Leicester Lockdown Diary: 2

Leicester's lockdown is being extended

On the second day of Lockdown Extraaaa in Leicester, we learn how the city's sweatshop rag trade factories have been a significant contributor to the spike in virus cases that has led to at least two more weeks on the naughty step for the rest of us in the city.

It is a nettle that must be grasped. Properly. No more pussy-footing around the issue for fear of offending racial sensibilities.

The Guardian today reported how Covid-19 has ripped through some of Leicester's 1,000 garment factories, almost exclusively owned, run and populated by workers from the local South Asian communities. Workers have been tested positive and still been forced to continue working, infecting still more people.

Those people may then have gone back to multi-generational homes in the east of the city where the outbreak appears to have taken hold. Many of these workers are in the 20-40 age groups, which sit with the demographics of those mostly testing positive.

Campaign group Labour Behind The Label reported instances of furlough fraud, factories staying open throughout the initial lockdown – while the Daily Mail yesterday reported some factory owners saying they will openly defy the new lockdown.

The pressure group reported a “shameful disregard of worker safety” over the virus. The food industries – Walker's Crisps has seen positive cases, as have Samworths, who supply sandwiches to supermarkets – have also had issues.

Walkers are based in Leicester

Mick Cheema, whose Basic Premier brand in Leicester has been highlighted as an ethical clothing manufacturer, said he was aware of “manufacturers who have been operating without a risk assessment in place for Covid”.

“Social distancing within those workplaces is not normal. Some have carried on operating as they did before the crisis.”

Dominique Muller, author of the Labour Behind the Label report, said big new orders for clothing during lockdown were behind the factories staying open, and accused major brands including online giant Boohoo of failing to do enough to monitor conditions at the factories. The report said Boohoo accounted for at least 75% of z production in Leicester and called on the company to identify its suppliers so that their practices could be scrutinised.

Central Government has repeatedly failed to clamp down on conditions in the factories, where minimum wage rules are flouted. They have been concerned more with immigration raids. But now is the time to get tough. There is a clear need to put the onus on factories to prove beyond doubt that they are not gaming the system and treating workers fairly. We simply cannot tiptoe around an issue that is wrong on many levels.

When a factory in Bangladesh caught fire, killing hundreds of workers, the issue of British retailers using cheap labour abroad without a care for worker welfare was rightly in the headlines. The spotlight was shone on the fast fashion industry. And Boohoo will have done well while Primark has been locked down – as it will be again now – as Primark does not have an online presence.

Primark at Fosse Park, Leicester

If we can spotlight malpractice abroad, then it is just as important to expose and tackle it here. Particularly for those among Leicester's 300,000 population who now face job uncertainty because of the newly-enforced closures: the hospitality outlets, shopping malls – such as Fosse Park, close to M1 Junction 21, which is undergoing a huge expansion. And then there are a host of smaller businesses – from painters and decorators to beauticians, who have had to postpone work and reopening plans, tentative though they were in any case.

This is a health crisis like no other we have experienced. And it seems we are leaderless.

Or more particularly being guided by a small group who have cocked up the country's response to the pandemic so spectacularly that their exit strategy is to uncork the pubs this weekend (unless you live in Leicester) and let things rip. Then if the virus spikes, blame everyone else but themselves: “Well, we did say behave responsibly...”

Bearing in mind I wrote this before Boris Johnson, at Prime Minister's Questions today, blamed Leicester people for not understanding and adhering to social distancing, he proved me right in double-quick time.

This from a man who says social distancing can be reduced from this weekend, when numerous other towns and cities are experiencing spikes in infections, and the pubs can reopen. His words are insulting to the many in the city who have been following the rules for months.

His actions can only be deliberate. He and his ministers have already blamed the NHS, the scientists, the experts. Now it is the people's turn - many of them who, you have to pray, now regret having voted them in with renewed power only last December.

The ruling cabal is now busy sweeping away experienced, intelligent civil servants in order to surround themselves with unquestioning minions.

The UK, specifically England, has already had a higher death toll that any country in Europe. Only Brazil and the US – both run by people you would not trust to sit the right way round on your lavatory – have fared worse. It is likely that any subsequent spike and proper autumn wave are likely to be far worse than anywhere else bar Brazil and the US too.

I can see the “air bridges” to holiday destinations being hauled back up from the other end, and the NHS, which has been protected in part by shipping out the elderly, untested to care homes, is in for another busy time when it is already severely fatigued.

And I can see spikes elsewhere in the country, requiring further lockdowns – including in Leicester. The Johnson-Cummings-Gove trident of chaos will prevail as it always intended with its 'herd immunity' strategy. I believe the only thing that can unhinge the unhinged is a Tory party revolt. Already those in seats won in traditional Labour areas have shown their unease. An 80-seat majority in the Commons could still be flipped if that unease grows.

This virus crisis still has a long way to run. Don't expect life to get back to anything like it was before anytime soon – if at all.