Andy Burnham has spoken up about children returning to schools and the test and trace system, comparing self-isolation with being called for jury service.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the Mayor of Greater Manchester said that children going back to school should be a top priority, but only if the test and trace system is improved.

Mr Burnham also called on the Government to give local councils the resources to do more contact tracing.

He said: “It’s got to be the top priority, getting kids back to school, because they have had huge disruption this year.

“We have got to make every arrangement possible so that people can have that peace of mind.

“But it does point then at the test and trace system, it isn’t yet good enough and I am saying to the Government we need to work together to get this system right over August so that we can then both of us give that confidence to those parents.”

The Mayor said that the other closures should be looked at if there's a rise in coronavirus infections when schools reopen.

He said: “You have to look at other things that might need to close if there’s a risk with the R number increasing as a result of children coming back.

“But this is why test and trace is so crucial because if it is working properly then you might not need to close anything, you can do it all very carefully.”

Mr Burnham also said it was “absolutely crucial” all employees be able to self-isolate on full pay.

He said: “So many people are struggling to self-isolate because they just can’t afford it.

“We are saying to the Government you have got to give all employees in the country the ability to self-isolate on full pay and it’s only that approach that will get test and trace system working properly.”

The Mayor urged the Government to put systems in place to ensure that people can self-isolate if they are struggling financially.

“Our poorest communities are going to be very, very exposed in the second half of this year if we have people who can’t self-isolate when we have the virus circulating in those areas and schools going back adding to the risk.

“It’s a simple request we are making, a bit like when you are called up to serve on a jury, when you get a request from the Government to go and be a juror.

“This also is a request from the Government when you’re being asked to self-isolate, so let’s give everybody the ability to follow that request.

“Test and trace will start working much better if we do that.”