Restrictions on travel from Scotland to Manchester, Bolton and Salford will be lifted tomorrow after an angry political backlash.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Government announced the ban on non-essential travel to the Greater Manchester area earlier this month over concerns about covid levels.
However Andy Burham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, hit back and blasted SNP ministers for not telling him in advance of the restrictions.
A parliamentary answer from Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has confirmed it will end from June 30.
He said: "We will be removing the travel restrictions which are currently in place in relation to travel between Scotland and Manchester, Bolton and Salford.
“These restrictions are being removed due to changes in the epidemiological position for those areas. Regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 will be made today and will take effect on 30 June 2021. Restrictions between Scotland and Blackburn with Darwen will remain in place.”
But restrictions on travel remain between Scotland and the area of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, which continues to experience concerning case rates of the more transmissible Delta variant.
Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Nobody wants travel restrictions in place for any longer than is absolutely necessary.
“Placing restrictions on travel between Scotland and parts of north west England was only taken after extremely careful consideration and analysis of data to help prevent the spread of variants of concern.
“Following a careful review of the data we have decided to ease travel arrangements between Scotland and Manchester, Salford and Bolton. However the situation regarding Blackburn and Darwen will need to be closely monitored and will be reviewed again in a week’s time.”
Sturgeon and Burnham engaged in a war of words in television interviews last week as the Greater Manchester mayor continued his criticism of the restrictions, saying he felt people in his region had been “insulted” by Sturgeon’s “high handed” approach and lack of consultation.
The First Minister defended her decision and suggested Burnham was seeking to “generate a spat” with her in order to position himself in a future Labour leadership contest.
Later in a stinging letter to Sturgeon, Burnham repeated demands for individuals affected by the travel ban to be compensated, something the Scottish Government has already dismissed, and for fairness in imposing covid restrictions.
Burnham pointed out that on the latest government figures Bolton has a covid-19 case rate lower than Dundee, while Salford and Manchester were at similar levels.
