GM Mayor calls for House of Commons vote to ‘break the impasse’ over Tier 3 restrictions

Andy Burnham has called on Westminster’s political leaders to help in “breaking the impasse” over the coronavirus restrictions by holding a Commons vote to secure greater support for the hardest-hit areas.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Photo by Getty ImagesGreater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Photo by Getty Images
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Photo by Getty Images

The Labour mayor was said to have had a “constructive” conversation with Boris Johnson’s chief strategic adviser, Sir Edward Lister, on Sunday afternoon as he battled to get increased funding in exchange for the region accepting Tier 3 measures.

Amid continued clashes with the Government, Mr Burnham called for MPs to help workers and businesses hit with the harshest restrictions by having an urgent debate this week, warning that “this is not just a Greater Manchester issue”.

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He wrote to the Prime Minister, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders in Westminster, warning that “most places” will end up in Tier 3 at some point before a vaccine is rolled out.

Mr Burnham called for a “full and fair furlough scheme” covering 80% of wages, or at least the national minimum wage, support for the self-employed and improved compensation for businesses.

He said the “clear national entitlements” similar to during the first lockdown are essential to create the “sense of fairness” to ensure compliance with new restrictions.

“We recognise the uncertainty that this is causing and write to ask for your help in breaking the impasse and finding a fair resolution,” Mr Burnham said.

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“This could be done by Parliament calling an urgent debate and vote this week to establish a cross-party consensus on what constitutes a fair financial framework for people in areas under Tier 3 restrictions.”

After confusion and mixed messages over whether talks between No 10 and the mayor would continue, Mr Burnham spoke with one of the Prime Minister’s top advisers on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Burnham’s spokesman said: “The mayor has had a constructive call with Sir Edward Lister.”

Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady, who is the MP for Altrincham and Sale West in Greater Manchester, told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House that the region’s Labour and Tory MPs were “pretty united” in opposing Tier 3.

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Business leaders were also calling for greater support from the Treasury for firms forced to close in Tier 3, as well as those in Tier 2 which face “dramatically” hampered finances.

The British Chambers of Commerce told the Prime Minister that any new lockdown restrictions must come with “truly commensurate” financial support or risk “catastrophic economic consequences”.

The funding row rumbled on as new controls came into force on Saturday, meaning that 28 million people – more than half of England – are living under heightened restrictions.

Mr Johnson has been under increasing pressure to impose a short national lockdown known as a “circuit-breaker”, as recommended by the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) and Labour.

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Asked if the Government would take the measure on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Mr Gove flatly replied: “No.”

But pressed on whether the measure could be taken in the future, he said that “blanket restrictions across the country” are not merited by the disease “at the moment”.

Sage member Professor Jeremy Farrar said it is “never too late” to impose the temporary national lockdown but the best time would have been last month, when Sage advised it.

“It’s better to do it now than in a month’s time,” he told Ridge