Burnham told to accept Tier 3 restrictions or people will die
Quit the political ‘ posturing’, urges Gove
BORIS Johnson is refusing to cave in to Andy Burnham’s financial demands for Greater Manchester as the standoff over whether the city should face strict new Covid- 19 rules intensified.
Talks between the Government and the Labour mayor are set to resume today following a day of squabbling.
In a bitter war of words, Mr Burnham accused the Prime Minister of exaggerating the severity of the coronavirus situation in the region and called for Parliament to intervene to ensure Tier 3 areas get sufficient financial support.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove hit back, accusing Mr Burnham of political “posturing” and calling for him to accept the measures “to save people’s lives”.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Burnham held a “constructive” call with Sir Edward Lister, the Prime Minister’s chief strategic adviser.
Mr Burnham also wrote to Mr Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other Westminster party leaders. And the mayor doubled down on his demands in the letter, calling for greater financial support for workers and businesses affected before he would agree to tougher Tier 3 restrictions.
Mr Burnham said the prospect of Tier 3 – very high – restrictions on hospitality and other areas “is not just a Greater Manchester issue”.
Fairness
He wrote: “Establishing clear national entitlements of the kind we had during the first lockdown will create a sense of fairness which in turn would help build public support any new restrictions.”
He added: “As leaders of the main political parties in Westminster, I urge you to work together to help resolve this current dispute and establish a fair financial framework for local lockdowns that the whole country will be able to support.”
Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady, who is the MP for Altrincham and Sale West in Greater Manchester, told BBC Radio 4’ s Broadcasting House that the region’s Labour and Tory MPs were “pretty united” in opposing Tier 3, which would force the closure of most pubs and bars. A Government source said last night: “There will be further conversations tomorrow. We want to work out something together.”
On Friday, Mr Johnson said he
understood the mayor’s reluctance to go into the “very high” tier but said the situation was “grave” and “worsens with each passing day”.
The PM warned: “Cases doubled in the last nine days. High infection rates are creeping up the age range – while cases are 690 per 100,000 for 16- 29 year olds, they have now risen to 224 per 100,000 for the over- 60s.”
Mr Burnham, said yesterday on the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show: “It’s a serious situation but I don’t think it was the situation described by the Prime Minister on Friday.
“Of course it’s a matter of concern… but the figures have been falling in Manchester itself in the last few days. Across Greater Manchester, up slightly, but certainly not doubling every nine days.”
According to government statistics, there were 1,853 new infections reported on Monday October 12 – a 34 per cent increase from 1,210 on Saturday October 3.
However, the number of new Covid cases has doubled if going from October 6, when 1,849 infections were recorded, to September 26, which saw 777 new cases.
Last night it emerged the region is set to run out of beds to treat Covid patients with some of its 12 hospitals already full. A leaked NHS document revealed that by last Friday, hospitals in Salford, Stockport and Bolton were at maximum capacity, with no spare beds to help with the growing influx.
A total of 211 of Greater Manchester’s 257 critical care beds are already being used for either those with Covid or people who were critically ill because of another illness.
Mr Gove accused the Greater Manchester Mayor of pirouetting so much he “should be wearing a tutu”.
He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I want to reach an agreement with the political leadership in Greater Manchester.
“I want them to put aside some of the political positioning that they’ve indulged in and I want them to work with us to ensure that we save lives and protect the NHS. Instead of press conferences and posturing what we need is action to save people’s lives.”
Pressure
The row rumbled on as new controls came into force on Saturday, meaning that 28 million people – more than half the population of England – are living under heightened restrictions.
Mr Johnson has been under pressure to impose a short national lockdown known as a “circuit- breaker”, as recommended by the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies and backed by Labour.
Asked if the Government would take the measure, Mr Gove flatly replied: “No.” But pressed on whether the measure could be taken in the future, he said it was not merited “at the moment”.