Andy Burnham calls the people of Manchester to look out for each other as ‘tough times lie ahead’

Andy Burnham held an emotional press conference at 4pm today to offer an update on the latest for Greater Manchester.

It was confirmed earlier today by Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick via Twitter that the discussions today between Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and the government ‘concluded without an agreement’.

Burnham further confirmed this news via his press conference. ‘Well done Andy’ could be heard shouted from the audience as he took to the microphone and he was met with cheers from the crowd as he told the people of Manchester to look out for each other as ‘tough times lie ahead’.

Andy Burnham states that businesses have been struggling and are ‘on the brink of closure’. He added: “Let’s be clear who is most affected by a tier 3 lockdown, people working in pubs, driving taxis those often forgotten by those in power.”

He confirmed that he and local leaders had calculated how much support people would be needed if parts of the hospitality sector were set to close.

This began at £90m, before being reduced to £75m. He said they were even prepared to go to £65m in the negotiations to ‘prevent a real winter of hardship’. 

However, he said the government refused to accept this and that they walked away from negotiations at 2pm today.

He added: “Make no mistake this was not just about Manchester, all parts of the country might find themselves in Tier 3 throughout winter.” 

He said ‘even now I am willing to accept a deal’ but not on the terms the government has set. Adding: “How can we carry the public with us through the pandemic, without supporting them through that?”

Speaking directly to the people of GM: “We know this is going to be a difficult time for you but together with the leaders behind me and all of the leaders for Greater Manchester, we took this stand for you. We will carry on fighting for you.”

He added that ‘tough days lie ahead’ before saying ‘Please, everybody, observe the law at all times and follow the public health advice. And please look out for each other, as I know you will’.

When asked ‘what next?’ Burnham says he thinks they will impose tier 3, adding that the government need to fully support people if they close down their places of work. He said ‘the ‘whatever it takes’ attitude from earlier this year has gone. Now it is ‘you’ll get what we give you’.’

Burnham has added that it would be wrong and ‘an act of very poor faith’ for the government to now withdraw the £60m offer.

He added that it comes down to a small amount of money that would be easy for the government to find than Greater Manchester to find, ‘but they weren’t prepared to do this’.

The Mayor of Manchester has called for parliament to intervene, explaining that the government has not worked out what impact tier 3 will have – how many people will end up sleeping rough.