By Tony O’Riley-
Local leaders in Manchester have called for considerable financial support before agreeing to a move to the top tier of rules, which would force some businesses to close.
It comes as concern that further delays could cost more lives is putting pressure on all sides to act quickly Mr Jenrick indicated that Greater Manchester could be offered a financial package similar to the “tens of millions” of pounds of support agreed for Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region .
Mr Jencrick told BBC Breakfast the Manchester talks had gone on “too long” as coronavirus case numbers remain “seriously high”.
“Delay, I’m afraid will only make the situation worse, will only put people’s lives at risk, and will only make the economic fallout for the city worse in the long term,” he added.
“We do now need to take action. I hope that we can reach agreement but one way or another, we need to draw this to a conclusion,” Mr Jenrick said.
The news comes as pubs and restaurants in Wales, and non-essential shops will shut as part of a “short, sharp” national lockdown until 9 November.
Scotland is already drawing up plans for a three-tier framework of restrictions, similar to England’s, to account for regional differences in Covid rates and isolate areas of higher prevalence.
With nearly 17,000 people testing positive for the virus in the UK as of Sunday, figures from the Department of Health revealed that a a further 67 deaths occurring within 28 days of a positive test.
Mayor Andy Burnham has called for the government to reintroduce the 80% furlough scheme used during the UK’s first lockdown, instead of the new Job Support Scheme which covers 67% of the wages of people affected by tier three closures.
Mr.Burnham said businesses that would be closed under tier three – including pubs, bookmakers and gyms – “are places where people are on low wages” and that two-thirds pay is not enough.
Liverpool City Region’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram revealed that his area would receive an additional £44m and a similar package worth £42m was given to local leaders in Lancashire last week.
Mr Burnham who said he had a “constructive call” with the PM’s team on Sunday, but on Monday morning he told Sky News: “I’m not going to roll over at the sight of a cheque.”