Tory MPs have clashed with Manchester mayor Andy Burnham over his claims that it would be ‘impossible’ to lift lockdown restrictions in just one borough ahead of a review today.
A major incident was declared by authorities in Greater Manchester this week following a rise in the number of coronavirus infections and new measures were introduced.
This meant people from different households were told not to meet each other inside their homes and gardens while they were also banned from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.
Labour mayor Mr Burnham said on Wednesday it would be ‘impossible’ to lift stricter lockdown restrictions in Wigan despite the borough having the lowest infection rate in the metropolitan county.
Wigan has the lowest infection rate in Greater Manchester but will not have restrictions eased
Labour mayor Mr Burnham said on Wednesday it would be ‘impossible’ to lift stricter lockdown restrictions in a single borough
However, furious local Conservative MPs took exception to his comments and have written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, claiming Mr Burnham’s ‘one size fits all approach’ is ‘not only wrong, but dangerous’.
They added that lockdown measures in Leicester were only applied in certain areas, and were lifted gradually when it was deemed safe to do so.
That in turn sparked an angry response from the mayor, who said it was ‘so self-serving to politicise a serious public health issue like this’.
It comes as findings from a review of the current rules affecting parts of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire, as well as Leicester and Greater Manchester, are set to be made public today.
The letter to Mr Hancock was signed by MPs James Grundy, Sir Graham Brady, James Daly, Christian Wakeford, Chris Clarkson, Chris Green, Mark Logan, Mary Robinson and William Wragg.
It read: ‘We are writing to you to express our grave concerns about the comments of The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, regarding the recent measures put in place to combat COVID-19 across Greater Manchester in his press conference on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 5.
Furious local Conservative MPs took exception to the mayor’s comments and have written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured, claiming Mr Burnham’s ‘one size fits all approach’ is ‘not only wrong, but dangerous’
‘During the press conference, Andy Burnham was quoted by Manchester Evening News journalist Jen Williams, stating that it was ‘impossible’ to lift the restrictions in any single borough, implying that the new Greater Manchester wide COVID-19 measures must remain in place across the whole conurbation, even in communities that may have not registered a single case for weeks, until the outbreak has been dealt with everywhere across the metropolitan county. This would be an unacceptable approach.
‘Firstly, the claims made by the Greater Manchester Mayor are categorically false. As you know, the measures applied to the recent outbreak in Leicester did not apply to the whole county, but only Leicester City and the Oadby and Wigston local authorities, and the measures were later lifted in Oadby and Wigston whilst some measures remain in force in Leicester.
‘Furthermore, in the neighbouring county of Lancashire, and the neighbouring metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, the new measures only came into force in the parts of those counties worst affected by COVID-19. It is perfectly possible to vary the measures on a local authority by local authority basis according to the evidence available, as has already been demonstrated.
‘The strategy pursued by Andy Burnham of a ‘one size fits all’ approach across the whole of Greater Manchester, irrespective of local infection rates, is not only wrong, but dangerous. This strategy risks spreading resources too thinly across the whole conurbation, including in areas with few or no cases.
‘A more sophisticated approach targeting resources at the areas with the greatest need is required. Measures must be taken on a borough by borough basis, and on a town by town basis in boroughs, where there are only one or two coronavirus ‘hotspots’, but the rates in other parts of the same borough are low.
The MPs added in the letter, pictured left and right, that lockdown measures in Leicester were only applied in certain areas, and were lifted gradually when it was deemed safe to do so
The letter sparked an angry response from the mayor, who said it was ‘so self-serving to politicise a serious public health issue like this’
‘Failing to properly target resources, meaning inadequate measures in some places where the problems are greatest, and wasting resources where none are currently needed risks a wider outbreak across Greater Manchester, will only lead to more stringent ‘full lockdown’ measures being imposed as happened in Leicester. We must strive to avoid this at all costs.
‘The Mayor of Greater Manchester has failed to understand that there is a great deal of variation in terms of infection rates and consequent need across Greater Manchester, and is seeking to impose a crude and ineffective strategy across the whole area.
‘We urge you to take swift action to address the clear failings in the strategy he has put forward to avoid the risk of further restrictions needing to be put in place.’
In response, Mr Burnham tweeted: ‘I’ve seen it all now.
‘A group of Tory MPs write to a Tory Health Secretary trying to blame me for a decision which their own Tory Government made.
‘So self-serving to politicise a serious public health issue like this. Not sure it merits a response but I will send one later.’