News / Politics

London imposes Covid-19 deal on Greater Manchester region

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 5:24 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 21 October 2020 5:24 PM ]

Dubbed the "King of the North" Andy Burnham has been forced to retreat from his position by the Tory government in London

Following days of bitter wrangling Manchester’s local leaders appear to have succumbed to extreme pressure from London to acquiesce to a financial deal designed to mitigate the economic impact of new coronavirus restrictions.

According to multiple reports, a “support package” worth £60 million has effectively been imposed on the Greater Manchester region to help it cope with imminent restrictions.

The funding will be made available on Friday (October 23) as the region enters into the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions.

Greater Manchester is the first area to be forced into tier three, England’s highest level of alert.

Local leaders, notably Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, had originally requested £90 million but this was repeatedly rejected by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Despite the apparent climbdown, Burnham, who is also a senior member of the opposition Labor Party, told ITV News that he has “no regrets for taking a stand”.

After having his request for £90 million rejected, Burnham asked for £65 million as the “bare minimum to prevent a winter of real hardship”. But even that minimal figure appears to have been rejected by London.

Johnson came under fire from Labor leader, Keir Starmer, during Prime Minister’s Question Time (at the House of Commons) for withholding the extra £5 million from the people of Manchester.

Starmer accused the PM of “bargaining” with people’s lives and claimed he had “crossed a rubicon”.

"Not just with the miserly way he's treated Greater Manchester but in the grubby 'take it or leave' way these local deals are being done - it's corrosive to public trust", Starmer complained.