Johnson defeats northern resistance, including Manchester rebels locked up

They first tried to find a negotiated solution, but after the resistance lasted more than 10 days, the government of Boris johnson has decided to act the hard way and impose the blockade on the Greater Manchester region, which has tried by all means to oppose the new restrictions by asking at least to receive more financial support for the local companies that will have to close.

For at least 28 days, the 3 million inhabitants of the area will be put on alert level 3, the maximum, and will be prohibited from meeting people who do not live together, if not outdoors and a maximum of six people, from Friday October 23rd. . All bars and pubs will be closed, except those that also function as restaurants, which may continue to serve but only the tables made up of cohabitants, also the schools, will remain open. Hoping to avoid a national shutdown, the British government has put in place a three-tier alarm system, thereby diversifying restrictions in the country.

Level 3 had already been placed in Liverpool and Lancaschire County, but Greater Manchester Mayor Labor Andy Burnham, has tried by all means to oppose it, supported by the mayors of the municipalities in the area and also by several deputies, some of them conservative, elected in the so-called Red Wall, the North that has always been a Labor party than in the last elections, however, Tory voted to support the line. tough on Johnson’s Brexit. “Level 3 mainly affects the lowest paid people, those who work in bars, those who drive taxis and all those workers who are often forgotten by Westminster, but here we will not do the same,” promised Burnham, the popular leader of the lifting. against the confinement called The King in the North, like Jon Snow from Game of Thrones.

“Conservatives have treated local communities, particularly in the Midlands, Northwest and Northeast, with contempt, and their leaders. Labor recognizes the need for stricter restrictions on public health. However, this must be accompanied by additional financial support, ”said the party leader. Keir starmer.

And more funds was what Burnham was asking for to accept the restrictions, funds in addition to the 22 million pounds already planned for the region, which are calculated based on the number of inhabitants, allocating 8 for each. Lancashire negotiated £ 30 million for business support and the Liverpool city region received £ 44 million. Manchester initially asked for 90, then throughout the days it lowered the claims to 75 and finally to 65. The government would not have exceeded 60, however, very little, according to local leaders who have compacted behind the rebel mayor.

With government incentives granted by the Minister of Finance, Rishi Sunak, which have been greatly reduced, now with the closure of activities the government pays only 67% of the salary to those who are not fired. Up to 1,800 pubs can close in Greater Manchester, as well as many other businesses. But the decision to impose the confinement is due to the fact that the intensive care beds of the 12 hospitals in the area are close to saturation point. Indeed, the government’s own experts are criticizing Johnson’s line and claiming that more than local restrictions, it would take a tough two-week national lockdown to break the chain of infections. But the prime minister, for the moment, is on his way.