Calls to support businesses during third coronavirus lockdown

Civic and business leaders say they support the imposition of a third national lockdown, despite the challenges it will present for companies and parents.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the tightest restrictions last night following alarming increases in coronavirus infections due to the new highly transmissible variant.

The country will face lockdown measures until at least late February.

But there have been calls for the Government to ensure adequate support is available to help businesses through another period of turmoil.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Given the very rapid rise of infections in the Liverpool City Region and across the country, I have been calling for tighter restrictions to help slow the spread of the virus and save lives while we wait for vaccines to fully roll out.

“We are now at a critical moment. We are yet to see the full effects of the relaxation of restrictions over Christmas and, over the past few weeks, we’ve seen just how quickly the new variant of the virus can spread and multiply.

“Considering all of this, an effective national lockdown is now the right thing to do.

“Unlike last March, we now have a clear end point in sight, when the vaccination programme is fully up and running.

“The Government must provide the resource needed to speed up the roll out of the vaccine as quickly as possible. It is also vital that businesses, councils and individuals are given the financial support they need to manage during this period.”

He added: “Every day of lost schooling impacts on our children and the impact is most hard on the poorest and most vulnerable. With schools closing, there should be an urgent scheme to ensure that all children have the equipment and internet access they need to continue learning and stop them falling even further behind.”

Meanwhile, the business world agreed that the lockdown, while painful, is necessary. Andrew Ruffler, chief executive of Professional Liverpool, said: “The new lockdown is obviously a setback on the long, hard road of the pandemic, but necessary to slow down the fast spread of the new variant.
“Schools closing is a huge issue and we’d encourage a renewed understanding and acceptance of the circumstances that individuals and businesses will be facing, particularly those who will be once more juggling their personal and professional commitments at a time when out of school care for children is not accessible.”

Carl Williams, North West managing partner at business advisory firm Grant Thornton, said: “Since the first national lockdown in March 2020 many North West businesses have developed robust continuity plans and invested in their IT networks to ensure colleagues can work from home, so the new lockdown should not be too disruptive for sectors that are able to switch to remote working.

“However, amid surging infection rates the closure of all schools will be a big challenge for parents with children of primary and secondary school age who need more support and input to learn, so where possible, employers must be flexible and understanding of their staff during the coming weeks.”

He said: “Alongside the continued provision of the Job Retention Scheme to support the worst-hit sectors like retail and hospitality, the good news for 2021 is that we know a COVID-19 vaccine programme is being rolled out so there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Neil Murray, chief executive of Impact Data Metrics, a data science company based in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, said: “No business leader will relish starting the New Year under a national lockdown but we all want the Government to respond quickly when the data changes – and it undoubtedly has.

“Cases in Liverpool have trebled in the last fortnight alone and the lag in R-rate reporting means this spike has not yet factored in the impact of increased Christmas mixing.

“The city region led the way on the national testing pilot, but the collective resolve of everyone living and working in the region will be sorely tested by these latest restrictions.

“The decision to close schools will not have been taken lightly but it will prove a real test for many families, with knock-on effects on workers forced once again to juggle home-schooling and the day job.”

Chris Fletcher, policy and communications director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The announcement of a new lockdown wouldn’t have surprised that many as it has become increasingly obvious that further measures would again be required to halt the spread of the virus.

“For many businesses learning to cope with COVID has been a necessity for the best part of a year with measures and processes set up in the workplace and financial support available.

“However, this support is not universal and we still hear from too many business owners that they have been excluded from any financial help.

“We also have a significant number of businesses in certain sectors such as hospitality, leisure, tourism and culture that have not been allowed to open fully, if at all, since the middle of March last year.

“Here in Greater Manchester we have had controls and restrictions of one form or another in place virtually throughout the pandemic and many business owners and their employees are facing a very uncertain next few months.

“This is why it is absolutely vital that effective financial support is immediately put in place reflecting the scale and scope of these new measures and that will support all businesses and employees through this coming period.”

He added: “This pandemic has hit everyone in one way or another and with a vaccine a reality and being rolled out, the end is in sight, but that should be no reason now to skimp on financial support so vital to see businesses through.

“We await to see and hear from the Chancellor as to what measures will now be put in place to help shore up the economy so that the recovery, when it comes, will be sustained and effective.”