Tensions grow with Burnham over Tier 3
I’ll intervene if you can’t decide, PM warns mayor
BORIS JOHNSON has piled pressure on the mayor of Greater Manchester to engage in talks over tighter coronavirus restrictions, as discussions also began in West and South Yorkshire over moving up to the next tier.
The Prime Minister yesterday ramped up tensions between Whitehall and Greater Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham by urging him, in a televised press conference, to “reconsider and engage constructively” over Tier 3 restrictions, warning he will intervene if an agreement cannot be reached.
Mr Johnson said time was of the essence after Mr Burnham accused the Government of using the North as a “sacrificial lamb” by not offering more financial support for areas heading into local lockdowns.
It came as Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis said constructive talks had been held with the Government yesterday.
But he maintained that “we are clear, alongside fellow Northern leaders, that a local lockdown lifeline is needed. Additional restrictions must go hand in hand with significant additional resources and funding.”
He said: “Our region faces an increasingly severe situation: we are treading an incredibly fine line to prevent more lives, jobs and businesses being lost, therefore reaching the right agreement is paramount.”
Council leaders in West Yorkshire also entered discussions with the Government but said in a statement: “There was no discussion about moving to a higher alert level.”
Both areas remain in Tier 2 restrictions, meaning households
cannot mix indoors. At a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said he wanted to avoid another national lockdown “if at all possible” but added he could not rule anything out.
It comes after the Government announced that a further 1.5m people in England will be placed under the toughest coronavirus restrictions this weekend as Lancashire moves into Tier 3.
But Pendle Council leader Mohammed Iqbal told the Lancashire Telegraph newspaper:
“Rishi Sunak’s promise that the Government will provide ‘ whatever is necessary’ has clearly become a broken promise to the people of Lancashire and the North.”
He added: “Lancashire leaders have not been given the policies or the means to stop the spread of the virus and have been bullied for political gain by 10 Downing Street.”
Number 10 maintained it had worked in “consultation” with councils.