Rishi Sunak backs Red Wall lockdown rebels: Chancellor shares the 'frustrations' of Northern Tory MPs over the latest round of coronavirus curbs

Rishi Sunak last night said he shared the 'frustrations' of a new bloc of angry Northern Tory MPs as it emerged he could try to win their support with a string of major infrastructure projects.

The Chancellor suggested that he sympathised with the MPs who stunned Downing Street on Monday by writing a joint letter outlining their frustrations with northern Covid lockdowns.

The 55 Tories in the Northern Research Group have demanded that No 10 produce a roadmap for a way out of the restrictions, warning they risk damaging the Prime Minister's 'levelling up' agenda.

Rishi Sunak last night said he shared the 'frustrations' of a new bloc of angry Northern Tory MPs as it emerged he could try to win their support with a string of major infrastructure projects

Yesterday, one MP in the group warned that No 10 faced a 'tussle' over the tiered system of local lockdowns, which have hit the North, particularly in 'Red Wall' seats the Tories won from Labour last year. 

Others said they would use 'our muscle to argue our corner' – but denied that was a veiled threat.

Collectively, the MPs have the numbers to overturn the Government's majority. Boris Johnson is yet to respond to the letter, but last night Mr Sunak told the backbenchers that as a fellow MP for a northern constituency, he understood their concerns.

'I absolutely share my colleagues' frustration at restrictions – of course that's frustrating if you're having to live under these things and you want to know when it's going to be over,' he told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat.

'But I also share their passion and ambition for the North. 

I want my constituents to make sure they have the same opportunities that everyone else does. 

The 55 Tories in the Northern Research Group have demanded that No 10 produce a roadmap for a way out of the restrictions, warning they risk damaging the Prime Minister's 'levelling up' agenda

The conversation can't always just be about what's going on in London, marvellous as London is.

'And so whether you're constituent of mine in rural North Yorkshire, whether you're, you know, hanging out in Teesside, you should have access to the same set of opportunities.' 

He said the Government remained committed to investing in infrastructure, education and skills, new job placements and rural broadband. 

Last night, sources told the Mail that the Treasury may seek to placate the MPs with offers of big infrastructure projects in their seats.

Though departmental budgets will be restricted to a year in the next spending review, large road, rail and infrastructure projects will be exempt. 

Northern constituencies could be the beneficiaries of some of these projects which will be allocated based on the manifesto commitment to 'level up', Treasury sources said.

Simon Fell, Tory MP for Barrow and Furness, said the group was 'trying to essentially keep the Government honest on its promises to the north', adding: 'It's going to be a bit of tussle for a while getting No 10 into the position where they understand what our voters are hoping for and what they expect to get out of us.'

The Tory MP for Shipley, Philip Davies – who signed the letter – said the NRG could 'use our muscle to argue our corner'. 

He added: 'The Government is pursuing a strategy which is collapsing the economy and this is disproportionately falling on the north of England. 

'It is not what I call levelling up. If the Government brings forward any further restrictions, I won't be voting for them.'

More than 8 million people in England, mainly in the North, will be under the most stringent restrictions by the end of the week. 

Warrington entered Tier Three yesterday and will be followed by parts of Nottinghamshire tomorrow.