Greater Manchester's reaction to being placed into Tier 3
The Mayor Andy Burnham says the lack of financial support will cause "real hardship".
Last updated 27th Nov 2020
There's frustration about new restrictions putting millions of people, in cities like Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds, into the highest level of restrictions next week.
When England's lockdown ends, pubs and restaurants in those areas can't reopen, and households won't be able to mix indoors.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says the lack of financial support will cause "real hardship".
He said: "Greater Manchester’s infection rate is reducing faster than any other part of the country but we have to accept that it is still significantly higher than the England average. That said, if the current rate of improvement continues, we will be asking the Government to move our city-region into Tier 2 in two week’s time.
Call for more business support
"What we believe is completely wrong is the Government’s decision to provide no additional business support to areas in Tier 3 than those in Tiers 1 and 2.
"The new Tier 3 will hit the hospitality sector extremely hard. While there are grants for businesses forced to close, there is no extra support for business which supply them like security, catering and cleaning.
"This will cause real hardship for people whose jobs will be affected and risk the loss of many businesses.
"Ministers need to explain how they believe it is fair for Tier 3 areas to get no more support than those in Tier 2. They also need to explain why places with high numbers of hospitality businesses – like city centres – get the same population-based grant as more suburban and rural areas with fewer businesses affected.
"The effect of these policy decision will be to level down the economies of city-regions across the North. It is unfair and the opposite of what the Government has promised to do. Ministers must review this and provide more financial support to Tier 3 areas."