Curbs will wreck the North, says Burnham

TOUGH Tier 3 coronavirus curbs will unleash damage on economies across the North, Andy Burnham warned last night.

Giving evidence to the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, the Greater Manchester Metro Mayor raised fears over the impact of the toughest restrictions on the region.

He told peers: “The aim is to protect people and jobs but ensure business viability and minimise the impact.

“But it’s going to be damage limitation. I think Tier 3 is going to cause damage to our economy and the funding we’ve secured will not be enough to prevent it.”

BRUISING

Former Labour Cabinet Minister Mr Burnham endured a bruising standoff with No10 last week over how much cash Whitehall should stump up to make the measures acceptable to local leaders.

They failed to strike a deal over a £5million shortfall, and Greater Manchester was plunged into the “very high” alert level against their wishes.

Warrington entered the zone yesterday, with Nottingham, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe council areas joining tomorrow.

Prof Wendy Barclay, chairwoman of influenza virology at Imperial College London, feared Tier 3 may not be enough.

She told Times Radio: “The lockdown in March was enough to turn the tide. None of the other restrictions we’ve seen, none of the other actions, seem to have done that.”

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson backed a fourth tier if Tier 3 measures fail to halt it.

More than 50 Tory MPS have written to Boris Johnson calling for “clear data” showing a route out of lockdowns.

CONCERN Burnham, top, and Anderson UNDER A CLOUD Nottingham goes to Tier 3 tomorrow