AN announcement that schools in Bury will not reopen on June 1 has been defended by the borough's education boss.

Council officials revealed yesterday, after consulting with headteachers and unions, that the authority does not want governing bodies to allow pupils back.

But the decision has been condemned as "political" by Bury North MP James Daly, who claims there has been inadequate consultation before the decision was made.

And the council has been forced to clarify why the announcement was made yesterday afternoon - when the deadline for a parents' questionnaire runs out at the end of today.

Interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live's Emma Barnett Show, Cllr Tamoor Tariq, the borough's education cabinet member insisted the decision had been taken as time was running out before the anticipated June 1 return of pupils.

"This has got nothing to do with politics at all," said Cllr Tariq, who said headteacher and staff had been "stressed" about the prospect of restarting classes under social distancing requirements.

He told listeners there had been particular worries among the parents of early years learners over how social distancing could be enforced with younger pupils.

The show's host questioned the extent of the sampling which had been conducted boroughwide - and if the local authority had the power to make a ruling on the schools' reopening.

Cllr Tariq said the announcement had been made with the support of Bury school and academy headteacher, who had issues over personal protective equipment, testing and track and tracing measures.

Earlier Bury North MP Mr Daly said: "Let us have a grown-up debate about this in respect of this because decisions like this have a massive impact on people living in our borough, and I want people to make clear decisions, based on the best clinical and medical advice, and not the views of a certain politician.

"Bury Council does not have the power to shut schools in this manner. This is not an official decision of Bury Council and they have not gone through the correct processes."

He said it was a "political decision" of the Labour cabinet, which had not been consulted upon.