DORSET MPs have renewed their calls for the county to be placed in Tier 1 of the coronavirus alert system ahead of the first review of the local authority restriction levels in the coming days.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the situation in relation to Covid-19 had “vastly-improved” across Dorset in terms of case numbers and hospital bed occupancy.

The former trade minister urged the Government to ease restrictions for all of Dorset in the forthcoming review, with the decision due on Wednesday, December 16.

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms told the Daily Echo that he believed Dorset Council and BCP Council areas should move from Tier 2 to Tier 1.

Sir Christopher Chope, who represents the Christchurch constituency, said there was “scepticism and low expectations” over whether the drop in Tier would be delivered.

In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock on December 11, Mr Burns MP said: “In advance of the review of public health Tiers, I wanted to update you further on progress made in the area that I represent in the BCP Council urban conurbation which has been coupled with the rural Dorset county for public health purposes.

“The number of confirmed cases has continued to fall significantly in both; as at 5 December, the rolling rate of infection in BCP is down to 63 cases per 100,000 and Dorset remains below 40 cases per 100,000. These are both dramatically below the national average of 157 and amongst the lowest in England.

“Equally pleasing is the much-reduced number of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, which for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust combined is reported by the NHS to have totalled 88 on 8 December compared to 145 at the time of the Government’s initial assessment a week earlier.

“On the basis of this vastly-improved situation, I urge the Government to move Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset to Tier 1 in the forthcoming review.”

Sir Robert said based on coronavirus infection rates and hospitalisations, Dorset should be in Tier 1, adding that this should have been the case following the second national lockdown at the start of December.

Bournemouth Echo: Sir Robert Syms MPSir Robert Syms MP

He warned there will be a lot of discontent from Dorset MPs should the county remain in Tier 2 after Government review.

Sir Christopher told the Daily Echo: “I think there is scepticism and low expectations despite the dramatic reduction in infection rates and hospitalisations.

“There is a feeling that the Government doesn’t want to restore our freedoms and therefore we are going to be left to suffer over Christmas and New Year [excusing the five-day lifting of restrictions from December 23 to December 27].

“Let’s hope I am wrong but that seems to be the gloomy outlook.”

Bournemouth Echo: Sir Christopher Chope MPSir Christopher Chope MP

He added: “I can’t really bring words to express my disgust with the way in which one single-issue pressure group has captured the whole of the policy-making process for the country, to the detriment of individual liberty and also the prosperity of businesses. I find it impossible to comprehend.

“I am still getting a lot of emails and letters from constituents and I find it impossible to justify what the Government is doing because there is no scientific basis for it and we keep being promised this and that and then it isn’t delivered.

“If there is any consistency in the Government’s approach then the whole of Dorset should go into Tier 1 on the review on December 16.

"I sincerely hope that is what happens but I am certainly not encouraging people to bank on it because I use the past as a guide to the future.”