Boris to lay out Manchester’s lockdown rules at 5pm as city asks for cash
The midday deadline for a decision on Tier 3 restrictions in Greater Manchester has passed with no agreement reached
Boris Johnson will reveal the fate of Greater Manchester’s lockdown this evening following a tense stand off between local leaders and central Government.
Downing Street said it would be holding a press conference at 5pm after the midday deadline for reaching a deal passed.
The leaders of Greater Manchester are reportedly asking for a minimum of £75 million before agreeing to enter a tier three lockdown, which would see pubs and bars forced to close.
Mayor Andy Burnham was given until midday Tuesday to accept the strictest level of restrictions or face having them imposed without consent.
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He and other regional chiefs have been embroiled in a bitter row with the Government over the amount of money available for businesses and workers that will be affected by the draconian measures.
The Treasury is only offering to cover two thirds of wages of employees whose place of work has to shut, rather than the 80% that was paid under the furlough scheme.
Mr Burnham has accused ministers of trying to impose ‘lockdown on the cheap’ and argued for a hardship fund to top up wage subsidies.
On Monday evening communities secretary Robert Jenrick issued a late-night ultimatum via the media, threatening to put the region under a tier three if a deal is not reached by noon today.
The letter said the Government was offering £22 million of additional support – the equivalent of £8 per head for the population of 2.8 million.
It contrasts with an offer of £44m for Merseyside’s 1.5m population and Lancashire’s £42m for 1.5 million people.
In the House of Commons today, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said £8 a head was the national baseline for regions entering tier 3 but extra sums were offered to Greater Manchester on top of that.
It is unclear how much extra Greater Manchester has been offered.
Earlier, the BBC reported that leaders want a minimum of £75 million.
Under the rules of the third tier lockdown, bars and pubs that don’t offer substantial meals have to close at a minimum, and residents are banned from mixing with other households in any indoor setting
Boris Johnson and Andy Burnham are engaging in last minutes talks directly this afternoon.
The PM is expected to reveal the details of any agreement hashed out with Mr Burnham this evening – or force in them into lockdown.
Mr Burnham confirmed today he would ask people to obey the law if the Government imposes tier three restrictions without the desired financial support.
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