IN this week’s column - submitted before the tougher restrictions were announced for the town on Thursday - Labour’s Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols expresses concerns over the future of jobs and businesses.

As increased restrictions were announced for Warrington this month, it has been a busy time in Parliament seeking clarity from the Government on a range of issues and trying to secure much-needed extra funding and extra testing capacity for our town to see us through this period.

With over 14,000 people on furlough in Warrington North and almost 3,000 people in receipt of self-employed income support claims, many of us were hoping that the Chancellor’s Economic Statement last week would do more to protect jobs particularly in areas subject to increased restrictions.

There has been a real change in tone from the early message of “whatever it takes”, and I am concerned that despite the fact many jobs and businesses are viable were it not for the restrictions laid on them by the Government, they may be unable to survive on the support currently offered.

I will keep pushing for more to be done to protect local jobs and industry, which will be vital if we end up following the same trajectory of restrictions as the North East.

Alongside my work in Parliament, this month also saw the Peel Hall public inquiry begin and I gave evidence to voice the objections of our community and to stand with campaigners.

I’ve made a number of visits including Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School, CWU members at BT in Gemini, Rylands Footclub Club in Orford, IKEA in Westbrook, and joining in the Great British September Clean in Burtonwood, alongside my weekly surgeries.

I also took part in the first session of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which took place at the National Defence Academy. I am focusing on the Royal Air Force in a nod to Warrington North’s RAF Burtonwood and RAF Padgate legacy. 

The year-long scheme is an intense period of lectures, seminars and exercises to allow MPs to learn more about the security challenges we face and the military capabilities needed to overcome them from some of the most senior figures in the military and civil service.

The scheme also includes a number of visits to armed forces bases in the UK, to meet with armed forces personnel and better understand military life which I hope will help my work with our local armed forces community and veterans.

Our community has shown incredible resilience, kindness and spirit to face the challenge of coronavirus so far and I know this will continue as we move into this next phase.

I know this remains an incredibly anxious time for many and I want to assure you that me and my office are here to support you however we can.