By Ben Kerrigan-
Boris Johnson has announced a three tier system in a telephone conference with Cabinet members on Sunday, as the Prime Minister prepares to bring in a new three-tier coronavirus restrictions regime.
Mr Johnson’s decision comes after a briefing with Cabinet ministers on a Sunday, as Northern leaders expressed anger at the economic impact of further Covid rules in their areas as talks with the Government appeared tense.
Under the three tier system, the Uk will be divided into medium, high or very high risk categories, with Liverpool expected to see the tightest restrictions imposed. Such “very high” risk areas are set to see pubs, gyms, bars and casinos shut, with all but essential travel banned.
The new set of restrictions will reportedly be implemented from Wednesday and last at least four weeks before being reviewed. Northern leaders are strongly opposed to closures in the hospitality sector, arguing these would have a catastrophic impact on jobs and local economies.
Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said there was a “large gulf” in discussions about new restrictions.
However, the Government signalled local councils would be given more control over the coronavirus test and trace programme.
Mayors and council leaders in the North have said local economies could be “shattered” as a result of sweeping new rolling Covid enforcements set to be unveiled by Boris Johnson in the Commons on Monday.
The Prime Minister is set to detail a new three-tier system of restrictions with measures expected to force pubs and restaurants to shut across the North of England and see millions of people banned from mixing indoors and outdoors.
Reports suggest the top tier will see no household mixing allowed either, which could affect millions of people living in areas with high Covid-19 rates across England.
Sir Richard said Manchester council’s own data showed there was “no evidence closing pubs works”.
He added: “We are still getting things coming from Government and meetings that took place on Friday, not just in Greater Manchester, across the North, where we are getting proposed solutions with no evidence to suggest why they are needed and no evidence to suggest they would work, when all the evidence we have got says they are looking in the wrong place.”