Real Housewives of Cheshire star Leanne Brown went to the illegal anti-lockdown protest - this is what she has to say for herself

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

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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

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.A joint statement issued by the four UK governments said they had been working closely together to find a way for family and friends to see each other, recognising it must be “limited and cautious”.Boris Johnson warned families they must make a “personal judgement” about the risks of coronavirus to vulnerable loved ones when forming a Christmas bubble.“We can’t afford to throw caution to the wind.

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.

Andy Burnham has written an open letter to people in Stockport making the case for the region’s controversial long-term development plan.The joint letter with Stockport council leader Elise Wilson says that more of the borough’s green belt will be put at risk outside the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF), than within it.However opponents of the scheme - including many of the ‘Save the Greenbelt’ groups - remain unconvinced.It comes after Stockport councillors last week voted to

hereLast month Andy Burnham and other local leaders spent two weeks negotiating with the government for better financial support to help businesses that would be forced to close, the self-employed and others who lose income, before Tier 3 was eventually imposed. Mr Shapps responded by saying 'individual negotiations' last time led to rates not being 'gotten on top of as quickly as possible'.He said that Liverpool, which agreed to Tier 3 'quite quickly' had seen cases come down quickly and called

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