London Critical Care bursting at the seams in Wave 1: National lockdown with furlough to keep food on the table, huge amount of NHS capital funding, Cabinet Office procurement of essential equipment, "clap for your NHS".

Northern cities' Critical Care bursting at the seams...

Local lockdown, briefing against mayors of the wrong political persuasion, no funding safety net for citizens, additional NHS funding pulled (back to cap in hand begging for essentials) and innovative central procurement mothballed.

This is not a game of poker. This is a national problem. If Andy Burnham doesn’t have the funds to fill potholes, why would he suddenly be able to support thousands of vulnerable people and SMBs through a second lockdown and enhance regional NHS capabilities?

It’s in the national interest to have a full plan for regional lockdowns. Otherwise watch out: this time Dick Whittington will have Coronavirus.