Portsmouth MP Penny Mordaunt admits further lockdowns could take place
FURTHER lockdowns due to spikes in coronavirus cases are to be expected, according to a senior MP.
Paymaster general and MP for Portsmouth North, Penny Mordaunt, told MPs yesterday that the UK should at least be prepared for a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Conservative MP added that prime minister Boris Johnson and his team are ‘hopeful’ about lifting lockdown restrictions in December.
It comes as the country prepares to enter a second lockdown tomorrow.
Speaking in parliament, Ms Mordaunt said: It will be a fortnight, at least, before people see change. I am afraid to say that those who may sadly lose their lives from covid at the end of November, probably have the virus today.
‘Once lockdown is lifted, as members have said, cases will rise.
‘It means that a high proportion of the population will remain vulnerable to infection, which is why some scientists expect a third or more waves of the virus to be managed by repeat lockdowns.’
MPs are set to vote on the government’s lockdown measures, although some backbench Conservatives are set to stray from the party line.
Ms Mordaunt said lessons must be learned for the future, but urged people to follow the lockdown rules to ease pressure on the NHS.
She said: ‘Anyone familiar with the offside rule or the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method will testify that British people like their rules.
‘They like clarity and fairness, but I understand that they also like to be able to choose to follow rules. I know how uncomfortable many of us are in having to take these measures.
‘I know that we have asked our constituents to do very painful things, and there has been real material harm to people’s livelihoods and emotional well-being.
‘We need to think about the future.’