Coronavirus: Andy Burnham says he would accept Tier 3 restrictions if imposed on Greater Manchester
He tells Sky News the "late-night ultimatum" was "a bit provocative" but a minister says the government wants to "work together".
Tuesday 20 October 2020 12:01, UK
Andy Burnham says he will keep to the law and "accept" Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions for Greater Manchester if the government imposes them.
The region's mayor told Sky News it was ministers' "prerogative" to announce the measures, if negotiations over the next few hours end in stalemate.
He and other local leaders have been given until midday today to reach an agreement on moving three million people into England's highest band of coronavirus controls.
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Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said last night there have been 10 days of talks in "good faith" but they are still in deadlock.
If there is no breakthrough, he suggested Prime Minister Boris Johnson could impose measures unilaterally as COVID-19 spreads through Greater Manchester and public health "continues to deteriorate".
Responding, Mr Burnham told Kay Burley: "We wouldn't break the law… We would obviously have to accept that decision, in the end it's the government's prerogative."
But he warned the change would hurt "the lowest paid in society" like pub workers and taxi drivers, so Downing Street needs to pledge more financial support for firms forced to stop trading.
"If you're going to impose a lockdown here it's going to cause certain harm to all the people I've mentioned," Mr Burnham said.
"I don't believe we can consign our residents to hardship in that way."
Overnight, it emerged Mr Jenrick had offered £22m - around £8 per person - for "individuals, businesses, and the wider region" affected by the Tier 3 move.
Mr Burnham said the "late-night ultimatum" was "a bit provocative" and accused ministers of "trying to penny pinch", but revealed he is consulting today with other local politicians and they will respond with "what we think is a fair figure".
He told Sky News: "There was a reference in the letter to potential additional support. We have never had a figure for that - what that might mean - so it's a bit odd to be given an ultimatum when we don't think we've concluded those discussions."
"I will respond as positively and constructively as I can," he promised.
Earlier, business minister Nadhim Zahawi said the government was offering Greater Manchester politicians "a good package" and there could be "more to come" on top of the £22m already offered.
But he cautioned swift action was necessary because by the first week of November at the current trajectory, there will be no intensive care uni beds in Greater Manchester.
"We owe it to the people of Manchester to work together - let's make this happen now," he told Kay Burley.
"We have to put the lives of the people of Greater Manchester ahead of all of our interests.
"I genuinely hope Andy will come and agree this because I think it's important that he and other local leaders speak as one with government. This is a joint effort."
Mr Zahawi added a full lockdown would "damage the whole of the economy" so more localised approaches are needed.