Live as Matt Hancock explains new Covid rules walesonline.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from walesonline.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A senior Government minister said she was “surprised” to hear local leaders declare that they were not told about fresh guidance calling on people in Indian variant hotspot areas to limit their travel and social interactions.
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said the updated guidance, affecting areas such as Bolton and Leicester, had not come “out of the blue”.
The updated advice issued on Friday – which is not law – was published on the Government website without an official announcement, encouraging people in areas including Kirklees and the London borough of Hounslow not to meet indoors in a bid to spread the halt of the highly-transmissible mutation.
BBC News
Published
image copyrightReuters
image captionThe guidance is on the government s website under a section entitled what you can and cannot do
An MP has accused the government of rolling out lockdown lite through the back door in Blackburn with Darwen.
The affected areas include the area and nearby Burnley in Lancashire.
Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said she was furious local authorities were not consulted as it has major implications for businesses and schools .
The prime minister s official spokesman stressed the new measures were guidance only and not statutory .
Posting on Twitter, the Labour MP said she strongly opposes the government s attempt to introduce new measures by stealth and without consultation .
The eight areas in England where coronavirus travel advice has been updated - and what it says
The government updated its website on Friday - but didn t make an official announcement
Updated (Image: Getty Images)
For all the latest news from in and around Bolton, sign up for the free MyBolton newsletterInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Subscribe
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice Updated government guidance issued on Friday - but not publicly announced - is urging people in Bolton and seven other areas affected by the Indian coronavirus variant to avoid travel.
Government U-turns on Bolton travel ban advice hours after defending it manchestereveningnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from manchestereveningnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.