MP leads cross-party calls for non-essential construction sites to close for duration of coronavirus pandemic

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has secured cross-party support for his call for the Government to "end any uncertainty and mandate the closure of all non-essential construction sites".

Over 50 MPs have signed Tim's letter to the Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, urging the Government to ensure that sites allowed to remain open "should be restricted to construction firms involved in supporting health, emergency services, essential post Grenfell safety work and works essential to the public".

Tim said: "Unfortunately, ongoing construction work is jeopardising the ability of people to follow the guidance in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus, ultimately risking the safety of the hundreds who work on the sites and anyone else they come into contact with.

"Of course, necessary works must continue. Anything other than that puts individuals in the distressing situation where they have to choose between keeping their job or putting their loved ones at risk.

"That is why the Government must mandate the closure of all non-essential construction sites immediately, furloughing all staff to ensure they receive at the very minimum 80% of their salaries going forward.

"The Government must end the uncertainty and they must do it now. To fail to act is to fail to protect construction workers and their families."