SUNAK READY TO SHELL OUT FOR MANC DEAL
A DEAL to break the deadlock over the Government’s plans for Tier 3 restrictions on Greater Manchester was edging closer last night.
Mayor Andy Burnham will hold more talks with No 10 today after discussions yesterday with senior officials were described as “constructive” by his team.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is understood to have told the Prime Minister he is willing to offer local leaders tens of millions of pounds to soften the financial blow of going into the highest level of lockdown.
But it falls short of the region’s demand for the new jobs furlough scheme, which offers 66 per cent of wages, to be as generous as the 80 per cent paid earlier this year. One local politician warned: “We’re not there yet.”
The Liverpool city region was given an extra £30million to support businesses hit by tough Tier 3 measures at the weekend, taking the total to £44million.