Why are Nicola Sturgeon and Manchester mayor Andy Burham locked in a war of words?
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham have exchanged some heated words as the Manchester-Scotland row continues. The political row comes as Covid delta cases soar across the country. A total of 79,953 Delta cases were sequenced in the UK up to June 16, an almost twice-fold increase of the week befores 42,323. By the week beginning June 14, 2,853 Delta cases had been identified in the US, 747 in Germany, 277 in Spain and 97 in Denmark, according to global health tracking map GISAID. The row kicked off when Scotland imposed a non-essential travel ban on people going to Greater Manchester from the nation. Mr Burnham said the new Covid rules, announced to Scotland at a daily press briefing, are insulting and that people in Manchester havent been treated with the respect we deserve. The Mayor argued parts of Scotland have higher coronavirus rates than Bolton, which has also been subjected to the unfair rules. He has since written to the First Minister asking her to explain the rationale behind her decision and to compensate people hit by the ban. READ MORE: Why Sturgeon's Scottish independence bid could be DERAILED by new plan