Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham speaks out as Tier 3 coronavirus talks break down

By Charles Graham
Published 20th Oct 2020, 16:44 BST
Updated 20th Oct 2020, 16:56 BST
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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called on Parliament to intervene and set up a proper structure of payments to areas forced into Tier 3 Covid restrictions to avoid a winter in which the low paid and self-employed in particular being "forced into hardship, poverty and homelessness".

He was speaking after talks between the city-region and government broke down over a proposed Greater Manchester support package.

Mr Burnham said that leaders had tabled proposals for £15m per month which would help keep those who risk large parts of their wages being taken away through furlough from falling into destitution.

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This worked out at £90m through to the end of the financial year at the end of March. He said that as they negotiated they were prepared to go down to £75m and then a "bare minimum" of £65m but the offer from Government "was nowhere near that and nowhere near enough."

Andy Burnham spoke in Manchester city centreAndy Burnham spoke in Manchester city centre
Andy Burnham spoke in Manchester city centre

Mr Burnham said: "Greater Manchester has been living with restrictions for three months and they have taken a heavy toll. Businesses are on the brink of closure and further restrictions without proper support are certain to increase poverty, homelessness and hardship.

"It cannot be right to close down someone's place of work without giving them realistic support.

"We costed detailed support of £90m, and in negotiations we got to £75m and then the bare minimum of £65m but the Government refused to accept this and they walked away from the negotiations.