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The war of words between Greater Manchester’s political leaders and the government on tighter restrictions on the coronavirus shows no signs of ending at this time.
The confusion grew on Saturday when Downing Street said talks had been set up with Andy Burnham, but the Manchester mayor’s team said nothing had been fixed.
Political leaders in the region have so far refused to agree to be placed under Level 3 rules, the highest level of coronavirus restrictions, without increased financial support for businesses and residents, although cases are increasing rapidly.
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“We will continue to try to reach an agreement on these difficult but necessary measures to protect the NHS and the people of Manchester,” Downing Street said in a statement, then said a call had been planned for Sunday.
However, a Burnham spokesman said: “Nothing has been fixed yet.”
Boris Johnson also came under renewed pressure on Saturday to impose a brief national lockdown known as a circuit breaker, to curb the resurgence of COVID-19.
Liverpool was the first city to be placed under Level 3 restrictions, followed by Lancashire on Saturday. New Level 2 controls have also been imposed in London, meaning that 28 million people, more than half from England, now they live under strict regulations.
Despite the confusion over the Manchester talks, the region’s chief of police has said officers will enforce the restrictions “without fear or favor”.
In an open letter in response to reports that the government has not imposed Level 3 measures in the area for fear that the police will not enforce them without the backing of the mayor, the Greater Manchester Police Chief of Police, Ian Hopkins said that while he is “accountable” to Burnham, he is “operationally independent.”
Hopkins said in the letter: “We conduct operational policing without fear or favor and in accordance with the Police Service code of ethics together with colleagues from across the country.”
“It is up to local and national politicians to agree on the necessary restrictions to keep us all safe.
“As Chief of Police, I will ensure that my officers and staff enforce these requirements in a proportionate manner in conjunction with our local authority partners.”
Hopkins said he has been in contact with both the mayor and Home Secretary Priti Patel during the pandemic.
“We all agree that there should be a commensurate level of application to existing regulations,” he said, adding that he had “support” from both regarding the force’s approach.
The parties have been at odds since the ministers announced that the area would be located at Level 3.
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Burnham accused ministers of using the region as a “canary in a coal mine” to test the stricter rules and demanded more cash to support local businesses.
Level 3 rules include Homes don’t mix and pubs and bars close.
Boris Johnson tried to increase the pressure on Burnham during a press conference in Downing Street on Friday, threatening to impose the measures if local leaders did not accept them.
“I cannot emphasize enough: time is of the essence,” the prime minister said. “Every day that passes before action is taken means that more people will go to the hospital, more people will end up in intensive care and, tragically, more people will die.”
But the mayor and council leaders from the region responded by insisting that they have done “everything in our power to protect the health of our residents.”
Mr. Burnham has threatened legal action if Level 3 restrictions are placed on the city without an agreement.
Other 16,171 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the UK on Saturday, with 150 more deaths.
The total number of positive cases nationwide now stands at 705,428, according to government figures.
Analysis: The pressure on Boris Johnson is growing – Jon Craig, chief political correspondent
Pressure on Boris Johnson for a national lockdown called a “circuit breaker” is growing, and not just from the usual suspects of opposition MPs and unions, whom the prime minister despises in equal measure.
The call for a two-week median term, as part of blocking a circuit breaker, from the National Education Union will not persuade the prime minister. He views the teacher unions with disdain after they opposed the reopening of schools in the summer.
Johnson also won’t want to be put under pressure from Sir Keir Starmer. Downing Street this week called the Labor leader “a shameless opportunist playing political games amid a national pandemic.”
But the prime minister may be concerned about comments from Jeremy Hunt, former health secretary, chairman of the Select Committee for Health and his defeated rival for the conservative crown, who said he was sympathetic to warnings from scientists that a national measure.
And it is the scientists, led by the government’s own brains at Sage, who proposed the circuit breaker in September, and senior advisers such as Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, who have the most influence, and whose pressure on the prime minister can result. decisive.
