More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Disgruntled Kent MPs will meet the Health Secretary Matt Hancock today to discuss their misgivings over parts of the county being placed in tier three - the maximum coronavirus risk category.
The seven MPs say that public confidence in the government restrictions will be undermined if people do not feel they are justified.
The Prime Minister is trying to head off a rebellion and has said the data on which the decisions on which category of risk areas were placed in will be released.
The issue will come to a head on Tuesday in Parliament when MPs will vote on whether to accept the recommendations on tiers that will come in later this week at the end of the second spell of a national lockdown.
It has to be said that not all of Kent’s MPs are in a rebellious mood over the blanket restriction, with some feeling the time has come to draw a line and get on with it.
While the government may not be defeated when it comes to a vote on the restrictions, it may have to rely on Labour if there is an extensive revolt among its own backbenchers.
Are we ready for Brexit?
Meanwhile, Kent County Council’s cabinet will meet to to discuss the latest report detailing how ready the county is for Brexit.
The report, due to be discussed today, sets out the extensive preparations being made to mitigate against the well-documented concerns about gridlock, congestion and disruption that the county could face in January after the Brexit transition period ends.
The council cabinet will also discuss the possibility of a perfect storm in which it has to deal with not just the impact of Brexit but how the authority and emergency services will cope if there is a bad weather incident and continuing problems caused by the corona crisis.
You can expect to hear some grumbles around the government’s spending review: Kent County Council is not alone in fearing the government is going to shortchange it when it comes to the funding settlement, with the Institute of Fiscal Studies already warning that council tax bills could rise on average by £70 next year.
KCC says it has a funding gap of between £70m and £120m next year.
Meanwhile, this week is likely to be a crunch week for Brexit talks and the question of whether the UK can strike a deal with the EU on the terms of its departure. Deadlines have come and gone but this does seem to be the week in which both sides will have to strike a compromise and find a mutually agreeable deal or walk away with no deal.
