More we stick to the rules, quicker they will be lifted, says Burnham
COMMUNITIES could see the new measures eased more quickly “by not acting selfishly”, the Mayor of Greater Manchester suggested.
Andy Burnham, whose entire county is affected by the stricter rules, also criticised the way they were announced, saying ministers should in future have the full details to hand before going in front of the cameras.
“I understand how hard this is for government ministers having been one myself,” Mr Burnham said. “At the moment they’re adopting [what] feels like a new strategy of the minute they see something they are taking decisive action, and I think that’s probably the right way to do.”
But he said ministers had developed a “habit of saying something” several hours before the full details emerged. “A lot of people
I think felt very uncertain about what exactly was being announced,” he said.
He acknowledged the new restrictions were necessary, having seen Greater Manchester’s falling rate of Covid-19 cases reversed “across a much wider geography”.
“We have always said that we will remain vigilant and be ready to respond quickly should the need arise,” Mr Burnham said.
“I have agreed with the Health Secretary that it is right to act on the precautionary principle and introduce modest measures now to bring down the rate of new infections.”
The regulations would be reviewed weekly, he added, calling on residents to “keep the health of others in mind at all times” and adding: “The more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed.”
The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, criticised the Government’s handling of the changes. “No-one would argue with putting in place local action to reduce the transmission of coronavirus,” he said in a tweet. “But announcing measures affecting potentially millions of people late at night on Twitter is a new low for the Government’s communications during this crisis.”