Merseyside to be first region plunged into strictest ‘Tier 3’ lockdown and could be under measures for SIX MONTHS

MERSEYSIDE will be the first area thrown into the strictest level of England's new three-tier lockdown system - and the measures could last SIX months.

Pubs, bars and gyms will shut, with a ban on mixing households indoors or outdoors and travel in or out of the area limited.

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Restaurants, schools and universities will stay open.

Greater Manchester is understood to be resisting moves to be placed into Tier 3 - claiming its infection rates have started dropping and that it could support legal action from affected pubs and clubs.

Parts of West Yorkshire and the North East look set to be spared the strictest measures despite their high infection rates.

The Liverpool City Region - which covers around 1.6 million people - is understood to have agreed the majority of terms with the Government although a deal on a financial rescue package has not been signed.

Steve Rotherham, Labour mayor of the Liverpool City region, has tonight stressed no agreement has yet been finalised.

He said last night: "Government have been clear from the start that they plan on placing the Liverpool City Region in tier three and plan on announcing this tomorrow.

"No agreement has yet been reached on this point and negotiations are ongoing."

Local leaders have held calls with top officials to ask for a monthly review of the situation.

A statement issued by leaders of Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council and 12 Lancashire district councils said: "We share the same objectives with central government– to protect our residents, to protect our economy and to protect our NHS.

"But we do need more detail from government about their proposals, and in particular what the differences will be between the tiers in the planned new system."

Boris Johnson will make a national address about the new three-tier lockdown tomorrow.

It comes after the PM held a telephone conference with Cabinet members last night.

Mr Johnson's decision to brief Cabinet ministers on a Sunday is a rare move - and Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese says there's a "large gulf" in discussions about new restrictions.

He told Times Radio: "We seem to have an almost impossible task of penetrating the Westminster bubble."

Liverpool recorded the second-highest infection rate in the country in the two weeks to October 4.

There were 4,593 confirmed cases, or 928.2 per 100,000 people.

The neighbouring council area of Knowsley was top, with 1,412 cases and an infection rate of 944.

Northern leaders have begged the PM not to shut pubs on Monday, saying "coronavirus restrictions are beginning to work".

Chief strategic adviser Sir Edward Lister wrote to MPs following a meeting with council chiefs on Thursday.

In a letter shared online, Sir Edward stated that "rising incidence" of Covid in parts of the country mean it is "very likely" that certain local areas will face "further restrictions".

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The letter adds: "The government will discuss a set of measures with local leaders all of which present difficult choices."

But five MPs have warned about the "devastating impact" of shutting businesses such as pubs.

In a letter, they said "jobs, livelihoods and businesses" would be damaged and that it would lead to more illegal gatherings.

They argued that a big proportion of cases were among students and confined to halls of residence.

The proposed system is expected to see different parts of England put in different categories, with areas in the highest level facing the toughest measures.

Daily Covid-19 cases across the UK have fallen by more than 2,000 in the past 24 hours as 12,872 test positive for the virus and 65 die.

Cases have nearly tripled in the past two weeks — with a total of 603,716 people now having tested positive for coronavirus in Britain.

Meanwhile, one of the main medical advisers to the British Government has warned that the country is at a 'tipping point' in its battle with the pandemic.

England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said in a statement that Brits are in a similar position to the one reached in March.

The UK has experienced Europe's deadliest outbreak with more than 42,750 deaths.

Professor Van-Tam urged people to stick to key social distancing and hygiene measures to keep transmission low and stop the NHS being overwhelmed.

The decision to enforce further tough measures in the north comes after shocking new Government graphs showed the north-west and north-east are at breaking point.

However, the south of England has seen infection rates remain broadly stable.

Professor Chris Whitty said the two regions had seen a “rapid increase” in infections - despite large swathes of both areas being under local lockdown.

But earlier this week, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer handed Mr Johnson 'proof' that regional shutdowns 'don't work'.

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During a fiery clash in the Commons, Sir Keir said: "Today is 100 days since the first local restrictions were brought in.

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"20 local areas have been under restrictions for two months, in 19 of those infection rates have gone up.

"It's obvious something has gone wrong here."

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