Damien Moore MP has been successful in persuading the Government that gyms across the Liverpool City Region can reopen.

The Southport Conservative MP has been campaigning hard on behalf of gym owners since the new Tier 3 restrictions were introduced in the region last Wednesday (14 October).

The new measures were agreed between council leaders in Merseyside and Halton and the Department for Health and included the temporary closure of gyms and leisure centres.

Council leaders in Lancashire meanwhile, in their talks with the government, agreed for gyms in their area to continue trading during the new Tier 3 restrictions.
Mr Moore has been calling for gyms in the Liverpool City Region to stay open, saying they are “a solution” in the fight against Covid-19 with huge benefits for both physical and mental health.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said that “nobody has stood up for gyms in this country more”.

Mr Moore said: “I have been informed by the government this morning that gyms can reopen across Merseyside from this Friday.

“Well done to all those who campaigned to reverse the decision. Our region should never have been placed in this precarious position.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Following strong representations from Damien Moore MP, I’m delighted we’ve agreed with local leaders to reopen gyms in the Liverpool City Region.

“Damien has been a brilliant campaigner for the people and businesses of Southport and I’m grateful to him and other local leaders for the excellent, constructive approach they’ve taken with us to tackle the virus across Merseyside while we look to protect both lives and livelihoods.”

MP Damien Moore raised the issue in Parliament on Monday, as he urged Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock to reopen gyms.

Speaking in a debate in the House of Commons, he said: “The (Tier 3) deal that was struck was not a good deal for my constituents in Southport.

“Will the Secretary of State review these restrictions as soon as possible and get our gyms open?
“They are part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock MP said he would consider Mr Moore’s argument, but stressed that the restrictions introduced in the Liverpool City Region area last week had been made in agreement with council leaders in the local area.

He said: “Nobody has stood up for gyms in this country more than my Right Honourable Friend (Damien Moore) and he has made this argument endlessly to me.
“He stands up for Southport and I will take this point away.

“But as I have said, these decisions were taken in agreement with the local area and we want to, as much as possible, make agreements with local areas so that we can all give out the same public health messages which is if everybody follows the rules then we are more likely to get this under control and get the Liverpool City Region out of Tier 3 altogether.”

Council leaders in Lancashire agreed different Tier 3 restrictions with the Government last week, with gyms in Lancashire allowed to remain open at the request of council leaders there.

Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Steve Rotherham said last week that the government imposed the closure of gyms on Merseyside.

“On Monday, the government made it clear that the decision was made “in agreement” with local leaders.

What the Mayor says behind closed doors and in public are two different things.
“He’s been back-peddling and knows it’s his failure to represent our region effectively in these talks that led to gyms closing.

“We’ve been walked all-over in comparison to Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
“We need gyms across our region to promote positive physical and mental health.
“I spoke with the Health Secretary who said that he would review gym closures on
Merseyside and confirmed that there would be an opportunity for local authorities to review

this decision in the near future under the ‘sunset clause’.

“I’m determined to support gym owners and their members in Southport and the wider
Merseyside region.”

Anyone would think he was solely responsible for this u-turn. He wasn’t, as reported in yesterday’s qlocal, it was a collective effort by MP’s and council leaders from across the area. https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/n...n-55047932.htm

Moore useless claim.

Meanwhile he votes against free lunches for poor chldren.