Coronavirus: Greater Manchester 'should not be moved to Tier 3'

The new three-tier Covid-19 system was unveiled on Monday

Greater Manchester should not be moved to the "very high" Covid alert level as it puts councils in an "invidious position," its local leaders have said.

The area's council leaders and mayor and deputy mayor said they rejected the ministers' "current drive to pile pressure on places to enter Tier 3".

In a joint statement, its leaders said Tier 3 was "fundamentally flawed".

A short lockdown would be preferable if the government refuses to provide substantial support, some leaders said.

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The nine Labour council leaders, the Conservative Bolton council leader, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Deputy Mayor Baroness Bev Hughes said the "government is placing councils in an invidious position".

"If councils adopt the Chief Medical Officer's advice, they will better control the virus but cause substantial economic damage which will take a long time to repair," the statement said.

"If they only follow the baseline requirements, they will reduce the harm to the economy but fail to bring down the rate of infection. Neither is an acceptable option."

The leaders added the "evidence does not currently support" moving Greater Manchester to Tier 3 from Tier 2.

During an online press conference, Mr Burnham said the region would consider a legal challenge if the government placed it under Tier 3.

"We are law abiding people, we would respect the law of the land," he said.

"But we would consider other routes, legal routes, where we could protect our many thousands of residents who are going to be left in severe hardship in the run up to Christmas."

Greater Manchester leaders say they would "welcome the opportunity to have a serious discussion with the government"

The majority of leaders in Greater Manchester believe a national circuit break with the required financial support "would be a preferable option" if cases continue to rise and the government continues to "refuse to provide the substantial economic support".

The Conservative leader of Bolton Council David Greenhalgh said he does not support a "circuit-breaker" to control coronavirus.

The Liverpool City Region is the only area of England to have been given the strictest set of measures so far while all boroughs in Greater Manchester are in Tier 2.

Areas on medium alert (Tier 1) are subject to the national restrictions currently in force while, in addition to these restrictions, areas on high alert (Tier 2) are not allowed to mix indoors.

Places on very high alert (Tier 3) face extra curbs, with different households banned from mixing indoors or outdoors in hospitality venues or private gardens.

Pubs and bars will be closed unless they are serving substantial meals and there is also guidance against travelling in and out of the area.

Further restrictions may be agreed for particular regions in the top tier.

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