Mayor of lockdown Leicester hits back after sparking a Covid-19 firestorm over “encouraging” people to head for Harborough for a pint

The Mayor of lockdown Leicester hit back today after sparking a Covid-19 firestorm over “encouraging” people to head for Market Harborough for a pint.

Sir Peter Soulsby, 71, came out fighting after being slammed by Harborough council leader Phil King and leading councillor Phil Knowles, as we reported yesterday.

The row erupted after Sir Peter told The Times that if people living in Leicester wanted to go to a pub “people could drive to Market Harborough, or visit a friend in Birmingham to have their hair cut”.

Asked if he thought many would, the city’s high-profile mayor retorted: “It depends on how long the restrictions are extended, but it won’t be long before people think, ‘I’m going’.”

But today Sir Peter insisted he was calling on people in Leicester NOT to drive to Market Harborough or anywhere else after the tough new city crackdown was imposed by the Government on Monday night.

“I was highlighting the danger of some people taking it upon themselves to visit pubs outside of Leicester to avoid the lockdown restrictions - and certainly not advocating people doing that,” the former Labour MP told the Harborough Mail.

Sir Peter said that along with the police he is imploring people in Leicester to stay at home amid a shocking coronavirus spike hitting the city.

“We would strongly recommend that they don’t do that (travel to Market Harborough),” declared the mayor.

“And along with the police we will be sharing messages to that effect both before and during the weekend ahead.”

His controversial comments in The Times on Tuesday triggered fury on social media from outraged people across Harborough as well as top local politicians.

Incensed Cllr King, who leads Harborough District Council, told the Mail: “This is totally shocking.

“The Mayor’s comments are very unwelcome and very unhelpful.

“These remarks are immensely disappointing.

“I would have expected much better from the city’s mayor.

“To suggest that people in Leicester amid this new lockdown can just drive to Market Harborough and other parts of the country to drink or get their hair cut is scandalous.

“He should be telling people in Leicester to adhere to new lockdown rules – not encouraging them to leave the city and travel to Market Harborough.”

Cllr Knowles, who leads the Liberal Democrat opposition on Harborough council, said: “This is the last thing that people in Leicester should be doing, coming to Market Harborough for a pint.

“Public safety here has to come first.

“My message to people in Leicester is straightforward – stay safe and stay home.”

The veteran Harborough health activist added: “I can’t believe Sir Peter Soulsby has actually named Market Harborough as a place that people in the city can visit.

“We are talking about people’s lives at stake here.

“This is a killer virus – we could end up with over 70,000 deaths in the UK.

“This is the most terrifying peacetime crisis we have ever faced.

“And all it would take is one ‘super carrier’ travelling here from Leicester to spark a new Covid-19 spike here in Harborough as well as in the city.”