Government to discuss moving Greater Manchester to Tier 3 at ‘Gold Command’ meeting today

The possibility of moving the Greater Manchester region into Tier 3 will be discussed at a top-level meeting today, according to reports.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said ministers risk confusing residents and has accused the government of ‘piling the pressure’ on the region ‘without negotiating’.

This morning he further reiterated his point saying that he ‘will set out why the current Tier 3 proposal is fundamentally flawed and why we won’t accept it’. He added that the government has not discussed the matters with him. 

On Monday, Greater Manchester was placed into Tier 2 of the new Covid Alert Level system, after almost a week of pushback from local leaders and authorities.

Tier 2 means households cannot mix indoors, however, they can mix in private outdoor gardens. Tier 2 also meant avoiding the disaster of a forced closure of hospitality businesses in the area.

Another MP has said it would be ‘utterly maddening’ if a change came so soon after the original announcement. 

Boris Johnson warned in the House of Commons that the infection rates in the area are ‘worrying’, putting pressure on local leaders and Labour MPs to ‘prevail on the authorities in Greater Manchester to come into Tier 3’.

Sky News has reported that a ‘Gold Command’ meeting will be held this evening to discuss the move of the region to the highest tier.

A Downing Street source has said they are ‘concerned’ about Greater Manchester and Lancashire and that top-level discussions are needed.

Boris Johnson further outlined that the new rules in Tier 3, including a ban on social mixing indoors or in private gardens and closure of pubs and bars that do not serve meals, acts as a ‘baseline’ for the areas – explaining that other measures can be introduced on local levels.

Previously, leader of Manchester Council Sir Richard Leese has said there is no evidence that closing Covid secure establishments would have an impact on the spread of the virus, but that it would pose an ‘existential threat’ to the businesses and workers of the city.

Yesterday, Andy Burnham tweeted: “Disappointing that the Government is piling the pressure on GM in this way without negotiating.

“It risks confusing people coming so soon after the Tier 2 announcement.

“Our view is unchanged: unfunded restrictions are unfair & will cause real damage to lives, jobs & businesses.”

Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Gwynne said: “It will be utterly maddening if Government puts Greater Manchester into Tier 3 before we’ve even given Tier 2 a go… and when our local leaders have put a full & comprehensive package of measures they are confident will work to Ministers, and have been ignored. So much for Devo!”

In the briefing on Monday, Boris Johnson confirmed that if necessary, the government would step in and impose tougher local lockdown restrictions without the agreement of local politicians.