Manchester lockdown warning: Army ready to enforce new measures after Andy Burnham refuses

GREATER MANCHESTER Mayor Andy Burham has been hit with yet another serious warning from the Government as Tier 3 restrictions loom over the northern region, prompting Business minister Nadhim Zahawi to bring up the possibility of military support.

The Government has threatened to impose Tier 3 restrictions on Greater Manchester if leaders do not agree to a deal by the midday deadline. Local leaders, most notably Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, claim the financial package being offered to support an effective lockdown in the region would not be good enough. Nadhim Zahawi, the minister for Business and Energy, warned Sky News that the military could be drafted to offer coronavirus support.

He said: "I hope Andy Burnham, who I have worked extensively with, will agree to this.

"I think it's a good package - £22million for Manchester and more to come if Andy wants to negotiate.

"The real risk here is that by the week of November, at the current trajectory, there will be no ICU beds left in Greater Manchester. All of those critical beds will be occupied by COVID patients."

Mr Zahawi continued: "In the next couple of weeks you're going to see, again if the current trajectory carries on, more infections in the first spike back in March and April.

"We owe it to the people of Manchester to work together, and let's make this happen now.

"We'll put more support in from the army if they need it, any kind of support they're looking for.

"But let's agree this as we've done with London, Liverpool, Lancashire and other places."

The Business minister was pressed over what actions would be taken if the deal was not accepted by the deadline.

He confirmed that the Prime Minister would have to "put the lives of the people of Greater Manchester ahead of all of our interests".

The Prime Minister had already threatened to do so if an agreement could not be reached.

Negotiations are also underway with South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East about moving into Tier 3.

This would bring a vast swathe of the north of England under the strictest lockdown rules.

The Government's ultimatum comes after 10 days of talks on new rules and a rescue package with local leaders broke down.

There is also a dispute about just how fast the coronavirus infections are rising in Greater Manchester.

The Executive Medical Lead of the area told Sky News that she did not think they were running out of beds and did have enough capacity.

Source: Express

Wales expected to make decision on circuit breaker lockdown

Wales could be placed into a second national lockdown as the country “potentially face a very difficult few months ahead.”

The Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething has that local measures across Wales may not go far enough to supress the soaring transmission cases as we enter winter.

Gething said that the next two-weeks could see infections levels which has not been seen since the start of the pandemic in March.

The Welsh government are to decide over the coming days whether or not to impose a new all Wales lockdown or continue with localised lockdowns.

Gething said during the Welsh government’s Covid-19 press briefing, “The measures that we have put in place at local and national level to date have helped us to keep the spread of the virus in check.

“However, there is growing concern that these will not be enough to help see us through the winter because the virus is spreading so quickly.”

He added: “I do not want to scare people, but I do want people to understand that we potentially face a very difficult few months ahead of us.”

He was asked what potential new restrictions the government are discussing.

Gething replied, “We are considering all measures, whether we maintain local restrictions or whether we move to a national picture.”

Source: London Loves Business

Donald Trump Threatens To Leave America If Defeated By Joe Biden Next Month

The President made the comments to a rally of his supporters in Macon, Georgia. Mr Biden is currently the favourite to win when American’s go to the polls on November 3. Addressing his supporters Mr Trump said: “You know what – running against the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics puts pressure on me. Could you imagine if I lose what am I going to do?" “I’m going to say I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics. I’m not going to feel so good. “Maybe I’ll have to leave the country, I don’t know.” Mr Trump’s supporters laughed at the comments, which appeared to be made in jest. However some of his opponents mocked the President on social media over the remarks. The Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump American conservatives, retweeted the video with the caption “Promise?” This received over 9,700 retweets and 78,900 likes. In response Jim Madaffer, from San Diego, commented: “I’ll buy his one-way ticket!” According to the latest Opinium/Guardian poll Mr Biden is currently leading the race by 17 points.

Ahead of Mr Trump’s arrival in Georgia he tweeted: “Getting ready to land in Macon, Georgia.

“Another giant crowd. See you soon!”

www.express.co.uk