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Andy Burnham accuses Government of 'walking away' from talks for Manchester Tier 3 restrictions

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham speaks to the media outside Bridgewater Hall: AP
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham speaks to the media outside Bridgewater Hall: AP

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said £65 million was the minimum sum needed to prevent a “winter of real hardship” under Tier 3 restrictions but the Government refused to accept this and walked away from negotiations.

Discussions were still taking place between Mr Burnham and Boris Johnson this afternoon after the Government’s midday deadline passed.

But the Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the discussions had concluded "without an agreement" and accused the mayor of being "unwilling to take the action that is required".

Mr Burnham used a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to call on Parliament to develop a "fair financial framework" for Tier 3 lockowns.

He added that the northern leaders were "led to believe the Government will be imposing tier 3 restrictions", but he is not aware of what will be announced later today.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Burnham said civic leaders were prepared to reduce their bid for financial support to £65 million – a figure he described as the “bare minimum to prevent a winter of real hardship”.

He said: “That is what we believe we needed to prevent poverty, to prevent hardship, to prevent homelessness. Those were the figures that we had – not what we wanted – but what we needed to prevent all of those things from happening.

“But the Government refused to accept this and at 2pm today they walked away from negotiations.

“In summary, at no point today were we offered enough to protect the poorest people in our communities through the punishing reality of the winter to come.

“Even now I am still willing to do a deal but it cannot be on the terms that the Government offered today.”

(PA)
(PA)

The Greater Manchester Mayor accused the Government of playing "poker" with people's livelihoods and jobs.

“Is this a Government committed to levelling up this country? What we have seen today is a deliberate act of levelling down," said Mr Burnham.

As Mr Burnham prepared to speak, shouts of “go on” came from bystanders outside the Bridgewater Hall concert venue in Manchester.

He told the press conference that people in Greater Manchester had been “living under restrictions for three months – and they take a heavy toll on people. They’re struggling, businesses are on the brink of closure.”

He said to accept further restrictions without a suitable support package “would be certain to increase levels of poverty, homelessness and hardship.

“It’s people working in pubs, in bookies, driving taxis, people too often forgotten by those in power.

“It can’t be right without proper support so they can look after themselves and their families through a very challenging that is ahead of us.

“But the Government refused to accept this, and at 2pm today they walked away from negotiations.”

Boris Johnson is expected to announce today tier 3 restrictions in Manchester (PA)
Boris Johnson is expected to announce today tier 3 restrictions in Manchester (PA)

During the press conference, Mr Burnham was shown a message saying £22 million would be given to the region and restrictions would come into force on Friday.

He said: “It’s brutal, to be honest. This is no way to run a country in a national crisis. It’s not right, they should not be doing this.”

Mr Burnham finished his speech by directly addressing the people of Greater Manchester.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

He said: "We know this is going to be a difficult time for you, but together with the leaders behind me, we took this stand for you.

"We will carry on fighting for you, we will carry on putting your health first, but health is more than the virus.

"Tough days lie ahead and please everybody observe the law at all times and above all else, please look out for each other."

The Prime Minister is due to hold a press conference this evening where he is expected to set out the Government’s next steps over a potential Tier 3 lockdown in Manchester.

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