Greater Manchester will remain in Tier 3, Matt Hancock has announced after a review of the three-tier system, after government officials met yesterday.
There were no changes to the Tier system in the North of England but large swathes of the South of England and the Home Counties have been placed in Tier 3.
Only Bristol and North Somerset have moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2 while Herefordshire moves to Tier 1
Andy Burnham said he was “not surprised but very disappointed” that his region was staying in Tier 3.
He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “Greater Manchester today has lower rates than Liverpool and London had when they were originally put into Tier 2.
“One can only conclude that it’s the changed context in London and the South East which has changed the national context which has led to everybody in the north of England staying in restrictions.
“It feels like if the North has rising cases, the North goes under restrictions; if London and the South East has rising cases, everyone stays under restrictions.”
Manchester Council leader Sir Richard Leese has tweeted:
“Even though our numbers are better than either London or Liverpool’s were 3 weeks ago, still in Tier 3. Unbelievable”
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell tweeted:
“No mention of Manchester. Many of our rates are lower than Bristol and we’ve been in restrictions for longer. Yet again, it doesn’t feel like these things are fairly applied.”
Greater Manchester’s Night Time economy advisor said in a statement:
“I am disappointed in today’s decision to keep Greater Manchester in Tier 3.
We had an extremely strong argument to be moved into Tier 2, with lowering infection rates across the region, however yet again we are stuck in limbo with no clear guidance on how to escape.
I’m gutted not only for hospitality operators across Greater Manchester, but for those across all regions who have been moved or resigned to stay in Tier 3.
Together with greater financial aid to prevent these businesses going under, I continue to call on the Government to show us the evidence that merits their closure.
Christmas is the busiest time of year for everyone who works in food and beverage. Not just the bars and restaurants but suppliers, security staff, musicians and hundreds of thousands of others. They now face a Christmas of upset, worry and stress.
The health and safety of the public must come first, but the closure of pubs, restaurants and bars will not stop the virus spreading. It only serves to push people to socialise indoors, where there are no Covid regulations, no hourly cleaning policies, no social distancing.”
Looking at the current evidence, the closure of hospitality could in fact result in more infections.”
Councillor Pat Karney has tweeted
“This will be devastating for Manchester’s Hospitality Industry.Makes no sense that I can be in the Arndale but can’t go in a cafe opposite.These inconsistent regulations have lost a lot of the trust of the public.”
Andy Burnham had earlier said there was a “clear case” for the region being moved from tier three to tier two in interviews yesterday.
He said there had been “steady decreases” across all of the region’s 10 boroughs and its average rate is around 150 cases per 100,000 – below the England-wide average of 194.
However he could understand if the government wanted to “err on the side of caution”.
Interviewed this morning Andy Burnham said Ministers will have to “overcompensate” for the Christmas bubble “mistake” by keeping more areas in higher tiers
It’s clear a mistake has been made over Christmas,” he said.
“I have to say I did say it at the time, that it was allowing too much. My worry is they’re now about to overcompensate with the decisions on the tiers.”
