Greater Manchester Tier 3 lockdown row: What's it all about?

Talks between Greater Manchester's leaders and Government ministers over a potential Tier 3 lockdown for the region have failed to reached an agreement.

Further negotiations were taking place on Tuesday after ministers issued an ultimatum, threatening stringent new coronavirus controls unless a deal was agreed by midday.

When the deadline passed, Downing Street announced that Boris Johnson would hold a press conference, when he is expected to update the country on the latest developments. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick later said a deal had not been agreed, meaning the region now facing a forced Tier 3 lockdown.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had accused the Government of trying to implement local lockdowns "on the cheap".

Here's what you need to know about the row between Westminster and local leaders.

What are Tier 3 restrictions?

A new three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions began last Wednesday .

The most severe level of restrictions, Tier 3, means people cannot socialise with anyone outside their household in any indoor and many outdoor settings. Pubs and bars are forced to close unless they can operate as a restaurant.

Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region are the only two areas of England under Tier 3 restrictions , affecting 3.1 million people.

Manchester is currently under Tier 2 restrictions . This means people cannot meet with anyone they do not live with indoors unless they are part of a support bubble, while the rule of six applies for socialising outside.

Nationwide restrictions apply in Tier 1, which means people can meet in a group of up to six people from multiple households either indoors or outdoors, while pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10pm.

What does Manchester want?

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and civic leaders want to agree a better financial package to support the city’s economy and 2.8 million people if the Tier 3 lockdown is imposed.

Mr Burnham said council leaders want "full flexibility to support the people that we think are going to need to be supported in a Tier 3 lockdown".They have reportedly asked for around £75 million in additional support.

Mr Burnham and the leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, also said it was “surprising and disappointing” that an earlier offer of a hardship fund to top up furlough payments and support the self-employed had been taken “off the table” by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

What is the Government offering?

Ministers have offered £22 million to the region, equivalent to £8 per capita, with “additional support commensurate” with that offered in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region.

What has happened so far?

The deadlock began when Mr Johnson announced a new tiered system for coronavirus lockdowns in England, with a raft of northern leaders saying they would not accept a Tier 3 lockdown.

Amid resistance from civic leaders, Mr Johnson hinted in a Downing Street press conference on Friday that Westminster could impose restrictions without the support of local leaders. He said the situation was "grave" as he warned "cases doubled in the last nine days".

As the row escalated over the weekend, there were mixed claims of cancelled talks between Mr Burnham and the Governement, before Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove used his media round to hit out at Mr Burnham's "political posturing" . Mr Burnham responded by saying that Mr Johnson had "exaggerated" the severity of the coronavirus situation in the area and called on Mr Johnson to end the deadlock with a Commons vote.

Mr Burnham has hit back at a “group of southern” Tory MPs who angered Conservative colleagues by calling for the Greater Manchester Mayor to “engage” with the Government’s lockdown measures to prevent further restrictions in their constituencies.

Then, on Monday, the Government issued a statement on Monday, warning that ministers have no choice but to act because of the deteriorating situation in the region .

Mr Burnham later accused ministers of acting provocatively and said he would “try to be positive and respond, and see if we can find a way forward” despite the “slightly provocative move” by the Government.

However, Mr Burnham said he would not break the law if the Government imposed the measures on without the consent of civic leaders.

It followed a warning from a Government spokesman that the entire intensive care capacity in Greater Manchester could be filled with Covid-19 patients by November 12 unless action was taken .

However, local leaders insisted the region’s intensive care occupancy rate was not abnormal for this time of year.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Government said that talks had ended without an agreement .

What happens next?

The Prime Minister is expected to set out the Government’s next steps at a Downing Street press conference later on Tuesday after talks continued beyond midday. The press conference is due to take place at 5pm.

Watch: How will England’s three-tier lockdown system work?

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