Ministers consider ‘ next steps’ as Labour Mayor stands firm on Tier 3 restrictions
MINISTERS HAVE said they are “carefully considering next steps” after failing to strike an agreement with Greater Manchester over Tier 3 restrictions.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick was involved in talks with local leaders yesterday after days of tense negotiations over the support the region would receive if stricter measures were applied.
But yesterday evening a a Government spokesman said: “A meeting between government and local leaders in Greater Manchester has concluded this afternoon following discussions throughout last week, over the weekend and this morning on measures necessary to protect the public.
“Disappointingly, we have still not been able to reach an agreement.
“This is particularly concerning against the backdrop of rising cases and hospitalisations in Greater Manchester. We are carefully considering next steps.”
The Government has previously stressed how it could impose measures without local agreement but that ministers wanted to reach a consensus.
Mr Burnham has said he would consider court action if that happened.
Earlier in the day the leader of Manchester City Council said the row with Government was not just about the money.
Sir Richard Leese said most people who test positive for the virus “are not getting particularly ill” but the problem was too many now getting ill and increasing hospital admissions and numbers in intensive care.
He said the Government’s “blanket business closure policy” is questionable and instead suggested a shielding programme for those most at risk would work better.
In a blog post Sir Richard said both sides agree on reducing the number of cases leading to hospital admission and that the current situation needs action.
But he claimed the Government’s
approach to bringing down the number of coronavirus cases is not based on the evidence or supported by the science.
“The dispute is often represented as being simply about money,” he said.
Sir Richard claimed the Government wants to close bars and pubs without any evidence they are a major cause of virus transmission and without any evidence that closing them would be effective.
He added: “However, more important than money are the actions to address the problem.
“Most people who test positive for the virus are not getting particularly ill.
“They are not the problem. “Too many are now getting ill and the number of hospital cases is going up, as is the number of people with Covid in intensive care.
“That’s the problem.”
Sir Richard said, with improved treatment now, the “good news” is the death rate for infections will not be “anything like” April or May.
The dispute is often represented as being simply about money. The Labour leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese.