Every fortnight I give a COVID update to the four political group leaders at South Lakeland. This includes an update on the national, regional and local picture regards our infection rates, hospitalisations, test and trace, marshals and the plethora of grant funding to individuals and businesses.

Data on the movement in employment statistics has been stark. South Lakeland has the highest percentage of furloughed employees in the country. The dichotomy that exists between the criteria for levelling up funding and this set of economic circumstances is not lost on anyone locally.