Labour MP Tony Lloyd in hospital with coronavirus

Rochdale MP is 'stable', family says

Labour MP Tony Lloyd

The member of parliament for the town of Rochdale has been admitted to hospital after contracting coronavirus.

Tony Lloyd, 70, is reportedly in a “stable” condition at the Manchester Royal Infirmary where he is being treated for Covid-19.

In a statement released through Mr Lloyd’s Labour party, his family said: “He is stable and responding to the treatment and dedicated care that he is receiving from the brilliant doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff at the hospital.”

Mr Lloyd, who has been an MP since 1983 is shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, a role he has served in since 2018. His hospitalisation comes in the middle of a Labour reshuffle.

Well-wishes for the veteran MP included a message from SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, who said on social media he was “wishing my good friend Tony Lloyd a full and fast recovery”.

Mr Lloyd was previously interim mayor of Greater Manchester, as well as the city region’s police and crime commissioner.

MPs and politicians have been hit hard by the virus. Last month Professor Neil Ferguson, one of the government’s advisors on the pandemic, warned that “there is a lot” of Covid-19 in Westminster.

The first MP to test positive was Conservative MP Nadine Dorries. The prime minister Boris Johnson is currently being treated in hospital following a period of self-isolation.