Coronavirus: Middlesbrough mayor vows his town will ‘defy’ local lockdown order, in show of defiance against Boris Johnson

‘This measure has been introduced based on factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication, and ignorance’

An elected mayor has vowed that his town will “defy” a local lockdown order, in an open show of defiance against Boris Johnson.

A ban on mixing with other households indoors in Middlesbrough, to come into force at midnight on Friday, is “based on ignorance”, a furious Andy Preston alleged.

“This measure has been introduced based on factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication, and ignorance,” the Independent mayor said, in a video message.

“I do not accept these measures. We need to talk to government, they need to understand our local knowledge, expertise and ability to get things done, and preserve jobs and well-being.”

Mr Preston added: “As things stand we defy the government. We need to get Covid under control and we need to work with people to find a way of preserving jobs and mental health.”

People in Middlesbrough are among more than 2 million in Teesside, Merseyside, Warrington facing the crackdown, agreed after a meeting chaired by the prime minister on Thursday.

It will be illegal for families to meet others they do not live with in all indoor settings, including pubs, bars and restaurants – as in other areas of the North-East.

Mr Preston’s anger came as Keir Starmer stepped up his criticism of the government’s approach, demanding a “rapid review” of the local lockdown strategy.


“We have supported these restrictions, but we have now got - after this morning's announcement - over 50 areas in local restrictions and over the weeks and months only one area has come out of these restrictions,” he said.


“So we need a strategy, a road map, people need to have hope that this is going to work.”


The Labour leader added: “What we are seeing is that, in some areas in lockdown, the infection rates are going up, not down. That's worrying and there needs to be a review into that.”

However, despite the mayor’s anger, it is unclear how he can defy the government which, under the coronavirus laws, has the power to enforce lockdowns – regardless of the views of town halls.

Other mayors, in Manchester and Merseyside, have also protested against the “Whitehall diktats’, arguing they are ignoring local intelligence and risk a public backlash.

Furthermore, even though ministers were forced to concede a Commons vote before further national restrictions are agreed, it does not apply to the extension of local measures.

Mr Preston added, on Twitter: “They’re imposing restrictions that’ll kill viable jobs & damage mental health I do not accept the government’s intended restrictions – they’re based on ignorance.”