Manchester mayor warns of 'fracturing of unity' within England
As the UK lockdown begins to fall apart as a result of poor government messaging, more and more political leaders are expressing alarm at the potential consequences both for public health and national cohesion.
The latest major political figure to express deep concern at the government’s coronavirus crisis management strategy is the mayor for Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
Writing in the Guardian (May 16), Burnham accuses Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, of pursuing a London-centric strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Focusing his analysis on England, Burnham argues that the government has been neglecting the northern English regions and by extension accelerating the “fracturing of national unity”.
“The gap between national government and local government in England is growing wider by the day”, Burnham writes.
Burnham’s piece in the Guardian is in keeping with his consistent criticism of government funding for northern local authorities in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The Government says it is being fair to councils in the North. Here is a table with their latest allocations. You decide. pic.twitter.com/xEI5jorkme
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) May 17, 2020
Furthermore, Burnham told the BBC earlier today that the government risks a “second spike” in the north of England by “ignoring regional leaders”.
Burnham’s sharp criticism re-focuses the debate onto England as opposed to the UK’s peripheral nations, notably Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It is a sharp reminder to Johnson and the Tory government that the coronavirus crisis has the potential to awaken long-dormant centrifugal forces within England.
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