THROUGHOUT the pandemic, the Government has tried to hide behind its scientific advisers. All I can say is that they must have given bum advice.

We started the lockdown two weeks too late, resulting in the UK having more Covid-related deaths than anywhere else in Europe.

We have ignored international advice on how best to combat the virus, failing to provide enough tests and PPE to protect the NHS and care homes. The lockdown has been relaxed in England, putting us out of step with the rest of the UK, thereby confusing people with mixed messages.

The fact that whilst, in London, the infection rate is now falling, in the North-East and Yorkshire it’s still rising, has been ignored.

They are sending out the wrong message, causing people to relax their vigilance and threatening another spike in the pandemic.

Steve Kay, cabinet member for health, housing and welfare, Redcar and Cleveland council