The Daily Politics

Sir Graham Brady says there is "weak evidence" tier three restrictions for Greater Manchester would slow the spread of coronavirus.

Image source, Reuters

The MP for Altrincham and Sale West since 1997 and chairman of the influential Conservative Party's 1922 committee, told BBC Two's Daily Politics the plan was "not sensible" and faced "considerable opposition from local MPs of both parties, from council leaders of both parties and the mayor".

He said:

BBC News UK

The government and local leaders - including mayors and MPs - have been embroiled in 10 days of talks over moving Greater Manchester's 2.8 million people from tier two to tier three.

Local leaders in Greater Manchester have been calling for greater financial support to help those who would be affected.

Image source, PA

Currently, the new Job Support Scheme covers 67% of the wages - covered by employers and the government - of people affected by tier three closures, as opposed to the 80% offered during the UK's first lockdown.

Earlier, Mr Burnham BBC Radio 4's Today programme he would advise local leaders to set out their request to the government for extra financial support in a letter.

He said:

He said he would not "break the law" if no agreement was reached between both sides and the government imposed tier three measures on Greater Manchester.

"It's their prerogative to do what they think is needed," he told BBC Breakfast.

"But I would say to them that I don't think it will help us bring people with what they want to do to control this virus. I think it would be better to come to an agreement."

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

Let's explore - in broad terms - the numbers being crunched in the negotiations between Greater Manchester and the government.

In his letter to the city region's leaders last night, the Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick promised "Greater Manchester authorities will receive over £22m (£8 per head) additional funding, to fund additional support for vulnerable people and redouble efforts on compliance and enforcement".

But the row is not about this.

It's about another line in the letter: "We are open to looking at additional funding which would allow you to do more to support local businesses as well, proportionate to the approach we have taken in the Liverpool City Region and Lancashire."

If you do a few sums on a bit of paper, that would mean around £56m extra for Greater Manchester.

My colleague Iain Watson now learns, external that Greater Manchester is looking for a minimum of £75m - which isn't far from adding together our calculation of £56m and the already agreed £22m.

Prepare for an afternoon of more head-spinning numbers.

The boss of Citizens Advice Manchester says the charity is still coping with the effects of the first coronavirus lockdown.

Local service manager Jamie McGlynn said:

Nationally, the charity said the enforcement of council tax arrears should be paused in tier three areas in England and said councils should also be given extra funding to support those who are behind, which should be prioritised in areas entering a tier three lockdown.

So far, only Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region have come under the tightest restrictions in England, in each case with the agreement of local leaders.

The imposition of tier three controls, external means a ban on households mixing, including in private gardens or outdoor hospitality settings, while pubs and bars are forced to close unless they serve meals.

Tier two restrictions, external, which Greater Manchester is currently under, bars households from mixing indoors, sets pubs and restaurants a 10pm curfew and imposes the "rule of six" outdoors.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to hold a press conference at 17:00 when he is expected to set out the next steps in relation to coronavirus controls in Greater Manchester, Downing Street has said.

Image source, PA Media

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said talks had continued on Tuesday morning at official level ahead of the government’s midday deadline for an agreement on the introduction of tier three controls.

He said Mr Johnson had also spoken directly to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham following the passing of the deadline, adding:

Tory MP Mary Robinson, who represents Cheadle, has called for reduced VAT rates to be extended further for hospitality businesses who face tier three restrictions.

During questions to The Treasury earlier, the MP said:

Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman replied:

BBC News UK

Greater Manchester has been left in limbo after a midday deadline to reach a deal with the government over moving to tier three Covid rules passed.

Image source, PA Media

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick had suggested the PM could impose top tier measures if no deal was agreed.

But on Tuesday, the region's mayor, Andy Burnham, said the area was still seeking a "fair figure" of support.

The BBC understands council leaders in Greater Manchester are arguing for a minimum of £75m from government.

But Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the Commons that Greater Manchester was "being treated exactly the same as every part of our United Kingdom".

The chancellor reiterated that there was a "national funding formula" of £8 per head for all local authorities entering tier three.

Kevin Fitzpatrick
BBC Radio Manchester Political Reportet

Boris Johnson’s deadline for agreeing a deal with Greater Manchester leaders on tougher coronavirus controls has passed without an official announcement.

The government threatened to impose stringent restrictions on the region if an agreement was not brokered by midday.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham earlier suggested he would make a last-ditch bid with other civic leaders for more financial support ahead of the deadline.

Ministers are said to have offered £22m to the region, equivalent to about £8 per person, with “additional support commensurate” with that offered in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Greater Manchester recorded almost 11,000 new cases in the week to 16 October, according to data updated on Monday.

Latest figures show cases rose across most of Greater Manchester in the week to 16 October - the city of Manchester has so far seen a fall compared with the week before, but still has a high rate of new cases, with just under 404 per 100,000 people in the week to last Friday.

Rochdale recorded Greater Manchester’s highest rate with 462 cases per 100,000 residents.

Stockport and Trafford have the lowest rates in Greater Manchester with 266 per 100,000 and 310 per 100,000 respectively.

Kevin Fitzpatrick
BBC North West political editor

The ten council leaders and the Greater Manchester mayor met this morning and I'm told that, through civil servants, they have given the government a figure they're after and are waiting to hear back.

Image source, Getty Images

We know the government have offered £22m to support businesses, but the leaders in Greater Manchester say that's tens of millions short of what is needed to prevent genuine hardship.

It has been confirmed that local gyms will be allowed to stay open and minsters have been clear in media appearances this morning that tier three is coming in whether there's an agreement or not.

The leader of Manchester City Council has said political leaders would have no choice but to comply if ministers decided to impose the most stringent tier three restrictions.

Image source, PA Media

Sir Richard Leese told BBC2's Newsnight:

There was anger among some of those involved in the negotiations at what they said was the use of "selective statistics" by the government to raise concern about the public health situation in the region.

BBC News UK

• There have been 10 days of talks so far between the government and local leaders, including mayors and MPs
• They have so far resisted the area's 2.8m population moving to the "very high" alert level of tier three, which would mean additional restrictions on households mixing, and the closure of pubs and bars that do not serve meals
• The local leaders want more financial support before agreeing to the move, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham saying the governments needs to better protect low-paid people
• Last Friday, the prime minister warned he "may need to intervene" if an agreement was not reached
• And Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has since said he would be advising the PM if there is no deal, and that he would decide on the next steps
• There is a noon deadline to get to any such agreement, which would include what funding and support was available for people in the region

Labour's Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, says the government's response to Greater Manchester this morning was an "insult".

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi says £22m has been offered to Greater Manchester and warns that action is needed before intensive care units are overwhelmed - a claim denied by the city's medical leaders.

He says the government had been "negotiating in good faith for 10 days" with Greater Manchester leaders.

Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Zahawi said:

But he criticised Mayor Andy Burnham's argument that tier three restrictions are ineffective, saying: "You can't support Keir Starmer with a national lockdown yet don't support this additional targeted measure of tier three in Manchester."

He said the chance of running out of intensive care beds because of a lack of restriction "is not a risk that anyone wants to take".

Laura Kuenssberg
Political editor

After well over a week there is still, tonight, no agreement between the leaders of Greater Manchester - a conurbation of nearly three million people - and government ministers.

Image source, PA Media

Clearly, this is more than a little local difficulty. Lives and jobs are at stake.

If you live in the area and are desperate to know what your life is going to look like in the next few weeks, I'm afraid that a running conflict between Downing Street and the leaders where you live mean you can't be sure yet.

This evening, the two sides can't even agree on what they actually discussed today.

Read more analysis here.

Once a New Labour rising star, twice a defeated Labour leadership candidate, now mayor of Greater Manchester.

Image source, PA Media

While other ex-Labour ministers of his generation can be found on the backbenches or the set of Strictly, Andy Burnham has found a new political power base.

His confrontation with the government over coronavirus restrictions has dominated the news over recent days and he has now been dubbed "the King of the North" by one of the city's bars.

Read more about the mayor here.