Manchester avoids hospitality shut down as MP confirms the city will be in Tier 2

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon said Greater Manchester would be placed in Tier 2 of restrictions.
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He said on Twitter: “Call with the Secretary of State confirms GM will be placed in Tier 2 with household restrictions on meeting indoors in any setting, but not outdoors.

“Pubs serving food remain open. Oldham will be removed from its enhanced lockdown measures and brought into line with GM *at last*.”

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Meanwhiule Labour MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy has criticised the way the Government has revealed details of the new restrictions system, saying she had not been invited to a briefing.

Manchester city centreManchester city centre
Manchester city centre

The shadow foreign secretary said: “Just learnt Greater Manchester will be placed into tier 2 restrictions via twitter. Apparently there was a government briefing for GM MPs but I can’t provide details because I wasn’t invited. I suspect this is because they don’t know where Wigan is. What an absolute shambles.”

The leader of Newcastle City Council said it was unlikely any further restrictions will be applied to the north-east of England “for now”.

Nick Forbes said on Twitter: “I’m pleased that, for now, it’s unlikely any further restrictions will apply in the North East.

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“We need a period of stability and consistent rules, so everyone is clear what we all need to do.”

The Labour council leader said: “Mass closures of hospitality venues would be counter productive at this stage, as the vast majority of operators are running safe venues with appropriate precautions in place.”

Mr Forbes also called for urgent clarification on an economic support package for businesses affected by the current restrictions.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said he objected to gyms being closed as part of Tier 3 local coronavirus restrictions.

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He told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “People going to gyms don’t go there unless they are kitted out ready to go on the machines and the machines are socially distanced so people can’t make human contact.

“And when they leave the gym, they (the exercise machines) are disinfected and sprayed so personally I don’t see the reason for that to happen.”

Asked why he had shifted his position from wanting a “circuit-break” style lockdown, Mr Anderson said: “I don’t like this half-way measure.

“For me, when I said about the option of a circuit-breaker, that meant at least we know where we are – there is clarity, there is no confusion around that.

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“It was still an option for me. With Tier 3 comes the potential also with the sweeter measures the Government have put in there for further lockdown measures, so what we’re going to be seeing introduced on Wednesday, there may well be more to come.”

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