out of the ‘firebreak’ lockdown and for restrictions to remain in some parts of the country.

Health spokesperson Andrew RT Davies said that they opposed Wales’s firebreak lockdown but have supported targeted, local measures.

“As such, I have written to Labour’s health minister asking him to reconsider lifting all restrictions in the soaring hot-spot areas in Wales,” he said,

He pointed to “high-incidence areas” in counties such as Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

“From Monday, people will be able to travel in and out of Merthyr Tydfil despite it now having the worst-case rate for Covid-19 in the UK, with two other south Wales county areas also among the hardest-hit,” he said.

“There have been many quirks in the Welsh Government’s Covid policy but many will question the wisdom of these decisions given previous proclamations from Labour ministers, and the pressure we are seeing in the one particular health board area of Cwm Taf.

“Welsh Conservatives have called for targeted intervention in the hot-spot areas in Wales and we once again repeat that call today.”

‘Arbitrary’

The calls by Welsh Conservative in the Senedd for a more localised approach, however, seemed to be at odds with some Conservative MPs in Wales which have called for an all-UK approach to the lockdown.

“Constituents regularly ask me why, in such a difficult situation, there is no single United Kingdom approach to this crisis,” Vale of Clwyd MP James Davies said.

“They see often arbitrary rules being imposed in Wales as an apparent demonstration of power, regardless of the impact on people’s businesses, wellbeing and livelihoods. This approach from Cardiff causes division, resentment and confusion.”