News

Greater Manchester to enter into Tier 4 restrictions following government review

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement in the House of Commons a few moments ago.

The Manc The Manc - 30th December 2020

It has been confirmed today that Greater Manchester will be placed into Tier 4 restrictions following the second official review of the UK government’s tier system.

The new classification was announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a direct address to MPs in the House of Commons a few moments ago.

These changes will take effect at 0.01am tomorrow.

Announcing the new classifications, Mr Hancock said: “Unfortunately, this new variant is now spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast [and] it is therefore necessary to apply Tier 4 measures to a wider area, including the remaining parts of the South East, as well as large parts of the Midlands, the North West, the North East and the South West.” 

Lancashire, Cheshire, Warrington, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen will also move from Tier 3 restrictions into Tier 4.

ADVERTISEMENT

Liverpool City Region will move from Tier 2 restrictions into Tier 3, while Cumbria will from Tier 2 into Tier 4.

It comes after coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates have continued to rise across the region – with nine out of the ten boroughs seeing increases – and the latest data now showing the region-wide infection rate looking set to top 200 cases per 100,000 people again for the first time since last month.

ADVERTISEMENT

Greater Manchester had previously remained under Tier 3 restrictions since the country came out of the national second lockdown at the start of December, with no changes in almost four weeks.

Tier 4

The new tier 4 restrictions will see Greater Manchester residents told to “stay at home” and not leave or be outside of their home except for specific purposes.

No household mixing is allowed – aside from support bubbles and two people meeting in public outdoor spaces – all hospitality and non-essential retail must close, except for takeaway, drive-through or delivery services, and all indoor leisure and entertainment venues must too close.

Travel is only permitted for work, education or other legally permitted reasons, and residents must not leave a Tier 4 area or stay overnight away from home.

Residents in Tiers 1 – 3 should also not enter Tier 4 areas.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is now due to make a follow-up announcement regarding the return to school ahead of the new term for millions of children across the country at 3:30pm.

The review follows widespread reports by a number of major news outlets that have been emerging over the past week or so to suggest that England could immediately head into a full lockdown, or even see additional ‘Tier 5’ restrictions imposed following the confirmation by Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier this month that a “new variant” of coronavirus has been detected in the UK, which first forced London and large parts of the South East into Tier 4 “stay at home” measures over the festive period.

ADVERTISEMENT

It also comes after millions more people were then moved into tougher restrictions on Boxing Day, with some six million people entering Tier 4, and a further four million people placed into Tier 3.

This thus brought the total of people in Tier 4 to 24 million, which was 43% of the population.

The latest review also follows the confirmation this morning that the UK medicine regulator has approved use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The approval of the new vaccine is set to accelerate UK’s immunisation campaign – with 100 million doses of the Oxford jab already ordered – and is has prompted Matt Hancock to express confidence the country could now “get out of the pandemic by spring”.

Two shots will be required for maximum effect, and the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is scheduled for 4th January.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is a BREAKING NEWS story – More to follow.

___

For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.

#HandsFaceSpace

News

Manchester Pride enters voluntary liquidation ‘with enormous sadness’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester Pride’s statement as it enters liquidation

Manchester Pride has announced that the company has entered the process of voluntary liquidation, after it emerged that several of this year’s performers had gone unpaid.

The hugely popular LGBTQ+ event, which spills from the Gay Village and into surrounding venues every August bank holiday weekend, said it has faced ‘rising costs, declining ticket sales, and an ambitious refresh of format’.

Manchester Pride said that all of these factors, among others, have led to the organisation being ‘no longer financially viable’ and its staff team will be made redundant.

“We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves,” the Board of Trustees wrote.

Last week, it emerged that a number of artists who appeared at this year’s celebration had shared a letter that alleges they are still waiting for payment for their work at the festival.

In a statement shared this afternoon, Manchester Pride added that they have been unsuccessfully seeking ‘financial opportunities’ to find a ‘positive solution’.

Manchester Pride wrote: “We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners.

“Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.”

Manchester Pride’s statement in full

It is with enormous sadness that we announce that Manchester Pride has started the legal process of voluntary liquidation.

A combination of rising costs, which are affecting the entire events and hospitality industries, declining ticket sales and an ambitious refresh of the format aimed to challenge these issues, along with an unsuccessful bid to host Euro Pride, has led to the organisation no longer being financially viable.

We regret the delays in communicating the current situation; however, we were keen not to jeopardise financial opportunities while our discussions were ongoing. We were proactive and determined to identify solutions to the financial issues. We’ve been actively working with several partners, including legal and financial advisors, to do everything we could to find a positive solution. We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners. Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.

The volunteer Board of Trustees are devastated at this situation and sad to share that our staff team will be made redundant. We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves. We would like to sincerely offer our thanks to all of our staff, volunteers and supporters who have contributed so much to Manchester Pride over the years.

The organisation has achieved a great deal since its creation and, in particular, since the Covid pandemic. This includes:

● 237,000 visitors to the city

● £104.8m of economic impact

● 148 grants being made to grass roots community groups

● Positive positioning of Manchester as an inclusive city

We hope and believe that this leaves a positive and lasting legacy for the Pride movement in Greater Manchester, and that it will continue long into the future. We will do everything we can to support this moving forward.

The Manchester Pride team have now handed over the details of suppliers and artists who are owed money to the liquidators who will be handling the affairs of the Charity and contacting everyone.

Board of Trustees, Manchester Pride

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Greater Manchester Police release latest image of elderly missing woman last seen in Oldham

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Greater Manchester Police have released a new image of an elderly missing woman after she was last seen in the Oldham area.

The 76-year-old lady, named only as Susette, who is believed to be from the Shaw area, was most recently spotted on Oak Street at approximately 8:56pm this past Monday, 20 October.

Officers and locals alike are understandably growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.

Susette is described as an older white female, around 5’4″ in height, with a slim build and light blonde/greyish hair. You can see the latest sighting of her down below.

Have you seen Susette? (Credit: GMP handout)

Police previously stated that she had been seen wearing a blue anorak, blue jeans, a beige jumper with black stripes and black trainers with white trim.

However, as you can see, she has since been spotted in a similar outfit, apart from now wearing a cream jacket, black trousers and black ‘running-style’ trainers with a white sole.

It is also now understood that she has dementia and is therefore considered vulnerable.

Local Liberal Democrat and councillor, Howard Sykes MBE, has also asked his fellow constituents to remain vigilant and come forward with any and all potentially useful information they may have.

Sharing another photo of her via his official online blog, he went on to add: “Please can we ask anyone with any information to please contact GMP and to keep a lookout when out and about in the community to ensure Susette is found safe and well.”

It is believed that she is still on foot and will be in and around the Oldham area.

Anyone with any info is urged to get in touch with the authorities immediately so officers can ensure she is safe and well.

If you can help, simply get in touch via 101 quoting log 3670 of 20/10/2025; in case of emergency, dial 999 right away.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police/Handout (via Howard Sykes MBE website)

More News

The main gym space at Zeno Health Club. Credit: The Manc Group

Manchester

Luxury £125-a-month Manchester gym Zeno Health Club suddenly shuts down

Outside Pizza Hut

Boroughs

Pizza Hut releases list of 68 branches set to close – including several in Greater Manchester

Karl Davies mugshot

Crime

Abuser jailed for life for sexual offences and encouraging a child to self-harm in ‘landmark’ GMP case

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches