Media commentators have joined a Twitter pile-on against London Mayor Sadiq Khan's announcement of new COVID-19 restrictions on the capital.
Londoners had "a difficult winter ahead,” under the tier two lockdown rules, Khan admitted, "But – just as we’ve always done throughout our city’s great history – I know we’ll get through this dark time by pulling together."
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage called the development "depressing," a sentiment echoed by others.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 15, 2020
— All On The Board (@allontheboard) October 15, 2020
— Suzanne Evans (@SuzanneEvans1) October 15, 2020
— Dan Wootton (@danwootton) October 15, 2020
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) October 15, 2020
Conservative website Quillette associate editor Toby Young insisted the number of cases in the capital was far too low to justify "destroying our hospitality sector". Others, including LBC's Julia Hartley-Brewer and the Telegraph's Allison Pearson agreed.
— Toby Young (@toadmeister) October 15, 2020
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) October 13, 2020
— Allison Pearson (@allisonpearson) October 15, 2020
— Ben (@Brixton_Ben26) October 15, 2020
— Kevin Edger (@KEdge23) October 15, 2020
New European columnist James Ball attacked the "half-measures" he said had failed to work in other cities.
— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) October 15, 2020
But Matt Chorley of The Times took a more sarcastic view of London joining Liverpool and Manchester under the new lockdown restrictions.
— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) October 15, 2020
Others saw the funny side:
— Coco Khan (@cocobyname) October 15, 2020
— Bennett Arron (@BennettArron) October 15, 2020
— Curtis Django West🇯🇲 (@CDWPD) October 15, 2020