Coronavirus: Leicester lockdown easing sparks confusion and anger

The mayor of Leicester has accused the health secretary of "playing silly games" with its local lockdown.

On Thursday, Matt Hancock said restrictions would remain in the city, though some "but not all" would ease from 24 July.

Some suburbs under the Tory-controlled county council will be released from lockdown on Saturday - a decision city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said was "political".

County council leader Nick Rushton said the move had been "based on evidence".

However, he admitted there was some confusion as to when those areas would be allowed to come out of lockdown.

It has since been announced they will adopt national guidelines from Saturday.

The health secretary said cases in Leicester had dropped by 16 per 100,000 people since the extended lockdown was announced.

In Leicester, it is understood restrictions on schools and nurseries will be lifted from 24 July, but bars, restaurants and hairdressers will remain closed.

"A more targeted approach" to the restrictions on non-essential retail was also announced, with Mr Hancock promising "a new local power to close them when necessary".

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined these powers, which will take effect from Saturday.

He said they would allow authorities to "close specific premises, shut outdoor public spaces and cancel events".

Mr Hancock said the decision would be reviewed in two weeks.

When asked whether the review would be two weeks from the announcement, or a fortnight after 24 July, Sir Peter said: "I assume it's two weeks on from [Thursday's announcement], but there's no way of knowing that."

People in Leicester have been told to stay at home as much as possible, but some said the announcement had left them unsure of what they could do outside.

Nursing student Emily Crawford said: "It could have been clearer.

"They said what shops can open but I'm still not really sure what I as an individual am allowed to do or not."

Resident Maureen Moore said: "I don't think the left hand knows what the right hand's doing."

Leicester College porter Derek Jarvis said the news had been devastating. While the college is closed he is unable to work.

The 58-year-old said: "It's ruining my mental health.

"A fortnight ago we thought everything was going back to normal and then they dropped it all on us again. I was hoping for better news."

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced that several Leicester suburbs previously subject to extended lockdown rules, will follow national guidance from Saturday.

They are:

The borough of Oadby and Wigston will remain under lockdown because "the prevalence of Covid - due to testing - is too high", county council leader Mr Rushton said.

Latest figures indicate there are 712 cases per 100,000 people in the borough, considerably more than the county's 431 average.

There had been some confusion over when some areas would be released from lockdown after Mr Hancock's Commons speech.

Speaking before the DHSC's announcement, when asked about the possibility of suburban areas coming out of lockdown by Saturday, Mr Rushton said: "At the moment I'm sticking to 24 July as that's the best information I've been given."

Leicester's Labour mayor has reacted angrily to the continued blanket lockdown and urged a more targeted approach.

He disputed claims in Mr Hancock's House of Commons speech, which said he had declined to put forward suggested changes within the city boundary.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester, Sir Peter said: "That is not the way it happened."

He said the health secretary had asked him to "draw a line on a map" in the middle of a Skype call, and accused him of playing "silly games".

"It was a political decision that decided to take out the Tory voting areas around Leicester, and it will be a political decision ultimately that will release us from this," he said.

Conservative MP Neil O'Brien, who represents Oadby and Wigston, has called for the borough's inclusion in lockdown to be reviewed.

He claimed the rate of cases was "driven by having the second-highest rate of testing in the country".

He also said there are "other parts of the country with a higher rate... which are not locked down".

Jennifer Thomas, from the Federation of Small Businesses said many members had voiced "disappointment" and "confusion".

She said: "I suppose the question now for those non-essential retailers which can open is: 'Should I open if nobody's going to be coming or travelling to me?'

"They're just going to be incurring more costs of being open, of paying for their staff, paying for the store to be open, but if nobody's coming that's a really tricky decision for them."

Businesses in areas that are expected to come out of lockdown are cautiously optimistic.

Hairdresser Sharon Cochran, whose salon will be able to reopen in Enderby, said: "I was delighted, at the same time I was a little apprehensive.

"It's just quite overwhelming, it's just I can't wait to get back to work again."

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