Grant Shapps blames Andy Burnham for Greater Manchester's infection rates due to Tier 3 row - while claiming Liverpool has been a 'success story'

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has responded to Priti Patel's letter detailing her concerns about a damning report into Greater Manchester Police. The Home Secretary wrote to both Mr Burnham and GMP to express ‘deep’ concerns about the findings of the inspection report into the force - and to demand their plans for improvement.

direct to your inbox The Home Secretary has written to both Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Police to express ‘deep’ concerns about the findings of a damning inspection report into the force - and to demand their plans for improvement.

direct to your inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates demonstrate a widening gap between northern and southern boroughs in Greater Manchester.Public Health data from the week ending December 6 shows that boroughs which lie south of the city now have an infection rate lower than the national average.It comes as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the disparity in rates could see the conurbation split up into different tiers when the government come to review the system next week.He

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham is planning to freeze the element of council tax bills that pays for mayoral functions next April.The precept - which is used for a number of Greater Manchester-level purposes, including part-funding the fire service and mayoral priorities such as free bus passes for young people - will stay as it is under proposals that will go before council leaders in the New Year.That would see the mayoral charge stay at £70.73 for a Band B property.Last April, the precept

direct to your inboxA senior Manchester Arena boss has issued a public apology to the mother of one of the 22 victims of the 2017 bombing atrocity.Two policing experts, meanwhile, have outlined to the public inquiry into the attack a series of criticisms they have found relating to security in place on the night.John Sharkey met with Figen Murray, Martyn Hett's mother, on December 8, 2017, seven months after the bombing.At the meeting, arranged by the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham,

The government took into account the potential economic impact on the capital in sparing London from tough Tier 3 restrictions.But the same analysis wasn't applied to Manchester and the rest of the country.That's according to furious Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham who described the alleged differing approach as 'unacceptable' as MPs prepare for a key vote in Parliament today (Tuesday).Last week Boris Johnson's government announced that Greater Manchester would be placed in the toughest

including Greater Manchester where cases are falling rapidly.Michael Gove was reportedly among those arguing London should be under the strictest measures due to the high infection rate in several boroughs.The M.E.N has attempted to contact Downing Street for confirmation that the cabinet received a briefing note on potential job losses in London and whether similar impact assessments were made of other regions.So far, we have had no response.The Mayor Andy Burnham tweeted the Mail's story and

Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here. And you can follow us on Facebook here.

The Mayor’s A Bed Every Night homelessness reduction scheme is being extended after a charity warned numbers seeking help have rocketed during the pandemic.With ‘at least’ 40 new rooms added to the scheme in time for the winter, £663,000 has also been pledged to support young people at risk of homelessness and to tackle the causes that could see people ‘slip through the net’.Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, announced the expansion of his flagship scheme using cash from his mayoral

where he outlined the rationale behind each of the three revised tiers.The tougher system, which which will see harsher measures taken against the hospitality industry, will come into force on December 2.Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he wasn't surprised to see the region placed into Tier 3, due to a rate of infection standing higher than the current national average.

coronavirus restrictions has led to a chorus of disapproval from Andy Burnham and many of the region's MPs.

Andy Burnham wants Greater Manchester to be moved into Tier 2 within a fortnight if the region's coronavirus infection rate continues to fall.The Mayor was reacting to the government's decision to place the region in Tier 3, the highest category of restrictions under the new system due to take effect on December 2.It means all hospitality venues will have to stay closed except for takeaway and delivery services.Other areas with high infection rates, including Liverpool and London, have been

government announcing this morning that Manchester will be placed in Tier 3 when national lockdown ends on December 2, the mayor says the 'halfway house approach' taken to lockdown is partly to blame.Reacting to the news that the region now faces the toughest measures for at least another fortnight, he told the Manchester Evening News: "It was a personal view and maybe not everybody's view, but I think schools should have been included in the national circuit break, because actually it would

coronavirus lockdown ends.

Andy Burnham says it is ‘more likely than not’ that Greater Manchester will be put into the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions despite falling infection rates.The mayor is expecting that the new measures, due to be shared with leaders tomorrow, will be applied consistently across the city-region.But the government has been urged to look at Greater Manchester’s position in two weeks when the first review of the revised arrangements takes place.There are widely-held expectations that almost

revised tier system, which will come into force on December 2 when the national lockdown ends, government ministers will impose the top level of restrictions on the highest risk areas.Previously, ministers had entered into discussions with local leaders over the what measures would be needed and how they would be funded.In Greater Manchester, mayor Andy Burnham led several days of intense talks as he tried to negotiate a more substantial financial package than the one the government had

Grant Shapps had appeared to blame the row for Greater Manchester's high coronavirus infection rates.

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.