LEIGH MP James Grundy voted against a motion calling for additional support for businesses closed down due to coronavirus restrictions, branding it as "a mechanism to impose another national lockdown."

The Conservative MP opposed the motion, which was voted down in Parliament.

The Additional Covid-19 Restrictions: Fair Economic Support motion, put forward by the Labour Party, called for a "fair one nation deal" to give areas being moved into higher local restrictions the financial support they need to support businesses and workers affected.

It included increasing payments to workers, from two thirds of wages (as under the Job Support Scheme) to 80 per cent and giving additional support to businesses which may have to close or would lose business.

The motion was voted down by 340 votes to 261 in the House of Commons.

Mr Grundy accused Labour of tabling a vote to "create a mechanism to impose another national lockdown, disguised as a funding formula".

He said this would case "absolute chaos" for constituents in Leigh and says he was keeping his promise to residents to oppose a "national lockdown", whoever was calling for it.

Tier Three restrictions are being imposed on the region from Friday.

Ministers have reportedly offered to talk to individual councils about claiming their share of a £60m package.

Two Tory MPs in Greater Manchester voted in favour of the Labour motion, including Chris Green, the MP for Bolton West and Atherton.

Explaining his reasoning behind his vote against the motion, Mr Grundy said: “Last night, Labour tabled a vote to create a mechanism to impose another national lockdown, disguised as a funding formula.

“This would have meant shutting down almost all businesses, most public services, and all schools, which would cause absolute chaos for my constituents, confining many to their homes, forcing others to have to find childcare, and simply destroying many local small businesses for good.

“As I promised constituents earlier this week, I will not support another national lockdown, whether proposed by the Labour opposition, or by the Government. I make no apology for keeping the promise I made to my constituents earlier in the week.”