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.
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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.
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“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.”
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Wetherspoons introduces new phone rule at all UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’
Emily Sergeant
JD Wetherspoon has announced a major new phone rule in all its sites across the UK after customers complain of being ‘driven nuts’.
The pub chain – which has nearly 800 branches across the UK – announced earlier this week that it has made the decision to ban people from playing music or videos out of their phones, and from taking calls on loudspeaker.
The ban, which has been introduced effective immediately, follows a rising number of complaints from customers about the noise – with owners saying sounds from smartphones and tablet computers had become an ‘increasing problem’ in recent years.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, says he wants Wetherspoon pubs to be ‘an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation’.
Wetherspoons has introduced a new phone rule at all its UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’ / Credit: Allan Rohmer (via Unsplash)
A formal statement from the company announcing the ban reads: “Following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations, Wetherspoon has asked customers to switch their phones to silent or to use earphones.”
Tim Martin added: “In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.”
Wetherspoon’s ban follows a YouGov poll conducted last year questioning public opinion on a proposition made by the Liberal Democrats of introducing fines of up to £1,000 for ‘headphone dodgers’ who play music out loud on buses and trains.
62% of people, on average, said they would back this move if it was introduced.
The poll, which surveyed 6,815 British adults, found that almost three-quarters of those over 65 would support the fines, while those aged between 18 and 24 were split 47% to 43% in favour of it.
Early public reactions to Wetherspoon’s ban appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
Featured Image – Jonathan Borba (via Unsplash)
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Tameside police appeal for witnesses after two men were stabbed and doused in chilli oil
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing for information regarding ‘multiple incidents’ that were reported in Ashton-under-Lyne town centre earlier this week.
These incidents – which took place on Tuesday evening (18 August) – included reports of assaults involving a non-toxic liquid substances, now found to have been chilli oil, and reported stabbings – with several locations examined by detectives and forensic specialists, and scenes now in place on Stamford Street, Warrington Street, and Wood Street while investigations continue.
Two men, aged 44 and 50, were taken to hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds, but thankfully, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed that their injuries are not deemed life-threatening.
A 30-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault (grievous bodily harm) and both remain in custody for questioning.
Police believe that the incidents are linked and they are not looking for anyone else in connection.
They are, however, keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed any of the incidents or has relevant CCTV, dashcam, or mobile phone footage that could assist with ongoing investigations.
Can you help? Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact police on 101 or via LiveChat, quoting log 3984 of 18/08/26.
The Manc -
27th October 2020 
