Greater Manchester has been given a deadline of midday today (20 October) to settle a deal with the government over moving into Tier 3 restrictions.
If an agreement is not reached by 12pm, the region is likely to be upgraded to the ‘very high’ risk category unilaterally.
After ten days of negotiations, the latest meeting between Greater Manchester leaders and government ministers on Monday (19 October) resulted in yet another deadlock.
Now, with patience running thin on both sides, Greater Manchester appears set to move into Tier 3 this week.
But the question remains as to what type of deal leaders will get.
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Housing Minister Robert Jenrick said that “urgent action” was required to improve a “deteriorating” health situation in Manchester, pointing to rising numbers of hospitalisations in the area.
However, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese said the government was using “selective” data, and argued that “Greater Manchester’s ICU occupancy rate is not abnormal for this time of year.”
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In a statement on Monday evening, they clarified: “We are not complacent about the position in our hospitals and are monitoring the situation closely. But in the current situation, we believe it is essential that our residents are given clear, accurate information about the state of the NHS in Greater Manchester and that public fears are not raised unnecessarily.”
Since the beginning of the tier saga, local leaders have repeatedly campaigned for improved support that matched the kind seen in March under national lockdown.
This would include 80% of wages covered for staff for the self-employed.
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Places such as pubs, bars, gyms, bookies, casinos, barbers, and salons could all potentially be closed under Tier 3 restrictions.
Burnham says the fight for a “fairer” deal is about “more than just Greater Manchester” – with the Mayor claiming many more regions are likely to be upgraded to Tier 3 during winter.
Leese admitted that Greater Manchester would ultimately need to comply with any government ultimatum, but expressed his disappointment that negotiations had faltered yet again.
“There seems to be a real unwillingness from the government to listen to reason,” said the council leader.
“I think they’ve tabled fairly badly worked-out regulations and are now refusing to recognise that and enter into a serious negotiation.”
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Burnham says he would “not break the law” if the Government put the region into ‘Tier 3’ restrictions without his consent, but would challenge whether it is “the right thing to do”.
Further discussions are set to take place this morning as the deadline for a decision fast approaches.
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Man jailed following series of ‘violent’ knife attacks in Wigan town centre last summer
Emily Sergeant
A man has been sentenced this week following a series of ‘violent’ knife attacks in Wigan town centre last summer.
Charles McMurray, of Satchel Close in Wigan, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of Section 18 wounding with intent, threatening a person with a bladed article, and threats to kill following a distressing incident in Wigan town centre last summer.
The court heard that McMurray arrived on Wallgate at around 6:33am on 9 August 2025 before entering a taxi office, where he stabbed two men without warning.
The victims fled, and McMurray pursued them towards the town centre.
McMurray then went on to threaten a passer‑by at Wigan bus station and held a knife to the man’s stomach. A short time later, he located the injured victims on Standishgate and assaulted one of them again. Following that assault, he chased after another member of the public with the knife shouting that he was going to kill him.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers arrived shortly after 6:50am and found McMurray in possession of the knife, before he was subsequently quickly arrested at the scene.
McMurray has now been sentenced to nine years and nine months behind bars, which police say is a ‘testament to the brave victims’ who gave their accounts.
Speaking following McMurray’s sentencing this week, Detective Constable Harris from Wigan CID, who led the investigation, said: “This was an entirely unprovoked attack which left multiple victims requiring hospital treatment. McMurray is a dangerous and violent offender who is now safely behind bars.
“Knives have no place on our streets, and we hope today’s sentence shows just how seriously we take knife crime. Our communities should feel safe where they live and work, and we are committed to tackling knife crime to ensure no family has to face their loved ones being harmed.
“It is a testament to the brave victims who not only endured this attack but had the courage to provide detailed accounts together with the impact this has had on them, that we have been able to ensure McMurray has been brought to justice.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.
36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.
It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.
Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.
They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.
He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.
His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.
“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”
GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.
Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.
It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.
GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”
The Manc -
20th October 2020 
