LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has questioned why only one English area has ever come out of local lockdown.

And he cited the example of 'Bury, Oldham and Bradford', where restrictions had been in place for months.

Sir Keir said yesterday: "In recent months, 48 areas in England have gone into local restrictions, but only one has ever come out and stayed out - that is Luton. Why does the Prime Minister think that is?"

Boris Johnson replied: "The reason, I think, for the success of Luton is that the local people pulled together to suppress the virus, to follow the guidance, and that is the way forward for the entire country. That is what we did before in March and April, and I have no doubt that is what we're going to do again."

Sir Keir, referring to the PM's 'whack-a-mole' strategy, added: "That implies that, at some stage, the mole goes down and that restrictions are lifted. But, in fact, in some lockdown areas infection rates are still going up. And in towns like Bradford, Bury and Oldham, restrictions have now been in place for months."