‘Most places will end up in Tier 3’: Mayor demands improved support before winter as talks continue
"It is likely that most places will find themselves in Tier 3 at some point before a vaccine is found. That is why we believe it is right for Parliament to debate and agree what is a fair level of support for people and businesses in those areas."
Boris Johnson is said to be ‘on the verge’ of ordering a Tier 3 lockdown in Manchester after talks between the Mayor and government officials failed to yield a solution last week.
Andy Burnham believes “most places will find themselves in Tier 3 at some point before a vaccine is found” – which is why he’s demanding improved support for these areas as winter looms.
The government is hoping to agree a financial package with Greater Manchester during the next 48 hours – which would result in the region being moved to the ‘very high’ risk category where pubs, bars and bookies are closed.
Local leaders are continuing to hold out for a “fair” deal – claiming this is “not just a Greater Manchester issue”.
The whole country needs to get behind Andy Burnham. Andy’s right. This is a fight for a fair deal for everybody to protect their health and livelihoods so that everybody is protected as the pandemic continues. https://t.co/kK8gMPWUSZ
Speaking to Andrew Marr on Sunday (18 October), Burnham said the pushback wasn’t about politics or money, but about wellbeing.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s about people’s health and what’s right for them,” said the Mayor.
“What I would say to the government is that ‘let’s come together and agree a package of support that helps people through this’.
ADVERTISEMENT
“A punishing lockdown without support – trapping places in Tier 3 all winter – I think will cause real harm to people’s health in the broadest possible sense.”
Burnham has written a letter to the government asking for an 80% furlough scheme for all affected workers – including the self-employed.
A full and fair furlough scheme at 80%.
Support for the self employed, including freelancers.
Compensation for businesses directly or indirectly affected.
The Mayor has since had a call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s chief strategic adviser, which was described as “constructive”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Talks are set to continue today, with speculation rife as to what type of deal the government will put on the table.
The Telegraph is reporting that the PM could offer Greater Manchester to £100 million in order to settle the debate.
However, other sources have suggested that this may not include the 80% furlough scheme which has been the cornerstone of the region’s resistance so far.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News that the government was looking to finalise terms on Monday (19 October) or Tuesday (20 October).
Boris Johnson had previously warned that if a deal was not agreed, he would have to “intervene“.
News
Two men jailed after series of Porsche thefts across Greater Manchester totalling £1m
Emily Sergeant
Two men have been handed prison sentences following a series of Porsche thefts across Greater Manchester.
An investigation into the actions of Eidmantas Sadauskas and Vytautas Ceponis, both of no fixed abode, by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) began back in January of this year.
Described as being ‘sophisticated’ operation, the pair used equipment and tools to disable the vehicle security alarms and gain access to them, before they would then clone the vehicles, using different registration plates to allow them to slip under the radar.
In total, 25 Porsches – estimated, in total, as being approximately £1 million – were linked to the theft series and identified as having been taken by Sadauskas and Ceponis.
The thefts occurred across Greater Manchester – including in Salford, Bury, Trafford, Manchester, and Stockport – and it’s believed they were being stolen to be sold on for illegal gain.
The thefts occurred between January and October 2025, according to police, before the investigation began.
A comprehensive investigation Stockport’s Neighbourhood Crime Team (NCT) found that Sadauskas and Ceponis were mapped out as being in the areas of the crimes as they occurred, and the vehicles involved in the thefts were additionally identified as being linked to them.
The pair subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal motor vehicles at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in late November, before their sentencing last Friday.
Ceponis was jailed for four years for conspiring to steal motor vehicles, while Sadauskas was jailed for four-and-a-half years for conspiring to steal motor vehicles.
Several of the Porsches have since been recovered, and police say work remains ongoing to locate the outstanding vehicles and reunite them with their owners.
“No one should have their property taken from them,” commented PC Chris Hopkins, from GMP’s Stockport NCT. “As officers in the Neighourhood Crime Team, we work proactively to tackle these sorts of offences and punish those responsible.
“We have recovered several of the stolen vehicles and will continue to do so while Sadauskas and Ceponis are behind bars.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
The Manc -
19th October 2020 
