Government will impose Tier 3 on areas that don’t improve with or without support from local authorities

The Prime Minister confirmed the government will step in and impose Tier 3 restrictions even without agreement from local politicians. 

Yesterday Greater Manchester was placed in Tier 2 of the new Covid Alert system, avoiding the tightest restrictions. This meant there were few changes to the local lockdown rules that were already in place.

People from other households can now mix in private gardens but mixing with other households indoors is prohibited. Pubs and restaurants are allowed to remain open despite concerns for their closure.

Last night Boris Johnson issued a warning that the government will ‘do whatever we think is necessary over the next few days and weeks’, adding that the rules would be put in place whether there was backing from local authorities and mayors or not. 

He said: “We want to take local authorities with us. Obviously a local approach can be immensely valuable.

“In enforcement, the local knowledge of the area, the places where the virus may be transmitted, local activity in closing down people who are transparently breaking the rules, local enforcement, local test and trace.

“These can be fantastically powerful.

“We want to work with local authorities to deliver this, that’s why we are offering the deals and the solutions that we are.

“But if we can’t get agreement then clearly it is the duty of national government to take the necessary action to protect the public and to protect public health and we will.”

Boris also claimed that the government came to an agreement with the only area placed in Tier 3, Liverpool City Region and its metro mayor, Steve Rotherham. In the area, gyms, leisure centres, casinos, and betting shops will all close from Wednesday.

However, Rotherham has denied this. He wrote on Twitter that ‘it was the government that decided we needed local restrictions in our area… it wasn’t local leaders and it’s disingenuous for them to indicate otherwise’.

Boris confirmed last night that increased funding for local test and trace facilities plus the enforcement of new rules in areas put into Tier 3 would be offered.

He said: “It’s absolutely correct to say we’re working with local authorities across the country, but particularly with those badly affected regions that everybody knows about in the North West and the North East, Yorkshire and so on and trying to work with them to support a collective package of measures”

“I was very pleased that Steve Rotheram of the Liverpool city region came forward with a package, we’re helping him. And the offer is that, to all local leaders who are facing problems, big increases in the infection rates, we will help to support more local test and trace, more enforcement and so on.

“We stand ready to work with local government at all levels.

“Clearly as a national government we have to think about our primary duty which is to save life and protect the NHS and we will do whatever we think is necessary over the next few days and weeks.”

It has yet to be confirmed what would trigger an area moving into the highest alert level, Tier 3.

Andy Burnham has explained that he was ‘glad the government has listened and that putting Greater Manchester in Tier 2 is the ‘right decision’.