FOOTBALL hero Gary Neville has slammed Labour’s ‘lack of leadership’ after MPs abstained over Covid rules.
The Man U legend, who fears the UK’s most vulnerable have been worst-hit by lockdowns, said leader Sir Keir Starmer has relegated his own party by refusing to step up.
In an interview with Sophy Ridge on Sky, he said Labour is failing to “protect the disadvantaged” over their stance.
It comes after Sir Keir ordered his party to abstain when MPs voted to introduce a toughened new system to replace England’s national lockdown.
The current three tier system, which puts millions more in Tiers 2 and 3, was backed by politicians.
Greater Manchester is in Tier 3 under the system.
Neville said the region is the UK’s hardest hit, with just three weeks of no restrictions since March.
And he said that while he doesn’t disagree with restrictions, more support is needed for those who are struggling – and Labour has failed voters.
“When you’re elected and you’re in that seat in Westminster, you take a position,” he said.
“You don’t abstain.
“You take part in the match – you’re the opposition, not sitting in the stand.
“They sat in the stand while the home team had a clear run.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined a group of 15 backbench rebels to defy his successor and vote against the tiers system.
Mr Corbyn is currently sitting as an independent after being stripped of the Labour whip.
Despite widespread criticism, the new restrictions were passed by 291 to 78, a majority of 213 after a major Tory rebellion.
England defender Neville owns two Manchester hotels with former team-mate Ryan Giggs – the Stock Exchange Hotel in the city centre and Hotel Football at Old Trafford.
In March, the pair opened both free of charge to health workers to help with the crisis.
This morning, he spoke of the difficulties faced in keeping the businesses opened – and said there’s “no work” for his 250 members of staff.
“People are frustrated with lack of leadership in protecting residents of Manchester and communities hardest hit by this,” he said.
The former England captain will likely face further frustrations with the party in the coming weeks after Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds refused to rule out a potential party abstention on a Brexit deal.
He was asked by Ms Ridge: “If a no deal would be catastrophic, in your words, and the UK absolutely needs to get a deal, surely the logical conclusion is that Labour is going to vote for a deal.”
But the shadow home secretary dodged the question – and when probed further, replied: “We want to get a deal, that is crucially important.
“That’s why it’s been extremely concerning.”
