London is set to enter Tier 2 lockdown at midnight on Friday, The move means that the capital’s nine million residents will be banned from mixing with other households indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

In response to London being placed into Tier 2 of Coronavirus restrictions from midnight Friday, Luisa Porritt, Lib Dem Candidate for Mayor of London, said:

“Londoners have made huge sacrifices to try and contain the pandemic. With rising infection rates, they are now having to face further restrictions once again.

“But the Government must get its act together so that we can get control of the virus and minimise restrictions as soon as possible.

“It is clear that testing capacity in London is not good enough and that the Test and Trace system itself is in a mess. Until this is fixed, people will continue to face lockdown as a result of Government incompetence.

“A circuit breaker, introduced now, will not only get the transmission rate down but would give the Government the opportunity to fix the failing Test and Trace system.

On financial support for London, Luisa Porritt added:

“Now is not the time for the Government to pit London against the rest of the country. There should be no political point scoring when it comes to offering people, businesses, local authorities and vital public services the support they need.

“Transport for London, in particular, requires urgent and substantial support. In the last bailout, the Government and Mayor agreed unworkable and punitive conditions such as the decision to end free travel for young people. Any new agreement must put Londoners first.”