Extra testing sparks North South divide anger
Sunderland’s council leader has been left angry as extra testing is rolled out for London and other areas of the south immediately, while the North East is still awaiting the mass testing scheme promised a month ago.
Sunderland City Council and six others across the North East asked for enhanced support in September, when additional restrictions were brought in to bring down coronavirus cases.
In November, they signed up for mass testing offered by Health Secretary Matt Hancock – but only now have details been agreed to allow Sunderland to recruit staff to help run additional sites with some issues still up in the air.
On Thursday, Mr Hancock announced that due to the rising figures in the capital and neighbouring counties, secondary school children will be tested in a bid to halt its spread.
It is in Tier 2, while the North East remains in the toughest Tier 3.
Sunderland has previously been told it cannot have an extra testing site for Washington.
Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of the council, has hit out at the lack of government action in the North East as the South gets support, and branded the test and trace system a “car crash of epic proportions”.
He added: “It is very disappointing and it continues to show the Government is only really for London and the South East, not for anyone else and that is especially apparent for the North.
He said leaders “cannot get leverage” with those now in power, stating the decisions were being made by a “policy room in Number 10”.
He added :“We have now got the money for testing and the staff, but without Government support, local authorities cannot do it all.”