High Streets could turn into ‘ghost towns’ under local lockdown restrictions - with hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk, Labour has warned.
The Party is calling for more support for workers and businesses in areas placed under stricter rules to combat local coronavirus outbreaks.
Labour said a £170 million underspend in the Government’s Covid-19 grants programme for businesses in local lockdown areas should be used to safeguard jobs rather than “clawed back” by ministers.
The party estimated that this funding could support an additional 15,000 businesses in areas with local restrictions. Lockdowns have been reintroduced in Preston, Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire due to local outbreaks.
Read more on mirror.co.uk