Sheffield tier three lockdown talks will go ‘down to the wire’ ahead of Boris Johnson announcement

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a new three-tier lockdown system for England when he addresses parliament this afternoon, with tougher rules including a ban on households mixing and the closure of pubs and restaurants in places with the most Covid-19 cases.

Mr Jarvis says talks are going down to the wire, as he and other local leaders continue to press for the support they insist is needed to protect local jobs.

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Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield this morning, he told how he had met with one of Mr Johnson’s closest advisors, Edward Lister, on Friday to make his case and talks with Downing Street had continued over the weekend, with a further meeting planned today.

But he said he remained in the dark about exactly what restrictions Sheffield will face ahead of the Prime Minister’s statement to parliament.

"Until that point we don’t know the precise detail of what restrictions will be imposed on us here in South Yorkshire or what that will mean for communities and businesses,” he said.

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"There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done over the next few hours. Hopefully we will have some clarity later on today.”

Mr Jarvis said he and other regional leaders had submitted a ‘shopping list’ to Downing Street outlining the support needed if tougher restrictions are imposed, claiming the package Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined on Friday had not gone far enough.

The measures they are demanding include grants to help businesses in the hospitality, leisure and recreation sectors which are affected and a ‘local furlough’ scheme for staff left unable to work, including a pledge to cover the cost of any lost hours up to £1,400 a month.

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"We need the Government to step up and make sure that what they decide in terms of restrictions comes hand in hand with proper targeted economic support,” said Mr Jarvis.

Sheffield has the seventh highest weekly coronavirus infection rate in England, with 439.3 new Covid-19 cases recorded per 100,000 people in the seven days to October 8, the latest date for which reliable data is available.