Andy Burnham explains why he wants Greater Manchester schools to close - and have no exams this academic year

coronavirus restrictions.

at the latest Greater Manchester press conference, Mr Burnham said the hospital situation may be stabilising but stressed it is ‘early days’ in terms of positive trends.

Andy Burnham has warned against the introduction of ‘permanent’ coronavirus restrictions once the national lockdown ends.The mayor of Greater Manchester says talks are underway between local leaders and the government about what will happen after December 2.Changes to the national tiered system of restrictions were being considered according to Mr Burnham, though he admitted that it was likely that the city-region would remain in Tier 3.In their decision-making the government has been urged to

Andy Burnham said more power needs to be taken out of Westminster after Boris Johnson labelled Scottish devolution a 'disaster'.The mayor of Greater Manchester said he was left a 'little worried' by the prime minister's comments.The PM  is understood to have told MPs that devolution had been “Tony Blair’s biggest mistake” during a meeting.Downing Street sources did not deny Mr Johnson made the comments, which were first reported by the Sun, during a discussion with the Northern Research Group of

more than double the national rate, the infection rate fell by 12%. But at 540.9 the town still has the second highest rate in Greater Manchester.

Let us know your thoughts on the latest Covid situation belowWhile protests are not banned, Covid rules forbid more than two people meeting outdoors if they are not part of the same household.

here"But I don’t want to be at constant loggerheads with them.

Andy Burnham said he had never known the ambulance service see a major incident during November of the kind it saw on Monday, warning this was ‘the first big sign of what is happening here in our hospitals and the challenge that colleagues are facing’.

Greater Manchester leaders are expecting the latest national lockdown to last longer than expected and remain skeptical about the effect it will have on rising Covid-19 cases.Mayor Andy Burnham and deputy mayor Sir Richard Leese say the success of the lockdown will depend on whether people follow the rules in the four weeks to December 2.Any benefits that arise from the lockdown are unlikely to be felt until after three weeks after it comes into place on Thursday morning, they said.Both leaders

major incident declared in Monday which left the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) struggling to keep up with calls, the Greater Manchester mayor and former shadow health secretary admitted he had not seen such a crisis before peak winter pressures.

7am: Andy Burnham describes ultimatum as 'provocative'Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says it is “provocative” of the Government to tell local leaders they have until midday on Tuesday to agree to Tier 3 restrictions or face unilateral Government action.He tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The late-night ultimatum briefed to the media was a slightly provocative move … but I’m going to try to be positive and respond, and see if we can find a way forward.”8.30am: Accusations that the

It was only at the beginning of October that bars, restaurants and many other business were allowed to reopen in Bolton after struggling through weeks of some of the harshest local lockdown rules in the country. Conservative Bolton Council leader, David Greenhalgh, has slammed the government, saying he feels the package being proposed by Greater Manchester was 'justified due to the disproportionate way Bolton businesses had been affected over the last months'.

hereHe continued: "This is no way to run the country in a national crisis. This is not right.

Should Greater Manchester be in Tier 3? Have your say in the comments belowMayor Andy Burnham accused the government of 'playing poker with people's lives' over the negotiations.He called on Parliament to intervene and agree a 'fair financial framework' for any region that needs to enter Tier 3 this winter.Mr Johnson said the government will continue 'talking' to Greater Manchester, but added: "Given the public health situation, I must now proceed with moving Greater Manchester, as I say, to the

Andy Burnham has accused the Government of “playing poker with people’s lives” after talks about a Tier 3 deal broke down.The Greater Manchester mayor said that after days of fraught negotiations between the region’s leaders and ministers, the Government “walked away”.Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to announce new restrictions for the area in Parliament later today after Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said discussions had failed to produce a deal because leaders were “unwilling to

Boris Johnson will use a 5pm press conference to impose tier-three lockdown measures on Greater Manchester after negotiations with mayor Andy Burnham broke up without a deal.

coronavirus restrictions. The Greater Manchester Mayor said health is 'not just about controlling the virus' and that if 'punishing lockdowns are imposed' over winter, people's mental health will suffer.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said 'nothing's changed' after it was confirmed 'extra resources' have been offered during Tier 3 negotiations with the government.A cabinet minister said he was hopeful of agreeing a deal 'today or tomorrow'.Housing and local government secretary Robert Jenrick this morning (Monday) said 'extra resources' have been offered during negotiations between the government and local leaders, which he said had continued over the weekend and had been