A North East MP has criticised the Government's handling of the pandemic and explained why she is opposed to the lockdown.
The current national lockdown was voted through in Parliament on Wednesday by 524 votes to 16, giving the Government a majority of 508.
However South Shields' Emma Lewell-Buck was the only North East MP to abstain. She said a lockdown was "the wrong approach" and could not vote in favour of it.
In an interview with ChronicleLive, Mrs Lewell-Buck explained why she abstained and said she believed that other measures could help stem the spread of the virus rather than a "panicked lockdown".
"I normally hate abstaining," she said. "You should come down on one side or the other. The whole debate for or against lockdown has become polarised.
"I think this lockdown is the wrong approach and I couldn't vote for it. But voting against it is almost like denying the existence of the pandemic and saying that I don't appreciate the situation we are in. I was stuck in-between and so I abstained."
The Labour MP said the lockdown and the closure of pubs and restaurants was having a major impact on the economy as well as on the mental health of people, particularly those who are isolated.
She believes that various measures put together could help reduce the spread of infection rather than "lockdown after lockdown".
"The Government should have put in place a proper track and trace system, increased statutory sick pay, proper airport testing, and good clear public health messaging so that people know what they should do.
"I voted against the Tier system last time because I didn't think it would work. We were in Tier 4 but cases were still rising.
"Pandemics last for a very long time, this virus will be with us for a long time. We need to adjust in the long term and learn to live with it rather than shutting the economy again.
"If people were going out, they can social distance, wear masks and get clear public health messages.
"But when you shut pubs and restaurants, people are gathering in their homes where they are not social distancing. In pubs and restaurants, it is safe. They put safety measures in place, everyone is distancing and sanitising their hands. Why can't they be open again?
"We need to be looking at this more long term instead of this panicked lockdown. If all of these other things were in place together, we could function as a society."
Mrs Lewell-Buck also said the Government's handling of school closures was a "shambles".
"They have expanded the category of critical workers' children and those who are vulnerable, as a result all the schools are full. Very few people are not in school. That's the reality.
"I have zero faith in this Government, they have bungled it every step of the way."
The Labour Party backed the lockdown vote in Parliament and most Tories were behind the new restrictions, although there were some rebels who expressed concern over the length of the restrictions.
In total, 12 Conservative MPs voted against the regulations. They were joined by four DUP MPs opposing the lockdown.
No vote was recorded for 25 MPs, although this does not automatically mean they abstained.
