NEWTON Abbot’s MP has expressed her disappointment that Devon will be placed in Tier 2 restrictions when Lockdown 2 ends next week.

In this week’s Mid-Devon Advertiser Anne Marie Morris vowed she would fight alongside Devon’s other MPs to try to prevent the county being placed in the higher level of restrictions.

Of today’s (Thursday’s) announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson the Conservative MP said she was: ‘Disappointed to see Devon placed in Tier 2, especially given the fact that Teignbridge currently has the lowest cases per 100k in England, but appreciate that it would be impossible to divide us up further.

‘If, as expected, this decision was made primarily based on healthcare capacity in the region then this is regrettable.

‘We find ourselves in this situation due to historic underfunding of healthcare in the South West and a complete lack of understanding from Governments (of all colours) that a ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work, especially in rural areas.

‘This pandemic should be a wake up call as to how we provide rural healthcare in the future.’

England’s coronavirus tiers were set out by the government as more areas face the toughest restrictions.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that most places were in the middle level - tier two.

Just three areas will be in the lowest-level of restrictions - tier one - once lockdown ends after 2 December.

The Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly - where there have been no recorded cases in the past week - will be the only areas of England in tier one.

Differences between the new tiers include restrictions on where households can meet up:

Tier one: the rule of six applies everywhere, indoors and out

Tier two: the rule of six applies outdoors but there is no household mixing anywhere indoors

Tier three: can only meet other households in outdoor public spaces like parks, where the rule of six applies

Gyms and close-contact beauty services like hairdressers will be able to open in all tiers. Guidance said people in all tiers who can work from home should continue to do so.