Back call for more cash for Covid hot-spots, says mayor

GREATER Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called on Westminster’s political leaders to help in “breaking the impasse” over the coronavirus restrictions by holding a Commons vote to secure greater support for the hardest-hit areas.

The Labour mayor was said to have had a “constructive” conversation with Boris Johnson’s chief strategic adviser, Sir Edward Lister, yesterday afternoon as he battled to get increased funding in exchange for the region accepting Tier Three measures.

Amid continued clashes with the Government, Mr Burnham called for MPs to help workers and businesses hit with the harshest restrictions by having an urgent debate this week, warning that “this is not just a Greater Manchester issue”.

He wrote to the Prime Minister, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders in Westminster, warning that “most places” will end up in Tier Three at some point before a vaccine is rolled out.

Mr Burnham called for a “full and fair furlough scheme” covering 80% of wages, or at least the national minimum wage, support for the selfemployed and improved compensation for businesses.

He said the “clear national entitlements” similar to during the first lockdown are essential to create the “sense of fairness” to ensure compliance with new restrictions.

“We recognise the uncertainty that this is causing and write to ask for your help in breaking the impasse and finding a fair resolution,” Mr Burnham said.

“This could be done by Parliament calling an urgent debate and vote this week to establish a cross-party consensus on what constitutes a fair financial framework for people in areas under Tier Three restrictions.”

After confusion and mixed messages over whether talks between No 10 and the mayor would continue, Mr Burnham spoke with a key adviser yesterday. Mr Burnham’s spokesman said: “The mayor has had a constructive call with Sir Edward Lister.”

Earlier in the day, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove heightened tensions when he accused Mr Burnham of having engaged in political “posturing” and called for him to accept the measures “to save people’s lives”.

Mr Gove told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday he wanted to “reach an agreement with the political leadership” in Greater Manchester.

“I want them to put aside for a moment some of the political positioning that they’ve indulged in and I want them to work with us in order to ensure that we save lives and protect the NHS,” he added.

Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West in Greater Manchester, told BBC Radio 4 that the region’s Labour and Tory MPs were “pretty united” in opposing Tier Three.