More than 50 Tory MPs ask Boris Johnson to provide ‘road map’ out of lockdown for north
A group of Tory MPs representing northern regions - known as The Northern Research Group - have written to the Prime Minister and asked him to provide "a clear road map down the tiering system and out of lockdown".
More than 50 Tory MPs have signed a letter asking Boris Johnson to provide a “road map” out of lockdown for the north – with several areas now under Tier 3 restrictions.
Warrington became the latest northern region to enter Tier 3 this week – joining Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the ‘very high’ local COVID alert level.
Nottingham in the Midlands will also move up to Tier 3 at 00.01 Thursday.
This will leave more than eight million people living under the tightest regulations – which include bans on household mixing and the closure of pubs and bars that do not serve substantial meals.
Betting shops, adult gaming centres, casinos and soft play centres must also shut in Tier 3 areas.
ADVERTISEMENT
David Dixon / Geograph
The north has been hit hardest by restrictions since the second wave of COVID-19 hit the UK, and a group of Tory MPs representing these regions – known as The Northern Research Group – have written to the Prime Minister and asked him to provide “a clear road map down the tiering system and out of lockdown”.
The letter, put forward by Jake Berry – Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen – warns that the north is being “disproportionately” affected by the measures.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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,” the letter reads.
Good to speak with Sophie Ridge earlier, we need to provide a clear roadmap out of lockdown, accelerate key infrastructure projects and reaffirm our commitment to the North with a #NorthernRecoveryPlan. It was also helpful to provide some much-needed clarity on free school meals pic.twitter.com/4QX9aNso6T
Berry’s statement also emphasises that there has never “been a more pertinent and urgent political and economic case to support people living in the North.”
A Number 10 spokesman said: “We are absolutely committed to levelling up across the country and building back better after coronavirus.
“We stood at the last election on a solemn promise that we would improve people’s lives, and although the pandemic has meant 2020 is not the year we all hoped it would be, our ambitions for the country are unchanged.”
News
Family pay tribute to ‘fun-loving’ son who died in Wythenshawe as man charged with murder
Emily Sergeant
The family of a man who died in Wythenshawe last week have now paid a touching tribute to him.
It comes after at around 11:35pm last Thursday (5 February), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to reports of an incident on Southwick Road in the Northern Moor area of Wythenshawe, and when emergency services attended the scene, they discovered a man in his 20s had been ‘seriously injured’.
Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the man sadly at the scene.
The victim has since been formally identified as Drew McCormick, who was aged 29, and another man was also subsequently arrested.
19-year-old Lewis Morley, of Ryecroft Grove in Manchester, was charged with murder and has been remanded to next appear at Manchester Crown Square Court on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
A police investigation into the incident is now being run by GMP’s Major Incident Team (MIT) and enquiries are ongoing.
In the meantime, Drew’s family have paid tribute: “There are just not enough words to describe Drew and the impact he had on many lives. He was a fun-loving person that brought laughter and joy to the world with his big bright smile and loud laugh.
“Drew had the biggest heart and would do anything for those he loved. He loved his family deeply even more than TikTok.
“He has left a huge hole in our hearts, and our lives will never be the same. We love you Drew and will keep you in our hearts forever.”
With investigations ongoing, anyone who has any information or footage in relation to the incident that may assist GMP with its enquiries is urged to report them via the dedicated major incident portal here.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Plans officially submitted for ‘vibrant’ new food hall in Wythenshawe
Emily Sergeant
Are you feeling hungry? Good, because a new food hall is on the horizon.
That’s right – plans to transform Wythenshawe Civic have taken another exciting leap forward this week, as Manchester City Council and placemaker Muse have submitted a planning application to bring a brand-new food hall to the town.
Set to be housed within the three units next to the former Peacocks store – which has now been demolished – the new food hall will become a ‘vibrant’ destination for independent and local food vendors to attract people with ‘delicious and diverse’ offerings.
Developers also hope the new food hall will keep the suburban Manchester town’s centre ‘bustling’ throughout the day and into the evening.
The announcement that the new food hall is in the works comes as part of the already-announced plans for Wythenshawe Civic – with work to soon begin on everything from the public realm, and outside space, to the vacant office space above the existing Iceland-store, which will also be transformed into modern new workspace to support local start-ups and bring new jobs into the town centre.
Developers also recently submitted three separate applications to create 422 new affordable homes for social rent across three locations in the town centre.
“Listening to local people over the last year and more, we know that Wythenshawe residents want more from their town centre – more things to do, opportunities to spend time in Civic and night time attractions that give the area a lift and attract visitors,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“This is the drive behind the Culture Hub. A place for local people with an interest in the arts to take part in creative activities, see a show or enjoy the cinema space – right in the heart of their community.
“This is another exciting chapter in the transformation of Wythenshawe Town Centre.”
Joel Chandler, who is the Senior Development Manager at Muse, added that developers are ‘moving at pace’ with plans to give the town centre the ‘regeneration it deserves’.
“The food hall will be a hive for a range of local outlets and will provide new spaces for the community to spend time in and give the town’s nighttime economy a major boost.”
The Manc -
27th October 2020 
