By Ben Kerrigan-
Over 50 Tory MPs have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling for a “clear road map” out of lockdown restrictions in northern England, warning the region risks being “left behind”.
The letter from the Northern Research Group is calling for an economic recovery plan for the region, arguing it had been hardest hit by the virus.
All the areas under the strictest restrictions of the government’s three-tier system for England are in the North or the Midlands. Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said every area going into tier three would be reviewed after 28 days to assess the level of cases.
The call by Mps comes as Warrington became the latest area to join the Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Yorkshire in the top tier, while Nottingham and parts of the surrounding county will move into the highest tier on Thursday.
Over eight million people in England are living under the toughest restrictions, which are reviewed after 28 days, by the end of the week.
In areas under tier three rules, pubs and bars not serving substantial meals must close and households are not allowed to mix indoors or outdoors in hospitality venues or private gardens.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the “simplest and most effective way” for areas to get out of tier three was to get the R number – the rate at which the virus is spreading – “down to one or below”.
The Department of Health also said other data taken into account included which age groups were being affected and the pressures facing the NHS in those areas.
And Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said every area going into tier three would be reviewed after 28 days to assess the level of cases.
Some 40 Conservative MPs representing areas in the north of England, North Wales and the Scottish borders, have publicly signed the letter, including former cabinet ministers David Davis, David Mundell and Esther McVey, while a further 14 have had their names redacted.
The newly-formed Northern Research Group of Tory backbenchers is led by former Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry.
In their letter, the group called for the prime minister to set out “a clear road map down the tiering system and out of lockdown”, warning restrictions were “disproportionately” affecting people in the north of the country.
“The virus has exposed in sharp relief the deep structural and systemic disadvantage faced by our communities and it threatens to continue to increase the disparity between the North and South still further,” they said.
The letter urged the government to prioritise key infrastructure projects and accelerate job creation in the region.