Andy Burnham defends his handling of crisis at GMP after chief forced out

Dancing On Ice star John Barrowman has an important Covid message to all those thinking twice about vaccinations. The Glasgow born Doctor Who and Torchwood actor who now lives Stateside urged people to get vaccinated and said if his parents in their eighties can do it, then anyone can.He also urged people with asthma and allergies to get their vaccine after they are monitored.John said: "I just received two videos and my mum and dad have just had their vaccines.

Ellie Brown has reportedly been given a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding at 101mph. The former Love Islander, who was recently left scared and shaken as a luxury yacht full of influencers "almost capsized" in Dubai, was allegedly caught breaking the 70mph speed limit on the M42 at Curdworth Warwickshire in her Mercedes-Benz GLC on 5 June, 2019.

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham says Greater Manchester’s flood defences worked far better than in 2015 last night thanks to subsequent investment and good planning - making its resilience in the face of Storm Christoph a ‘good news story’.But he admitted a ‘bigger look’ would now need to be taken at the Mersey.Hundreds of people had to be evacuated overnight in south Manchester as record rainfall saw the river come within a couple of centimetres of overtopping late yesterday.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester is forecasting 200 Covid patients in critical care by next week as the system gears up for an exhausting, drawn-out third wave peak.That projection is 25pc higher than the worst part of November's second wave, according to M.E.N.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was placed in ‘special measures’ following a damning inspection report last month.

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has promised a 'new era' at Greater Manchester Police after the force was placed in 'special measures'.The mayor held his first policing press conference yesterday since former Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was asked to step down in the wake of a scathing inspection report.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wants to add £15 to the average council tax bill to help restore our failing police force.In his first policing press conference since Ian Hopkins was forced out of his job as the chief constable of GMP, the mayor outlined his vision for a 'new era' of policing.GMP was effectively placed in 'special measures' just before Christmas when Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspectors estimated the force had failed to properly

called out the parcels as 'woefully inadequate' and 'just not good enough'. It came after one mum shared a photo of what she received in her food box, with the contents including a loaf of bread, two carrots, two bananas, a single tomato, one can of beans and a small amount of pasta.

straight to your inbox every day for freeBruno Fernandes has revealed Paul Pogba promised him that the pair would have a good understanding playing together for Manchester United.12 months ago, after months of transfer speculation, Fernandes sealed his dream move to Old Trafford and fans were instantly picturing his link up with Pogba.Unfortunately, supporters were forced to wait to see the duo in action as Pogba was currently recovering from surgery on an ankle injury that had side lined him

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham admits there is 'a real worry' about the NHS in Greater Manchester due to the spiralling number of coronavirus patients.The Mayor revealed today there were 119 people in intensive care units and 922 in general hospital beds with covid-19 on January 5.That represents a 'steep rise' in the number of people in ICU, in particular, the mayor said.And the figures are, in fact, likely to be 'quite a bit worse than that', Mr Burnham added, as the situation is changing so

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has urged the government to extend its ban on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic to avoid a further surge in homelessness.Court-ordered evictions are due to start again on January 11 after being temporarily suspended after the initial Covid-19 outbreak.Boris Johnson says the ban will be kept under review after being challenged by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during a debate this week.But Mr Burnham is seeking a cast-iron

Celebrities are sending their prayers and well-wishes after Grammy-winning rapper and record executive, Dr. Dre, reportedly suffered a brain aneurysm. The 55-year-old icon is currently at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering the aneurysm, TMZ reported on Jan. 5. HollywoodLife has reached out to Dr. Dre’s rep and lawyer for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

direct to your inboxCovid-19 infection rates are beginning to rise again in Oldham after weeks of plateauing case numbers.It comes as a more transmissible variant of the virus has begun to circulate in Greater Manchester, which Mayor Andy Burnham says could already account to 25pc of all new cases in the region.Oldham’s infection rate is the second lowest of the ten boroughs, just above Bolton, standing at 249.7 per 100,000 people in the week to January 3.However this is up 29pc on the previous

direct to your inboxPrime Minister Boris Johnson has said parents should send children back to primary school tomorrow 'in areas where schools are open'.His comments come as pressure mounts on the government to keep schools closed amid concerns over rates of coronavirus transmission.The National Education Union (NEU), the UK's largest teaching union, told its members that it is unsafe for them to go back to work on Monday.

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has called for the government to delay the reopening of primary schools or give the decision to local leaders to avoid 'chaos'. Greater Manchester's mayor outlined his position amid growing pressure on the government to keep schools closed tomorrow.

straight to your inbox every day for freeAndy Cole has hailed four Manchester United players following the 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.The former United striker was on punditry duties for Sky Sports during the clash and heaped praise on the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial after the contest.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men moved up to second in the Premier League level on points with Liverpool thanks to goals from Martial and Fernandes, who

straight to your inbox every day for free Bruno Fernandes has backed Paul Pogba to continue getting better for Manchester United in 2021 after a match-winning performance against Aston Villa. The World Cup winner had a hand in both goals in the 2-1 success that moved United level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table and he produced a fine all-round performance.

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has added his voice to those calling for teaching staff to be vaccinated for Covid-19 ahead of schools reopening next month.The mayor was reacting to the government's decision to delay the return of secondary school pupils until 18 January.Only exam year groups will receive online teaching from January 11, before all pupils return the week after, subject to a review.All primary schools will reopen as planned on Monday, apart from some in Tier 4 areas in London

direct to your inboxThe number of coronavirus patients in Greater Manchester hospitals is rising as it emerged 25pc of cases have been identified as belonging to the new strain.The Mayor Andy Burnham said while the current picture of the region's health system is 'challenging but manageable', he is concerned that the fast-spreading variant of Covid-19 could 'overwhelm' it.He therefore welcomed the government's decision to put Greater Manchester in Tier 4, the highest level of restrictions.It

direct to your inboxUp to 25pc of all new coronavirus cases across Greater Manchester can be attributed to the new strain seen spreading rapidly through southern England.Experts predict there could be even higher number of new cases down to the new variant currently due to a data lag.Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham announced the figures at a press conference this morning.He said that partly as a result of this new strain, he and Greater Manchester’s leaders are in agreement with the