North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin among MPs calling on Andy Burnham to work with Government

North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin is one of 20 who have called on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to “engage” with the Government’s regional approach to restrictions.

In a letter to Mr Burnham and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, 20 Conservative MPs said a national lockdown would impose “severe costs” on areas with low transmission.

The letter was organised by Broadland MP Jerome Mayhew and signed by MPs representing constituencies currently at the lowest tier of coronavirus restrictions.

However, Mr Burnham said yesterday that the letter “isn’t going to cut much ice”.

“I’m not sure a sort of ‘we’re alright Jack’ letter from a group of southern Conservative MPs is going to cut much ice here,” he told the Andrew Marr Show yesterday morning.

“I would say to them some of them represent constituencies whose cases were higher than ours when we went into national lockdown.

“Anywhere could end up in Tier 3 this winter. In fact, I would say places are likely to end up in Tier 3 this winter, therefore it’s everyone’s concern that we protect the lowest paid in our communities.”

The 20 MPs said in the letter that they wished to express their “deepest sympathy and solidarity with Greater Manchester”.

“This virus is not just taking loved one away before their time, it is also wreaking havoc to businesses and communities.

“On behalf of our constituents, we feel compelled to write to you to ask you to engage with the government’s regional approach to tackling the virus.

“We know you are calling for a national lockdown now but urge you to reconsider.

“As you know, there are stark differences between the prevalence of the virus in Manchester and much of the north of England compared to other parts of the country. ”

In Manchester, the latest data contained in the letter shows cases have now reached 474 per 100,000, while in Liverpool there are 678 cases per 100,000.

However, comparable numbers are much lower in the other areas.

It’s 47 per 100,000 in Norfolk, 18 per 100,000 on the Isle of Wight, 32 per 100,000 in Cornwall, 38 per 100,000 in Herefordshire and 39 per 100,000 in Somerset.

“Given this disparity, it does not make sense to shut down the whole country when the virus is spiking in particular locations,” the letter continues.

“Our constituents, like yours, have made many sacrifices to get – and keep – the virus under control in our areas.

“We are deeply worried about the prospect of having to go through the pain of another national lockdown.

“None of these judgments are cost free, but we want to reinforce the fact there are severe costs of a national lockdown in areas which currently have low transmission.

“The cost of a national lockdown in our constituencies would be tens of thousands of jobs in hospitality and leisure put at risk needlessly, viable businesses being put on the brink, not to mention the toll on our constituents’ mental health and access to routine NHS treatment.

“The devastating facts of the situation are that under either course of action, businesses would close in Manchester, whereas a regional approach offers some protection to businesses in areas of low prevalence.

“In the long run, a national lockdown which hits the economy across the whole country would be even more damaging to Manchester’s businesses.

“It is very clear to us- and the people we represent – that the local and regional approach is the right response to the current situation.

“We urge you to work with the Government to get the virus under control in Greater Manchester, so we can all avoid the pain of another national lockdown.”