Advertisement

Robert Jenrick warns against north-south divide amid Manchester Tier 3 lockdown row

Sky News
Sky News

A Cabinet minister today warned politicians against pitting the north against the south as he urged Manchester’s leaders to accept the Government’s deal .

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the stand-off over Manchester moving into Tier 3 needed to be concluded today or tomorrow.

It comes after 20 Tory MPs in Tier 1 seats wrote to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, urging him to accept Tier 3 measures to avoid a national lockdown.

However, the intervention infuriated some of their Red Wall Tory colleagues, who said the letter was unhelpful.

Asked about the letter on Sky News, Mr Jenrick said: “I don’t think it’s helpful to pit one part of the country against another. It is clear that the greater infection [rate] is very different in some places.

Andy Burnham said the latest talks had been
Andy Burnham said the latest talks had been

“There are big regional variations. That, I think, supports the Government’s approach which is a proportionate but localised approach where we take action where the virus is most concentrated... rather than the Labour Party’s approach, which is a full national lockdown with all the destruction that causes not just to the economy but to broader health and well-being.

“I do think it’s important that we don’t get into a narrative of this is the north versus the south or this is one part of the country versus another. This is a situation that is affecting all of us.”

Mr Jenrick said discussions over Manchester had been “productive” but had gone on “too long” now.

He said they would have further discussions today with the council leaders from across Greater Manchester and the “contours of an agreement” were there.

He added: “Every side needs to now come together and reach an amicable conclusion for the sake of people in Greater Manchester."

Asked if the Government had offered Manchester a bigger financial settlement, he replied: “I have offered, in discussions that we have had, a range of different things that local leaders would like.

“Whether that's greater control over local tracing, whether it is use of the armed forces, whether it is more resources for local councils.

“We want to put together a package of measures that will actually work.”

The Telegraph suggested Boris Johnson will offer Manchester's leaders up to £100 million today to accept Tier-3 coronavirus restrictions or risk having them imposed against their will.

However the Times and FT has suggested it will be in the “tens of millions”.

Mr Burnham described talks with Downing Street on Sunday as “constructive”, hinting that he might be ready to do a deal.

Read more

Tier 2 London: Am I allowed to have guests over?

Funding boost in Tier 3 lockdown talks amid hopes for Covid jabs-LIVE

PM to offer Manchester 'tens of millions' to quell lockdown revolt

North is ‘running out of hospital beds’ as Covid surge takes hold

Manchester mayor calls for end to Tier 3 deadlock with Commons vote

Tier 3 lockdown row deepens as Gove accuses Burnham of 'posturing'

PM threatens to intervene amid Tier 3 clash with Manchester leaders