Northern cities told they could be next
PM hints at full-scale regional lockdowns after moving Manchester into Tier 3
NORTHERN cities have been put on notice that more could follow Manchester into harsh Covid restrictions by the weekend as Boris Johnson suggested full-scale regional lockdowns were close.
Greater Manchester will be put into Tier 3 from midnight tomorrow against the will of its leaders after they failed to agree a financial deal with ministers.
It comes after 11 days’ wrangling that threatened to derail the Government’s tier system and pitted Tory MPS in the North against the Prime Minister. South Yorkshire is expected to agree Tier 3 measures today, with West Yorkshire, the North East, Teesside and Nottingham in talks with the Government.
Mr Johnson said the country was on a “narrow path” and he could not “rule out” further measures. He stressed he did not want to reimpose a national lockdown, believing regional measures were best “given the way the virus is dispersed”.
A deal with Manchester collapsed when Andy Burnham, the city’s mayor, rejected an offer of £60 million to help local businesses, insisting £65 million was the least he would accept.
Mr Johnson said it was “unfortunate” that he would have to act unilaterally, but “given the public health situation, not to act would put Manchester’s NHS, and the lives of many of Manchester’s residents, at risk”. Mr Burnham accused Mr Johnson of “playing poker with people’s lives” but had to deny he had wanted to walk away to score a propaganda coup.
Mr Burnham had told the Prime Minister “it was important to him that he got more” than Merseyside and Lancashire, Government sources claimed last night. A source close to Mr Burnham said it was “desperate stuff ” to reveal elements of a private phone call.
The Prime Minister also faced a fierce backlash from some of his own MPS in former “red wall” seats, one of whom said the Government was guilty of an “overwhelming” failure of negotiation.
Meanwhile, Hartlepool council’s leader said ministers would be told to “sod off ” if they suggested putting the town into Tier 3.
Last night, the Health Secretary suggested the North East would not move into Tier 3 yet as there were “early signs” that cases were “starting to flatten”. But Matt Hancock warned further measures may be needed in Nottingham.
Today, Labour is expected to try to drive a wedge between the Government and its northern MPS by forcing a vote on extending the furlough scheme to Tier 3 areas, paying 80 per cent of the wages of those who cannot work, rather than the current two thirds.
Within days, up to 12 million people could be under Tier 3, meaning the closure of pubs and some other businesses and a ban on household mixing.
Mr Johnson left no doubt that restrictions could get tougher still, as he refused to rule out regional so-called “circuit breaker” lockdowns, and one of his most senior advisers suggested they would be needed.
Another 21,331 people tested positive for coronavirus yesterday, almost 1,900 more than the previous record, with 241 deaths, the highest since June 5.
Prof Jonathan Van-tam, the deputy chief medical officer, told a Downing Street press conference that the R rate
of the infections was still above 1, so the virus was spreading exponentially.
He said: “We’re running now with the brakes partially on, and the R is 1.3 to 1.5, according to the latest estimates. So we can’t take the brake off, and we may have to push on the pedal a little harder.” In a hint that tougher regional lockdowns may be on the cards, he added: “In areas where it is out of control, hard measures are needed.”
However, he said it was inappropriate to insist on tough measures in areas such as Kent or the South West where rates were lower, nor would a “national fire break” be required.
He said it would take up to three weeks to see if the latest measures had been effective, and government sources suggested there was unlikely to be a “circuit break” before then.
Manchester joins Merseyside and Lancashire in the harshest category of restrictions. For at least 28 days, pubs in Greater Manchester will have to close unless they can operate as restaurants, along with betting shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres and soft play areas. Gyms will be allowed to stay open, which is likely to increase pressure to allow Merseyside gyms to reopen.
The talks with Greater Manchester broke down after neither side would budge over funding. Government sources claimed a £55 million grant was agreed with local officials before Mr Burnham upped the ante to £65 million in a phone call with the Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson insisted he could not offer businesses in Manchester more than £60 million as it would be “out of kilter” to what was given to Merseyside and Lancashire. Merseyside had been given £30 million.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said the Conservatives had treated the North “with contempt”. Following confusion over Manchester’s funding, government sources said the region would still receive the £60 million, plus an additional £22 million to support local test and trace and enforcement. They added that talks would continue as ministers wanted Mr Burnham and other local leaders to decide how the funds should be dispersed in the region.
Mr Sunak yesterday said the restrictions could further shrink the economy. The Chancellor told MPS: “Whether it’s the Office for Budget Responsibility or the International Monetary Fund, they project 3 per cent scarring, which will mean our economy potentially being £70-80 billion smaller in the future.”
Pubs and restaurants have been urged to scrutinise patrons by Scotland Yard, it emerged last night. Establishments in the capital have received a police letter imploring them to ask for names, addresses and photo IDS from customers, according to the
‘They project 3 per cent scarring, which will mean our economy being £70-80 bn smaller’