Northumberland Labour says recovery from Covid needs to start from within the county, with people being supported to produce goods and the public being encouraged to buy local.

Northumberland Labour leader Scott Dickinson says: “We owe it to individuals and businesses in this county to support their recovery. If businesses in the county are successful it will go a long way to making Northumberland the best county to live in.

“We want businesses, the government, the council and trade unions to work hand in hand to make this recovery happen.

“We know a number of sectors hard hit by Covid and we’re calling on the government to take a common-sense approach to ending furlough and not push whole sectors that cannot recover over a cliff edge. We think the government should assess whether firms operating at a certain percentage or more below their pre-Covid income should be able to access furlough at the September level.”

Nationally Labour says it would do things differently – with its plan to buy, make and sell more in Britain, Labour believes this will get the economy firing on all cylinders and invest in the skills and jobs of the future which our country needs.

Scott added: “Northumberland Labour truly believes the county can come out of this awful situation being better and stronger than ever. We love our county, we want to see it succeed and be the envy of other counties. We know the people of Northumberland have got what it takes to in terms of determination and imagination and we will do our utmost to support individuals and businesses who are producing things locally. We all need to support our local businesses and be proud of the very many goods and services produced in Northumberland.”