NO DEAL AND NO CLUE
BREXIT: UK set to crash out of EU as Boris says trade talks over VIRUS: PM’s threat fans flames in North as restrictions tighten
BRITAIN was warned to prepare for a no-deal Brexit that could spark economic disaster, after Boris Johnson said EU trade talks are over.
He made the announcement as he missed his own deadline for an agreement.
One industry chief said: “We are heading into dangerous territory.” The PM was also accused of bullying the North into accepting Covid curbs.
NORTHERN leaders yesterday accused Boris Johnson of bullying them into accepting tougher Covid curbs, as the Tier system descended into a shambles.
Lancashire last night became the second area to come under the strictest restrictions, but council chiefs claimed the PM threatened to withhold financial aid if they refused.
And Mr Johnson warned Greater Manchester he would impose Tier 3 sanctions on the region unless they dropped their opposition to it.
Liverpool leaders, already placed in the toughest restrictions, told of their fury after Lancashire was allowed to keep gyms and leisure centres open while they were ordered to close.
Blackpool council chief Lynn Williams said Lancashire had been pushed into the higher category without adequate financial support.
She warned the scheme paying 67% of wages was “not enough” with many across the county on minimum wage.
Ms Williams added: “Essentially we had to agree to this deal or we would not have got a share of anything. And we were also at risk of more businesses going into the closed list.
“We reluctantly agreed. We were kind of bullied into this.” Pendle council leader Mohammed Iqbal said: “Lancashire leaders have been bullied by Downing Street into accepting a deal all sides know isn’t enough to stop the virus.” Preston council chief Matthew h B Brown added: ddd “There was lots of pressure put on us. We were basically told that if we didn’t accept the deal then we would be treated less favourable because of that.
That is bullying, basically. You do what you’re told. And if you rebel, you are isolated.”
The row between Greater Manchester and Downing Street intensified as Mr J Johnson insisted he would step in if Mr Burnham does not place the region in Tier 3 – despite not offering any further aid other than the Job Retention scheme. Graffiti G ffiti i in M Manchester h city centre appeared overnight warning No10: “The North is not a petri dish.”
The PM told a press conference: “On recent trends, in just over two weeks there will be more Covid patients in intensive care than at the peak of the first wave so I urge the mayor to reconsider and engage constructively.
“I cannot stress enough: Time is of the essence. Each day that passes before action is taken means more people will go to hospital, more people will end up in intensive care and tragically more people will die.
“If agreement cannot be reached, I will need to intervene in order to protect Manchester’s hospitals and save the lives of its residents.”
But the leaders argued the measures, which ban socialising indoors and out, would not protect the NHS but could kill businesses.
And they said they had been on stand-by for talks with No10 that
never materialised. In a statement, they said: “We are not convinced that closing hospitality venues is the only way to protect hospitals.
“We want to look at other measures such as reinstating shielding arrangements and introducing tougher instant closure powers on non- compliant pubs, restaurants and shops.
“We firmly believe protecting health is about more than controlling the virus and requires proper support for people whose lives would be severely affected by a Tier 3 lockdown. We do not believe the current proposals provide adequate support and that is why we await further talks with the Government.” Mr Burnham is demanding a financial bailout for businesses and up to 80% furlough support for affected workers.
Regions hit by the toughest restrictions also face the closure of pubs not selling food. Casinos, bingo halls and betting shops are among the other businesses ordered to shut. But Liverpool leaders were left seething after gyms in Lancashire were told they could stay open. When Merseyside went into Tier 3 on Wednesday those facilities had to close. In a joint statement, Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram and leaders of the six boroughs said: “We simply will not accept our region being treated differently to other Tier 3 areas. These inconsistencies risk undermining the system from the beginning.
“We are again demanding the Government urgently supplies us with the scientific evidence behind their decision.” Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson described it as an “inconsistent mess” and said there were now “Tier 3A and Tier 3B” categories.
The UK death rate yesterday rose by 136 to 43,429. And Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance again warned the tier system may not be enough to stop the rise.
Parts of the North East were given a week’s reprieve from going into Tier 3 after it was understood local leaders had successfully argued that the rise in infection rate was slowing in the region.
A meeting between ministers and Nottingham MPs was cancelled at the last minute, amid speculation the city could be moved into Tier 3 restrictions.