AS a Bolton resident affected by the Scottish Government’s travel ban for non-essential trips, I have to say I think Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham protests too much – and a bit late in the day.

I had arranged to see my daughter and grandchildren in Scotland this month and cancelled the trip when the ban was announced several weeks ago. I had booked accommodation but the owners were fine about it – I had not been asked for a deposit so we were not out of pocket; I hope the B&B owners found other guests.

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It’s hard to avoid the view that Burnham’s manufactured spat with Nicola Sturgeon is more about his own political ambitions than helping us poor elderly folk in Bolton. If Burnham had wanted to resolve this issue he could have pursued it through a more diplomatic approach rather than playing to the anti-Scottish gallery south of the Border.

Prof Paul Salveson
Bolton