Liberal Democrats from across the North of England, including four council leaders, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, and Liberal Democrat Leader in the Lords Dick Newby, have written to the Prime Minister stating that the North has been “overlooked by a London-centric government”.
The letter calls for a raft measures to be implemented urgently to help stop the spread of the virus across vast swathes of the country.
Some of the measures include:
Rapidly funding local authorities to enable a local scale-up of the failing test, trace and isolate system
Increasing support for those who need to self-isolate and cannot work from home
Expanding furlough support until June 2021
Following the letter, Laura Gordon, Chair of the Northern Liberal Network, said:
“The Government’s strategy so far has failed. Restrictions in areas like Greater Manchester and the North East have been in place for months, yet they are still experiencing a huge spike in coronavirus cases.
“It is clear that urgent action is needed before hospitals become overwhelmed. But unless Ministers start working with local leaders to overhaul and properly fund the test, trace and isolate system, these lockdown measures alone will do little to allow Ministers to get a grip on this second wave.
“Equally, people in the North of England are desperate for more financial support from the Chancellor. Supporting those who need to self-isolate and can’t work from home, as well as extending the furlough scheme until next summer, would be an important start in getting control of the virus and saving livelihoods.”
John Leech, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Manchester, said:
“Avoiding our hospitals and NHS being overwhelmed, along with the impact on our frontline healthcare and key workers must be at the forefront of our minds. We must work together; across local authorities, regions and party lines to avoid unnecessary heartache for families.
“But the Government’s strategy so far has failed: Coronavirus cases are still increasing, and pressure on local businesses and jobs have never been greater.
“And now Labour and the Tories are just squabbling with each other. Urgent action is needed before our hospitals become overwhelmed, businesses close, jobs are lost, and people’s livelihoods are thrown into jeopardy.
“Mancunians need more financial support: those who need to self-isolate and can’t work from home, as well as extending the furlough scheme until next summer.
“We must listen to the clear scientific evidence, and we must be consistent: Public health should be the number one priority, but people’s livelihoods must urgently be protected too. Failure to do this will result in an economic catastrophe that could take generations to recover from.”
