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Chris Green, pictured, MP for Bolton West and Atherton was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Evans
A Greater Manchester councilor MP has resigned from the government in opposition to Boris Johnson’s Covid-19 approach.
Chris Green who is the MP for Bolton West and Atherton was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Evans.
It is the second time Green has resigned from the government, having resigned earlier in 2018 over Brexit.
A PPS does not receive any additional pay above his parliamentary salary.
Writing to the prime minister, Green stated that “the attempted cure is worse than the disease.”
He wrote: ‘There is a healthy debate on how we can eliminate this coronavirus or how we can live with it and this is being led by many distinguished academics, epidemiologists and other specialists.
“I believe there are better alternatives to the government’s approach, which is why I am resigning.”
Johnson has announced a three-tier Covid monitoring system, but has so far turned down calls to implement a short-circuit lockdown in England to provide respite from the virus.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said he would support the government if they announced a two- to three-week nationwide lockdown for half the period to improve testing and tracking and avoid “sleepwalking in a long, bleak winter.”
He told a televised news conference that Johnson was “no longer following scientific advice” by proposing “far less strict restrictions” than those suggested by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
Sir Keir said: ‘There is no time to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt. The government’s plan is simply not working. Another course is needed. ‘
He said schools must remain open, but all pubs, bars and restaurants must be closed during the circuit breaker, while businesses are compensated so that “no business loses” to “break the cycle” of infection.
If we don’t, we could sleepwalk into a long, bleak winter. That choice now belongs to the Prime Minister. I urge you to do so, ” Sir Keir said.
The call came after documents released Monday night showed Sage delivered a series of more drastic recommendations than Johnson’s proposed new three-tier system.
Green resigned in opposition to Boris Johnson’s new Covid-19 plan, which introduced three tiers in England.
Green claimed the government’s response to Covid-19 was more damaging than the virus
In September 21 documents, scientists also criticized the government’s £ 12bn test-and-trace system for having only a ‘marginal impact’ on the transmission of Covid-19.
Sir Keir said the national lockdown would “reverse” rising infection rates and allow ministers to “rectify” some of their mistakes by handing over evidence and tracing to local authorities.
But he acknowledged that it “would require significant sacrifices,” including restrictions on domestic mixing and a ban on all work and travel except essentials.
Amid mounting unrest in conservative banks, Sir Keir said Labor would support the government in voting on the measure to avoid it having to “balance the needs of its party with the national interest.”
Senior Conservative Sir Bernard Jenkin said local advice in his Harwich and North Essex constituency was that a “short, sharp shock” would be the best way to tackle the pandemic.
The chairman of the powerful Commons Liaison Committee told Times Radio: ‘If we took it hard now, we would be well back to manageable levels before Christmas. If we leave it for another five or six weeks, then … the tail of the bell curve runs through January.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the three-tier system of local closures was necessary to avoid more severe restrictions and spiraling deaths when he opened the Commons debate.
“And furthermore, then inevitably tougher economic measures would be needed to keep it under control and would be needed longer,” he said.
Green claimed that the blocking measures in Greater Manchester have not worked
Sage’s document, dated Sept. 21, said a package of interventions was needed to reverse the “exponential” increase in cases.
The scientists established interventions that should be considered for an “immediate” introduction, including a brief national “circuit breaker” lockout.
It was also suggested that almost all university teaching move online, banning domestic mixing and the closure of all bars, restaurants, cafes and gyms.
Downing Street issued a protracted defense for failing to take the measures, saying scientists agree that the economic impacts and harms of the restrictions must also be considered.
When asked if Johnson was no longer following the science, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The government receives advice from a wide range of scientific experts and also from economists, but ultimately it is up to the ministers to make decisions.”
The spokesman insisted that “strong and specific” measures were taken last month with the six o’clock rule and the 10 pm curfew, while the public was asked to work from home if they could.
The dispute came as No. 10 warned regional leaders who are reluctant to enter the highest level of Johnson’s restrictions that the government has the power to “impose” the measures.
So far, only the Liverpool city region has agreed to subscribe to Level 3 restrictions, prohibiting domestic mixing indoors and closing pubs unless they can operate as restaurants.
The spokesman declined to say in which areas of North and Yorkshire and the Humber the government still wants to accept the toughest restrictions.
But he added: “The government has the ability to impose measures if you consider that that is what is needed to reduce transmission, safeguard the NHS and save lives.”
Johnson established the new system in England on Monday, which will see areas classified into different categories labeled as medium, high or very high risk.
The middle tier maintains current national restrictions, high-risk areas will see households being banned from mixing indoors, and the third tier will see tougher restrictions, including pub closures, unless they can operate as a restaurant.
Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said England’s tiered system would “ give a glimpse ” of a similar scheme it is developing, which could go into effect when tougher measures are relaxed on October 25.
Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford said he was “ deeply disappointed ” that Johnson had not imposed an outright travel ban from “ very high ” alert areas and is considering whether to take further action, which could include the effective closure of the border.
In Northern Ireland, regulations currently prevent household mixing, with exceptions for those who ‘bubble’ with another household, and up to six people from up to two households can gather outside in a private garden.
