Sadiq Khan blamed for Tier 3 in London by Shaun Bailey

Sadiq Khan insisted he does not approve of the measures that will see many businesses across London being forced to shut down because of the increasing rate of new coronavirus cases. Mayor of London-hopeful Shaun Bailey erupted at the Labour politician for his failure to defend workers across the Capital as he insisted an “area-based” approach may have saved thousands of jobs. Speaking to talkRADIO, Mr Bailey said: “We needed a plan in London so we didn’t end up in Tier 3.

“We’re in Tier 3 because the Mayor has failed us, that’s a fact. Whatever the data you raise, we need to respond to the spread of the virus.

“If we had taken an area-based approach, if the Mayor of London had made that case to the Government, we would not be closing down the economy.

“We can argue and argue and argue about facts and statistics but the bottom line is I’ve been focusing on jobs.”

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) released on Tuesday have shown the unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent, a 0.1 percent increase compared to October.

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The report also showed redundancies reached a record-high of 370,00 as employers axed jobs in the run-up to the end of the furlough scheme originally scheduled for October.

Mr Bailey continued: “Where are we all going to be working? I’m working to a six-month timeline here, in six months time I hope the Mayor of London is prepared to apologise for everybody’s jobs he’s thrown in the bin.

“He’s effectively handed out 500,000 P45s, that’s what we should be concentrating on. That’s what we should be getting rid of.

“If you look now, how many of your listeners are worried that their job is going to go?”

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Christmas: Sadiq Khan criticises coronavirus restrictions

He added: “I know you may be sat in Sheffield, you may be sat in Leeds, you may be sat in Solihull but that thing that matters is that things that happen in London do have an effect on you.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan questioned the Government’s decision to place London into Tier 3 when coronavirus restrictions are expected to be relaxed over the Christmas period.

Mr Khan said: “We heard from Matt Hancock yesterday that it appears the Government is looking at this again. I would encourage them to do so if they are.

“The concern is this – the rules have been relaxed for five days, allowing household mixing for up to three different households and inevitably when people are in their own households, they tend to be less vigilant.

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“And my concern is that many people may have the virus and not realise it. They could pass the virus on to older relations.”

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove is expected to announce potential changes to the Christmas grace period after convening representatives from the four nations on Tuesday afternoon.

However, Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford described the four nations approach to the festive period as a “hard-won agreement” and said he will “not lightly put it aside”.

The move comes as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer demanded an urgent review into the easing of rules after leading medical journals warned that a lessening of restrictions would “cost many lives”.

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