Boris Johnson will plunge Greater Manchester into Tier 3 lockdown at midday tomorrow unless local leaders reach an agreement with Downing Street, the Communities Secretary said tonight.
Up to 10 million people now face the toughest restrictions tomorrow after talks on whether the region should enter the ‘very high risk’ Tier 3 ended in deadlock against today.
No10 has tried to pressure Manchester mayor Andy Burnham into accepting the economy-wrecking measures with warnings that the region’s intensive care beds could be overrun by the middle of November.
So far only Merseyside and Lancashire, with a combined population of three million are in Tier 3, which requires the closure of pubs and other venues considered risky.
A further 5.3 million in Scotland and Northern Ireland are already under even more draconian restrictions, while 3.1 million in Wales will be placed under full lockdown from Friday night.
In a statement tonight, Robert Jenrick said that he had written to local leaders giving them until midday tomorrow to reach an agreement on the introduction of Tier 3 restrictions.
The Communities Secretary said: ‘The deteriorating public health situation in Greater Manchester means that we need to take action urgently.
‘We have held discussions in good faith with local leaders for ten days in order to ensure that the measures put in place were tailored to the local community.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured, has said he wants to gain the ‘consensus’ of local leaders in Greater Manchester before moving them into Tier 3 restrictions but sources say he now feels he has ‘no choice but to act’ as the latest round of talks end in deadlock again
‘We have offered an extensive package of support for local people and businesses, proportionate to the approach we have taken in the Liverpool City Region and Lancashire and in addition to the wider national support.
‘There are now more COVID-19 patients in Greater Manchester Hospitals than in the whole of the South West and South East combined.
‘But, unfortunately, despite recognising the gravity of the situation, local leaders have been so far unwilling to take the action that is required to get this situation under control.
‘I have written to local leaders this evening to make clear that if we cannot reach agreement by midday tomorrow then I must advise the Prime Minister that despite our best endeavours we’ve been unable to reach agreement.
‘It’s not too late for local leaders to work with us to take action for the sake of the people of Greater Manchester.’
The Prime Minister had previously said he wants to gain the ‘consensus’ of local leaders before moving them into Tier 3.
Ministers fear public confidence in restrictions will be damaged if they do not get their support.
But after more than a week of talks, Whitehall sources last night indicated that the PM felt he had no choice but to take action in Greater Manchester to tackle the ‘health emergency’ there.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick yesterday held ‘final discussions’ with local leaders, which ended in acrimony.
In a gloomy statement, a Government spokesman described the talks as ‘disappointing’, adding: ‘This is particularly concerning against the backdrop of rising cases and hospitalisations in Greater Manchester. We are carefully considering next steps.’
Ministers have been exasperated by the stance adopted by Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has led opposition to Tier 3 status.
On Sunday, the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove accused him of ‘posturing’.
And yesterday, Downing Street published new data on the health crisis in the region in an attempt to persuade him to back down.
However, the move is also opposed by local Tory MPs.
One of them, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, yesterday told Mr Hancock he remained ‘sceptical it will make a difference’.
Projections produced by the Government yesterday suggested Greater Manchester’s hospitals risked being overwhelmed.
‘Cases in Greater Manchester continue to rise,’ the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said. ‘Hospital admissions in Greater Manchester are doubling every nine days.’
The PM’s spokesman said that in the ‘best case scenario’ modelled by Government scientists, all free intensive care capacity would be used by October 28 and would pass the peak of the first wave by November 2.
Ministers have been exasperated by the stance adopted by Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester (pictured), who has led opposition to Tier 3 status. On Sunday, the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove accused him of ‘posturing’ as lockdown talks continued
The projections suggest Covid patients would take up the entire current intensive care capacity by November 8 and the entire surge capacity by November 12.
However, No 10 acknowledged that the figures do not include capacity in Nightingale hospitals.
Last night Mr Bunham and his deputy Sir Richard Leese disputed Downing Street’s claim intensive beds would be overrun, accusing it of using ‘selective statistics’.
Mr Burnham has been pushing for the furlough scheme to be extended to ensure those whose employers are forced to close receive 80 per cent of their income rather than the 66 per cent on offer from its successor scheme.