The latest measures announced were widely expected and are necessary if we are to combat this virus. We are completely supportive of these new restrictions, although we fully acknowledge the impact they will have on people and the restrictions placed on their freedom. The rule of law must be obeyed if we are to arrest the rise in the number of Covid cases.

“My very real concerns lie with how people’s livelihoods will be further impacted. The message is work from home where possible, but I know that, in Middlesbrough, four out of five jobs cannot be done from home. Better support must be given to people who are in low paid, fragile employment. We are not calling for a blanket extension to the furlough scheme but we believe targeted support must be given to those sectors most adversely affected.

“I truly believe the public have behaved and want to come together to beat this virus. If they are to be able to protect themselves and others, we need an effective trace and test scheme – what we have at present can in no shape or form be described as world beating and the public deserve to have local, available testing facilities and to receive results in a timely fashion.”