Manchester lockdown: Boris Johnson promises area WILL get £60m extra funding for Tier 3 restrictions

BORIS Johnson today promised Manchester WILL get £60million in extra funding for lockdown - despite Andy Burnham turning it down.

The PM vowed to distribute the cash needed even though the local Mayor said it wasn't enough for him to support the deal.

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Mr Johnson confirmed this afternoon the £60million offer of financial aid rejected by Mr Burnham yesterday would be given to Greater Manchester.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he reeled off the funding available to the local authorities, including £22million to help with test and trace - and another £22million to help businesses.

He told MPs: "Yesterday, the Mayor in Greater Manchester was offered a further £60million which he turned down, with encouragement and support from (Sir Keir Starmer).

"That cash will be distributed to the boroughs of Greater Manchester."

The Manchester Mayor was demanding an extra £75million pounds to bail out businesses in the city as they grapple with Tier 3 lockdown, but he refused to accept anything below £65million.

It meant local leaders were given Downing Street's initial offer of £22million after the PM had to force the city into lockdown.

LEGAL BID

Yet Manchester's night-time tsar has announced the city will start legal action to try and block it.

Sacha Lord said today: "Last night we started the Judicial Review into the legality of implementing emergency restrictions on Greater Manchester's hospitality sector, without scientific evidence.

"A pre-action letter has been filed and we await the Health Secretary's response. The fight goes on."

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Earlier today Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick claimed the Mayor had been "showboating" when he pretended to find out about the lower financial package on live TV yesterday.

When asked if it was "fair" for Mr Burnham to find out on live TV, he Housing Secretary told Sky News: "He didn't. I phoned him and told him."

"We had several conversations over the course of (yesterday) morning, including with the Prime Minister, and I told him the final news at 2pm."

When asked if the Northern Mayor was "showboating" for the cameras, Mr Jenrick said: "I'm not in the slightest bit interested in point scoring, this isn't about personalities, or press conferences on the steps of town halls.

"In the end it's about an important public health situation, and ensuring the people of Greater Manchester now get what they deserve."

And Health Minister Nadine Dorries slammed the Manchester Mayor of "playing to the gallery".

In response to a picture of Mr Burnham reading a message on TV, she said: "This wasn’t the moment though.

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"It was ⁦@AndyBurnhamGM⁩ playing to gallery.

"He was personally and respectfully telephoned by Robert Jenrick at 2pm and told the news long before this tableau was played out." ⁦

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