Manchester to enter tier 3 lockdown after government fails to reach deal with local leaders

Pubs and bars are to be closed in Greater Manchester for a 28-day period after talks with government broke down without agreement and Boris Johnson imposed the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions.

Other businesses to be required to close as the city’s 2.8m inhabitants join Merseyside and Lancashire in tier 3 of the government’s regional alert system include betting shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres and soft play areas.

The measures are expected to come into effect at a minute past midnight on Friday morning.

The restrictions were imposed after Mr Johnson refused mayor Andy Burnham’s request for £90m in funding to support affected businesses and residents through  to the end of March.

The mayor and leaders of Manchester’s 10 councils reduced their demand to £75m, and then to a “bare minimum” £65m after Mr Burnham spoke to Mr Johnson by phone as a noon deadline passed today.

But they refused to accept to a government offer of £60m, which comes on top of £22m to fund additional contact-tracing, compliance and enforcement and is thought to have been calculated to keep the package in line with Lancashire’s.

Speaking at a press conference alongside local council leaders and mayors in Manchester, Mr Burnham said that the initial demand was a carefully costed sum representing “what is needed to keep people out of poverty” and accused the government of “a deliberate act of levelling down”.

Responding to reports that the £60m offer may be withdrawn now talks are over, he asked: “Are they playing poker with people’s lives in a pandemic? Is that what this is about?"

He said: "I don’t believe we can proceed as a country on this basis through the pandemic, grinding communities down through punishing financial negotiations.

“We are asking a lot of the public at this difficult time and we need to carry them with us, not crush their spirit.”

 Local government secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I’m disappointed that despite recognising the gravity of the situation, the mayor has been unwilling to take the action that is required to get the spread of the virus under control in Greater Manchester and reach an agreement with the government.

"I have therefore advised the prime minister that these discussions have concluded without an agreement.”

Mr Johnson is due to set out details of the new regime for Manchester in a press conference at 10 Downing Street at 5pm, which will be followed at 7pm by a statement to the House of Commons by health secretary Matt Hancock.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the collapse of the talks as “a sign of government failure”. 

 “The Conservatives have been treating local communities, particularly in the midlands, northwest and northeast, and their leaders with contempt," said Starmer. 

“Labour recognise the need for stricter public health restrictions. However, that must be accompanied by extra financial support. Labour will continue to support Andy Burnham in the fight for people’s jobs, lives and livelihoods.”

Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for the Greater Manchester seat of Denton and Reddish told The Independent: "Greater Manchester has been in the equivalent of tier 2 measures for the past 12 weeks and we have seen coronavirus rates rise. 

"There is a real doubt as to whether merely putting further restrictions on the small number of pubs that don’t serve meals is going to make much of a different to the coronavirus situation. 

“What it will almost certainly do is be the final nail in the coffin for some businesses which have struggled on through the past three months. It is frustrating that the government weren’t able to find the financial support for some of the lowest-paid people in jobs which are now under threat."

One of Greater Manchester’s Conservative MPs, William Wragg of Hazel Grove, said: “The sense of failure is overwhelming... Leadership is required from everybody. Trust is placed in us all and that is the privilege of public office.”

The new restrictions could lead to the closure of more than 1,800 pubs and 140 wine bars, as well as 277 betting shops and 12 casinos, according to the real estate adviser Altus Group. 

As in Merseyside and Lancashire, pubs will be allowed to remain open if they are effectively operating as restaurants. But unlike the Liverpool City Region, gyms in Greater Manchester will remain open.

Social distancing rules bar gatherings involving different households or support bubbles in any indoor space, private gardens or outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens or terrace cafes, though meetings of up to six people in parks are allowed. Schools and universities remain open.

Parallel talks are also underway with local authorities in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire over the possibility of tightened tier 3 restrictions, though no announcement is expected on those areas today. The threat of tier 3 appears to have been lifted from the northeast for the time being.