Mansfield MP Ben Bradley 'disappointed' to see town under stricter Covid restrictions

Mr Bradley said he felt there should have been differentiation between the city – where the rate of new cases has grown – and areas of the county like Mansfield where the infection rate remains low.

He said: “I’m frustrated that we’ve been unable to differentiate between north Nottinghamshire and the city, not helped by local Labour councils actively calling for more restrictions.

"But I’m also, in a way, relieved as Nottingham’s figures could easily have seen them go in to level three with much tougher restrictions.”

Mr Bradley was informed of the Prime Minister’s decision at a briefing, prior to Mr Johnson making his announcement to the House of Commons.

Mr Bradley continued: “I sought assurances in the briefing that we will be regularly reviewed and that we don’t all have to come out of it together, so if Mansfield’s figures level off or fall we can come out – we don’t have to wait for the city.

“Though its frustrating, we need now to be sensible, to comply with the rules and give ourselves the best chance of having restrictions lifted as soon as possible.”

Nottingham’s three Labour MPs welcomed the news, but said new restrictions should have been brought in last week, when cases in Nottingham were spiking.

The three MPs issued a joint statement after the pre-announcement briefing.

Together, they said: “Last week Nottingham, for the first time, showed a significant increase in COVID-19 infection rate, reaching a rate amongst the highest in the country.

“We needed immediate action to protect our communities. Instead from the Government we received confusion and dithering.

“This meant we were left for a week. In this time the infection rate has doubled and Nottingham now has the highest rate in the country.

“Today we took part in a briefing with the Government about its decision to introduce tier two restrictions in Nottingham.

"In this meeting we pressed the minister for the reason for the delay. The reply was not credible.

“Similarly, we called for further financial support for residents, our local economy and universities.

“We welcome the decision to make Nottingham a tier two area but this must be accompanied with providing people with the financial security they need to follow the rules.

“If we all play our part, this should drive down the infection rate.

"If we do not, then clearly we will be in line for further restrictions – something we all want to avoid.

“Whilst Nottingham gets to work on this, we need the Government to do its part by providing an economic package that supports jobs and businesses, fixing the failed test and trace system and putting in place regulations to protect those at risk of losing their home.”

Across the East Midlands, Nottinghamshire is joined by Leicester city and Oadby & Wigston in Leicestershire, and parts of High Peak in Derbyshire in tier two, while the rest of the region remains in tier one.