Health Secretary says drawn out negotiations over tiering system with local leaders caused cases to rise

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has defended excluding local leaders from the decision-making over coronavirus tiers as he said cases previously went up during drawn out negotiations.

As he outlined new coronavirus measures in the Commons today, Mr Hancock was challenged by Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth on why local leaders and metro mayors did not have input as they had in previous systems.

Mr Ashworth said: “I remember that when areas such as Bury and Trafford went into lockdowns in the summer, the Secretary of State promised that MPs would be involved in the decision. Has that commitment been abandoned?

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“Then, Ministers agreed to involve regional leaders, but took exception to being challenged by Andy Burnham, so what role do regional leaders now have in these decisions, or is the position really that the Prime Minister imposes from Downing Street restrictions on communities across the midlands and the north—restrictions that will have a huge impact on the livelihoods of families and small businesses?”

Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis. Photo: JPI MediaSheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis. Photo: JPI Media
Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis. Photo: JPI Media

A row between Greater Manchester metro mayor Mr Burnham erupted in October over moving into Tier 3 restrictions and the support on offer.

Before the second national lockdown in England, ministers undertook negotiations with local authorities in order to settle on a package of measures to control rising rates of coronavirus infection in their areas, along with financial support to help mitigate any impact.

But the lengthy row with Mr Burnham saw a host of defiant press conferences objecting to plans.

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And the Labour mayor accused ministers at the time of treating the region as a “sacrificial lamb” by asking it to accept a proposal which the “Government’s own advisers say won’t work”.

But Mr Hancock said in the Commons today that where “where local leaders were not working alongside us” cases had gone up while a consensus could not be reached.

Although he did not specifically name Mr Burnham, he said: “We invited councils to engage ahead of the decisions today, and we also invited all colleagues in the House to have an input, but it is important that we have clear public health messaging, because unfortunately we did see the number of cases going up and continuing to go up in those areas where local leaders were not working alongside us.

“It was a sharp contrast to what happened, for instance, in Liverpool, but also in other areas where the local leadership was so constructive and positive.”

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And although he praised Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis for his work, Mr Jarvis admonished the lack of engagement.

He said: “These restrictions are necessary to protect the health of our residents, but it's deeply concerning that the government yet again excluded mayors and local leaders from the decision-making process around the new tiering arrangements.

“We now have to make these restrictions work on the ground, so it's only right that we are properly involved in the process. The failure to do that is part of a wider pattern of over-centralisation which has held us back for too long.”

Mr Hancock said earlier this week that the high-profile battle with Mr Burnham over financial support had been “bad for public health” and vowed not to let it happen again.

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To make their decision, officials have instead looked at coronavirus cases across all age groups, but specifically among the over-60s who are considered most at risk, along with whether infection rates are rising and the prevalence of the disease per 100,000 of the population.