Greater Manchester faces second-tier lockdown, local MP said ahead of official announcement later today
Oldham MP Jim McMahon revealed he spoke to the Secretary of State to confirm restrictions would be in place, preventing households from meeting indoors in any frame
He said people can always meet outside and pubs will be allowed to stay open if they are serving food
Speaking of his relief at the measures, he added: « Oldham will be removed from his tightened lockdown measures and aligned with [Greater Manchester] * finally * »
McMahon earlier said he was given 21 minutes’ notice when asked to speak with Health Secretary Matt Hancock
He said it was « bad even by current standards », adding: « Like most things, it seems like an afterthought »
Northern leaders blamed the government for not communicating plans for new restrictions, with most of the information leaked to London-based newspapers
It was revealed last week that swathes of the north could be plunged into a strict lockdown that would see pubs, restaurants and possibly gyms and hairdressers forced to close
Hospital admissions are increasing rapidly in the north of England, particularly in the north-west, where the rate could exceed the first wave, NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis said during a press briefing this morning
Liverpool are set to be placed in the highest category – Tier 3 – when Boris Johnson unveils the new locking system later today
Political leaders in Merseyside have said they have been informed by ministers that pubs and bars, gamblers, casinos, adult gaming centers and gyms will be closing
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has denied reports suggesting local leaders have approved the measures
In a series of tweets, he said Merseyside executives had ‘not agreed to anything’ and are calling for a better financial support program to protect businesses that will be forced to close
He claimed the government ignored his calls to put the city on a tighter lock when infections began to rise a month ago and accused him of imposing a « diktat lockdown »
Appearing on TalkRadio this morning, he said: “We cannot stop the government from enacting parliamentary measures that put our city in a 75% lockdown it’s a hammer to crack a nut «
Boris Johnson is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons at 3.30 a.m. and will hold a press briefing in Downing Street with Chancellor Rishi Sunak later in the evening
Greater Manchester, Coronavirus, Lockdown, Boris Johnson, Andy Burnham
News from around the world – UK – Household mixing ban as Manchester faces Level 2 lockdown
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
