THE Government’s Tier system has been branded a “farce” and “shambolic” by Slough’s MP Tan Dhesi as he calls for tougher measures.

Speaking to the Observer on Friday (October 30) Mr Dhesi said the introduction of the Tier system is causing confusion and sending out mixed messages to people, rather than controlling the rate of transmission.

He warned that if the government does not change course, it “will end up ruining Christmas and the holiday period for all of us”.

Areas in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire that neighbour Slough – which went into Tier 2 on October 24 – remain in Tier 1 despite having a similar infection rates to the borough of over 100 cases per 100,000 population – such as Windsor and Maidenhead and South Bucks.

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Tan Dhesi said: "I said from the start that the handling of the pandemic by the government is shambolic and this tier system is merely another example of that.

“It’s very unfair on residents who live on the same street to have different tiering, guidelines, and regulations in place.

“There is constant movement between the different counties and London and that’s why these measures will, in effect, make it harder for us to control the virus.”

Following advice from SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), Labour, as well as Slough’s MP, called for a national “circuit breaker” – a short lockdown – for two to three weeks in order reduce the rate of transmission ‘substantially’.

Called “the best way to control cases” by SAGE on September 21, the government instead pushed forward with the three-tier system – which Tan Dhesi said has only caused mixed messaging and “gradually bled businesses dry”.

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Mr Dhesi – who is also shadow minister for railways – told the Observer the government’s support for businesses and individuals is “not enough” and has called for similar support like the furlough scheme.

In particular, the aviation and hospitality sectors as well as the self-employed have been hit the hardest during the pandemic and Slough’s MP said he will continue to call for ‘sufficient support’ to protect these jobs and sectors in Parliament.

He said: “Slough has seen the highest unemployment increase of any town and because of the government’s dithering, both our public health and our economy are likely to see a further sharp decline.

“The UK has already endured the highest excess death rate in the whole of Europe and is forecast for the deepest recession of any European nation.

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“We desperately need the government to get a grip, in particular, of its supposedly world beating test and trace system and to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British people.”

It was reported late last night, Friday, the government might bow down to pressure by their scientific advisors and are considering a month-long lockdown in England in the hopes of easing the rate of transmission before Christmas.

Following a sharp rise in cases across England, a new “stay at home” order could be announced on Monday, with schools and universities exempt.