Published by Helen Down at 7:55pm 29th July 2020. (Updated at 11:01am 30th July 2020)

By Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy Reporter and Helen Down

Sir Keir Starmer has called for more specific support for the hospitality and tourism sector in the Duchy.

On his first visit to the south-west since becoming Labour Party leader he came to Falmouth to find out how the pandemic has affected the area.

Although Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the support provided by the government so far he thinks businesses should get better help in the form of targeted support.

“I am really worried about the impact on tourism businesses, particularly here in Cornwall and the South West.

"The research we have shown shows that where you have got towns and areas with a high percentage of people in tourism the claimant rate has gone up dramatically in the last few weeks, that is a real cause for concern.

“What local businesses have been telling me is that the short season, social distancing is really having an impact.

"They want a bit more support for the rest of the season to help them survive this year so that they can be here this time next year and not go under.”

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour Party leader

Sir Keir Starmer with Harry James Mills Co-owner of We Sup

"Our plan is to make as much money as possible in the short amount of time, and look at our businesses at the end of the summer and figure out how we will survive winter.

"There's always a way, we'll work it out when we get there.

"The government has given us a small amount of support which has kept us going for the time we have lost.

"But I wonder if they will give us support for the time we've not yet got to, that will be interesting"

Harry James Mills Co-owner of We Sup

Last week Cornwall Council said that a decision by the Government to request back money which had been hoping to use to help businesses which need discretionary support grants was “devastating”.

The authority said that 3,500 businesses would miss out having had no financial support during the coronavirus crisis and that could put businesses and jobs at risk.

Additionally Cornwall Council has said that the cost of COVID-19 has been £74 million and while it has received some money to cover that bill it has not had enough to cover it all.