Jeremy Vine panellists clash over calls for national lockdown

Construction is one of the few vital industries in the UK which requires mostly in-person labour. With another national lockdown on the cards and a highly infectious new strain in circulation, people working as labourers may feel increasingly uncertain about their roles. The Government has laid down rules for what each tier can expect, as Mr Johnson prepares to make an 8pm announcement.

Can construction work continue in lockdown?

The Prime Minister will announce new Covid restrictions tonight at 8pm, in which he will outline new conditions of a national lockdown.

Early impressions suggest he will extend Tier 4 restrictions to Tier 3 areas with additional school closures mirroring Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for Scotland.

Should this plan come into place, the current Tier 4 rules would allow construction to continue.

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The Government’s highest tier advises people to stay at home in most cases.

But construction workers may continue labouring if they can’t otherwise work from home.

Tier 4 advice states: “Construction sites have not been asked to close, so work can continue if it is done safely.

“Employers should ensure their workers on-site are able to follow the public health guidance, and they should consider responsible arrangements for ensuring their workers can travel in line with this advice, such as through staggering site hours to reduce public transport use during peak periods.”

“We will keep these arrangements under constant review and take any steps required.

“It is, therefore, possible for construction work to continue in the current context.

“Those responsible for commissioning building safety work, such as the remediation of high-rise buildings with unsafe ACM cladding, and the construction companies undertaking the work, should consider how best to proceed and/or mitigate the risks arising from such work being paused.”

While this is good news for construction workers, the Prime Minister has not yet revealed the full extent of his incoming policy.

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If he chose to do so, Mr Johnson could clamp down on construction as he is expected to with schools.

Lockdown rules have not halted construction, although the Government has not classified workers as essential personnel.

Construction continued during the first lockdown in March, which the next one will likely mirror.

Sir Keir Starmer called on the Prime Minister today to make the incoming lockdown as harsh as the one in spring.

He said: “The virus is out of control. The tier system clearly isn’t working and we all know tougher measures are necessary,” he said.

“If we are asking the British people to be subject to tough national restrictions – and we are, because that needs to happen straight away – then the contract needs to be that the vaccine programme is rolled out as quickly as possible, 2m a week in January and double that in February. That needs to be the deal.

“It needs to be back to the spirit of March.

“Now you see lots of people out and about, trains that are half full. We need very strong messaging about staying at home.”

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