Rise in Delta variant leads to Manchester travel ban

From today (Monday 21 June), you cannot travel between Scotland and these places in England unless it’s essential:

• Manchester

• Salford

This is due to concern over a rise in Delta variant coronavirus cases.

These rules also still apply to Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen. Non-essential travel was banned between Scotland and Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen on 24 May.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Nobody wants travel restrictions in place for any longer than is absolutely necessary.

“Placing restrictions on travel between Scotland and Manchester and Salford has only been taken after extremely careful consideration and analysis of data to help prevent the spread of variants of concern.”

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham yesterday accused the Scottish government of “hypocrisy” over the travel ban.

He criticised the Holyrood government for a failure to communicate and said he will write to Ms Sturgeon and ask the Scottish government to compensate local people who had planned to travel to Scotland and businesses that could lose bookings.

Travel restriction measures will be kept under review.