Andy Burnham writes to Boris Johnson urging for fairer financial package ahead of Tier 3 lockdown decision

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.

We want to hear how you feel about the new national lockdown and how it will affect you. You can fill out our survey below. Click 'display interactive content' or follow this link if you can't see it on your device. His comments come after a number of scientists that advise the government have said keeping schools open during the November lockdown in England could mean infection rates stay higher for longer than when nationwide restrictions were first introduced in March.Former chief scientific

would be moved into the highest category of the new Local Covid Alert Level system, meaning which pubs don't serve 'substantial' meals will have to close.

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.

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said talks had continued on Tuesday morning at an official level ahead of the government’s midday deadline for an agreement on the introduction of Tier 3 controls. The PM has also spoken directly to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham following the passing of the deadline.

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.

Mayor Andy Burnham has written to the Prime Minister to reiterate local leaders' 'willingness' to finding an agreement about tighter lockdown rules.Mr Burnham also expresses disappointment at what he calls the government’s ‘selective use of statistics’.In a joint statement with leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese, the region's mayor said Greater Manchester’s ICU occupancy rate is 'not abnormal for this time of year'.They claim it is 'comparable to the occupancy rate in October

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

all but banned care home visits, Mr Burnham said it was 'essential' that action was taken to help families unable to see their loved ones. However, he also said visits should happen on an 'exceptional basis', and did not clarify how such a system might work or whether it might be imminent.

Andy Burnham has accused Boris Johnson of exaggerating the severity of the Covid-19 situation in Greater Manchester.The Prime Minster said that the number of intensive care admissions with the virus were currently at around 40% of the April numbers in the region.Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Mr Burnham slammed the claims, stating that as of Sunday morning there were around 62 people in the regions ICUs with coronavirus - compared with around 200-220 at the previous peak.He added

What do you think about how Andy Burham and Greater Manchester MPs are dealing with this? Click here to have your say in the comments below Shadow education secretary Kate Green called for an end to the “blame game” and for discussions to resume to get the region an adequate support package.The Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “That has not been offered by the Government.