Northern Liberal Democrats have written to the Government calling for more to be done to protect communities and jobs.
This comes as the North East was given a one-week reprieve from draconian Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions.
The letter outlines a five point plan to help the region weather the pandemic, warning that it is “often overlooked by a London-centric Government”.
Firstly, the politicians have called for funding to allow authorities to deliver Test and Trace locally, claiming the current central system is an “expensive failure”.
A “rapid infusion of funding,” they say, could be “transformative for our fight against the virus,” and “justify the pain caused by a second lockdown.”
The Lib Dems have also asked for support to enable people to self isolate. They claim fewer people in the North can work from home, meaning “support is more urgently needed” for those who cannot work while self-isolating.
They have also called for furlough to extended until June 2021, saying that ending the scheme was a “heartless political choice” and the impact will “last for years”.
More must be done to protect people living in care, the letter said, with Government guaranteeing that all discharges from hospitals into care homes will only happen on a negative coronavirus test.
They also say that staff and care home residents should get regular testing, with the results coming back within 24 hours, and the same must apply to those living independently or visiting loved ones in care homes.
Finally, the Northern Liberal Network has demanded more support for children and young people.
In practice this would mean helping schools stay open and making sure they have resources to provide online learning.
This means getting laptops and internet access for pupils from low income households, extending free school meals and vouchers to make sure every child in poverty can access them, even when schools are closed.
The letter added that Government must “reach a fair deal for university students who are being charged for accommodation they don’t want to use” and make sure that measures to tackle outbreaks in the student community “consider the rights and needs of students and local residents”.
