Coronavirus latest news: South Yorkshire to move into Tier 3 restrictions from Saturday
North East will tell No 10 to 'sod off' if they try to impose Tier 3
'Brexit is like moving house' Gove tells business in 'disastrous' call
The Government should have imposed Tier 3 restrictions on Greater Manchester "a few days ago" but were unable to because of the stand-off with local leaders, a Cabinet minister has said.
Robert Jenrick insisted the situation in the area was "serious and deteriorating", although conceded there was "evidence of [coronavirus] plateauing in the centre of Manchester".
Talks took 11 days because the mayor Andy Burnham had been "adamant he had to have a better deal than his neighbours".
"We probably in honesty should have acted a few days ago but we hadn't been able to reach an agreement with the mayor of Greater Manchester," he added.
Asked why Mr Burnham found out about the £20m deal live on air, the Communities Secretary said "he didn't".
Mr Jenrick claimed he had told Andy Burnham at 2pm what Manchester would be receiving, adding: "I am not in the slightest bit interested in point scoring," he added.
"I am not interested in showboating or personalities - I am interested in public health....regardless of personalities we will provide [Manchester] the support they deserve."
Mr Jenrick said "very productive" conversations have taken place with the mayor of Sheffield Dan Jarvis about putting that region into Tier 3. The Government is "on the cusp of an agreement with South Yorkshire", he added.
"Those discussions are coming to a conclusion this morning, I hope," he said. An announcement will be made "shortly".
Follow the latest updates below.
08:37 AM
There are 'legitimate' questions about Whitehall's preparedness for pandemics, says Lord Sedwill
The former head of the Civil Service has acknowledged that there were "legitimate" questions about Whitehall's preparedness for the coronavirus outbreak.
Lord Sedwill, who stepped down last month after clashing with Boris Johnson's adviser Dominic Cummings, it would be for a future inquiry to determine whether the lockdown in March was imposed quickly enough and whether the state had the right capabilities to deal with a pandemic.
"Although we had exercised and prepared for pandemic threats, we didn't have in place the exact measures, and we hadn't rehearsed the exact measures," he said.
"I think there is a genuine question about whether we could have been better prepared in the first place and that is obviously a very legitimate challenge."
08:20 AM
What people in South Yorkshire can and can't do from Saturday
The full details of Tier 3 restrictions affecting South Yorkshire have been published. They will come into force from one minute past midnight on Saturday...
People must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals
People should try to avoid travelling outside the Very High alert level or entering a Very High alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey
Residents should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the Very High alert area
In addition, the following restrictions will also apply in South Yorkshire:
Additional closures will include: Betting shops, adult gaming centres, casinos and soft play centres.
Gym classes will not be allowed and social distancing guidelines should be followed between people from different households (but gyms will remain open).
08:16 AM
Michel Barnier: Post-Brexit trade deal 'within reach'
Michel Barnier has told European Parliament he believes a post-Brexit trade deal is "within reach", despite the UK backing away from talks.
The EU's chief negotiator promised to intensify talks on the basis of common legal text and across all subjects.
"Despite the difficulties we've faced an agreement is within reach, if both sides are willing to work constructively, if both sides are willing to compromise.
"And if we're able to make progress in the next few days on the basis of legal texts. And if we're ready over the next few days to resolve the sticking points, the tricky subjects, because time is of the essence and time is running out each and every day."
He said both sides must "endeavor to find solutions to the most difficult areas".
Although the EU's attitude "has in no way shifted, and it will not shift, not up until the very last day, not even then," Mr Barnier said he would seek "the necessary compromises on both sides... right up until the last day that it's possible to do so"
But he added: "There will not be a trade deal without a fair solution for fishermen on both sides and we will insist on this right up until the very end. There needs to be mutual access to waters, and there needs to be a fair distribution of quotas for fishermen on both sides."
08:12 AM
Liverpool's gyms to reopen, metro mayor Steve Rotheram says
Gyms in Liverpool are allowed to reopen under Tier 3 restrictions, City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram has said.
He told BBC Radio Merseyside he had asked for scientific evidence on why they were ordered to close, following the announcement gyms in Lancashire would remain open in Tier 3.
Reading a statement on behalf of local leaders, he said: "Collectively, we have consistently requested the scientific evidence that supported the imposition of the suite of measures under Tier 3 and we pointed out the inconsistency of the approach following the announcement that Lancashire would not in fact have exactly the same package of restrictions as our city region.
"Talks continued until late last night and the Government have agreed with the case I put forward on behalf of city region leaders and that they would now bring us in line with other Tier 3 areas.
"This would mean soft play areas would be closed but gyms could reopen."
This morning, Robert Jenrick suggested gyms in Manchester would have to close with the region enters Tier 3 from Friday night.
08:06 AM
South Yorkshire being moved to Tier 3 following £41m deal
South Yorkshire will move into Tier 3, the ‘very high’ alert level for coronavirus restrictions from one minute past midnight on Saturday (24 October), local mayor Dan Jarvis has confirmed.
The Government has agreed a £41m package, including £30m to support local businesses and £11m for Test and Trace.
The restrictions apply to Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
In a statement Mr Jarvis, the Labour MP for Barnsley, said: "We all recognise the gravity of the situation and have taken the responsible route to ensure we save lives and livelihoods, and protect our NHS. More older people are contracting the virus. The number of people with Covid in our hospitals has doubled over the last ten days, with no signs this will relent over the coming weeks. Inaction was not an option.
“We called on Government to offer a local lockdown lifeline for our local authorities and economy, and the new restrictions will be introduced alongside resources which mean we are better equipped to control the virus and limit some of the damage on jobs and businesses."
08:02 AM
UK has 'important choice about future' on Brexit deal, MEPs told
The Government is continuing to fight multiple battles on multiple fronts at the same time. As well as the ongoing row with leaders in Greater Manchester - which is spilling over to Red Wall Tories and even those further south - the Brexit war of words continues.
This morning Charles Michel, the European Council president, suggested Brussels was standing firm on the key areas - state aid and fisheries - that have dogged negotiations throughout.
He claimed the UK wanted access to the Single Market despite not giving guarantees on standards, telling the European Parliament: "You can't have your cake and eat it.
"Our UK friends say they want to maintain the highest standards. If that's the case, why don't they commit to them? We don't need words, we need guarantees."
He also attacked the Internal Market Bill, saying: "What's the point of negotiating signing, and what defines an international agreement. if it's not implemented in full?"
Mr Michel added: "The United Kingdom, now has an important choice to make about its own future. It's not about choosing a negotiating tactic. It's about choosing the model of society and a model of economy for their own future."
07:54 AM
Government promises Manchester £60m funding - but Andy Burnham is cut out of talks
The £60m financial support is "still there - it's got Greater Manchester's name on it" - but the Government is cutting Andy Burnham out of any future negotiations, Robert Jenrick has conceded.
The Communities Secretary told the Today programme ministers had been having "very productive conversations with local council leaders" including Manchester City Council head Sir Richard Leese and Bolton Council leader David Greenhalgh, both of whom joined the Greater Manchester mayor for his press conference yesterday.
"The council leaders can come to me, my door is open," Mr Jenrick said. "They can come to me today and begin making the same arrangements" as leaders from Lancashire and Merseyside.
He claimed the collapse of talks yesterday "wasn't about five million pounds", claiming Mr Burnham was "never willing to draw this to a conclusion" but stressing it would have been "irresponsible to let this continue".
Mr Jenrick added: "There was a meeting with the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister offered £55m, Andy Burnham said £65m, the Prime Minister said 'let's compromise and get this done for the sake of the people of Greater Manchester' but Andy Burnham wasn't willing to."
07:46 AM
Government can't agree preferential deal with Manchester, says Robert Jenrick
Robert Jenrick has defended the Government's "fair" funding formula for regions going into Tier 3, despite higher business density and the impact of previous restrictions on Greater Manchester.
The Communities Secretary told the Today programme that "every area would argue for their own community, but it would be difficult to say that Manchester requires more than Merseyside, for example".
He added: "We need to have fairness, it isn't right we agree deals that are preferential in Greater Manchester."
Support such as the £3,000 business grant "should be enough to pay rent", he added, noting that firms were not paying any business rates and "when they are trading again will enjoy the VAT cut".
Asked about those on minimum wage who can only claim two-thirds of their salary while not working, Mr Jenrick stressed that people could "top that up" with Universal Credit.
07:41 AM
Government to publish 'fair and consistent formula' for Tier 3 support
The Government has sought to be "fair and proportionate to all parts of the country" when it comes to agreeing a financial package for those entering Tier 3, and will publish the details of its funding formula, Robert Jenrick has said.
The Communities Secretary said the tiered system created a "baseline in each tier, both in terms of the restrictions and the financial support", which would "ensure parity and fairness between different parts of the country," he added.
Mr Jenrick said the Government would be publishing the details of its "fair and consistent formula" for additional support for councils, on top of the £8 per head, pointing to the deal done with Merseyside that equated to around £20-21 per head.
"Every deal we have done since then we have been very clear it needs to be proportionate so it is fair to people in Merseyside... that is what we offered to Andy Burnham, but he was adamant that Greater Manchester should get a a better deal, but that's not fair."
07:33 AM
Circuit breaker 'enormously helpful' ahead of winter, says Labour frontbencher
A circuit breaker would be "enormously helpful", both as a message to the public and to buy time to fix the UK's testing system, Lisa Nandy has said.
The Labour frontbencher and Wigan MP told the Today programme that when her constituency was put under restrictions at the end of July, the case rate was 9.6 per 100, 000, arguing "there is hardly anywhere that has cases that low at the current time".
She added: "While there may not be as high number of cases in some parts of the country, the embers are burning everywhere.
"We have heard in last week fro a number of scientific advisers that they think circuit breaker would be not only helpful in order to give us time to fix Test, Trace and Isolate, they also think it is helpful in order to send very strong message to the public... having one very clear message now would be enormously helpful," she added.
Otherwise the country faces the prospect of the NHS being overwhelmed this winter, Ms Nandy said.
07:24 AM
Government trying to 'divide and rule' local leaders, claims Lisa Nandy
The Government has been accused of trying to "divide and rule" regional leaders by playing them off against each other.
Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan and Labour frontbencher, told the Today programme that a national framework would ensure "we have sufficient money to cover wages for people who cannot work" as a result of Tier 3 restrictions.
She said: "The Government appears to be taking a divide and rule approach and trying to play us off each other... what we have got at the moment is the worst of all worlds, where the Government is saying they want to take a local approach but when local areas stand up for what is needed in their own communities the Government says they are not prepared to negotiate with you."
This was the reason why Merseyside leaders claimed restrictions were being "imposed on them", those in Lancashire said they had been "bullied" and created "an absolute mess in Greater Manchester".
07:17 AM
Labour MP pleads with Government to 'come back and talk to us' about Manchester support
A Labour frontbencher has pleaded with the Government to "come back and talk to us" about securing a better financial package for the region, warning that there are "people in Greater Manchester who will not survive this".
Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan and shadow foreign secretary, told the Today programme it was "fundamentally not the case that anyone in Greater Manchester walked away from" talks yesterday, claiming that Number 10 had "shut down negotiations" after Andy Burnham asked for £65m in support.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester had originally asked for £90m "because we are in a very weakened state" after three months of Tier 2 restrictions, Ms Nandy said. The Government offered £55m, but walked away after receiving Mr Burnham's counter-offer.
Leaders had thought "they were very close to achieving an agreement" and that the Government was "negotiating in good faith" until that point, Ms Nandy said, before urging "anyone in Government still listening" to come back and discuss additional support.
07:10 AM
Government told Manchester MPs there was 'not a single penny of financial support'
A Labour frontbencher has hit back at suggestions that Andy Burnham's reaction to a text message with the news Greater Manchester would receive £22m was disingenuous, claiming that is "exactly what we were told".
Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan and shadow foreign secretary told the Today programme: "The text message was from somebody in the same meeting I was sitting in at the time with the Health Secretary, where he had just told us the only thing on offer was the £22m for Test, Trace and Isolate.
"We were told very very clearly at 4:30pm yesterday by the Health Sec there was no more money on offer, not a single penny for financial support for Greater Manchester.
"We spent 25 minutes on the phone with Matt Hancock, and told the problem was Andy Burnham. There was about five minutes of complaining about Andy Burnham at the start of the call and several questions levelled at the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister's Number 10 adviser Eddie Lister.
"And at the end of that the upshot was we were told there was not a single penny made available to Greater Manchester, and the £22m for Test, Trace and Isolate was the only deal available."
She said she "genuinely hoped" that subsequent suggestions by Mr Hancock that the £60m was still on the table was the case.
07:04 AM
Treasury scraps plans for multi-year spending review
The Treasury has scrapped a planned multi-year spending review due later this year and replace it with a one-year review to focus on the impact on the public accounts from the coronavirus crisis.
The review will take place by the end of November and focus on supporting jobs, setting department resources and capital budgets and block grants for devolved administrations.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: "In the current environment it's essential that we provide certainty.
"So we'll be doing that for departments and all of the nations of the United Kingdom by setting budgets for next year, with a total focus on tackling Covid and delivering our Plan for Jobs."
06:57 AM
Sheffield's Tier 3 restrictions to be announced 'shortly', says minister
Discussions with leaders in Sheffield and South Yorkshire have been 'very successful' and details of Tier 3 restrictions will be announced "shortly", a minister has said.
Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary, told Sky News: "It's not right for me to pre-empt a full statement that the Prime Minister and Dan Jarvis will make later today.
"But we have had very successful conversations with him and with the leaders of South Yorkshire.
"Again there's a serious situation there, and rightly they wanted to take action.
"We've discussed that over the course of yesterday and early this morning and an announcement will be made shortly."
06:46 AM
North East will tell No 10 to 'sod off' if they try to impose Tier 3
North East leaders will tell the Government to “sod off” if they try to impose tier three restrictions, a council boss has said as more areas look set to move into the toughest measures.
Shane Moore, leader of Hartlepool Council, said the Government had failed to communicate with local leaders in the North East about moving into tier 3.
He said: “If anyone suggests it [moving into tier 3] to me this week they’ll be told to sod off.
“It’s quite clear this message is echoed across the rest of the Tees Valley and I know for a fact it’s the case in the North East.”
His comments come after Downing Street said talks are continuing with local leaders in the North West, the North East and Yorkshire and Humber about further coronavirus restrictions.