Greater Manchester Mayor calls Chancellors wage package “insufficient”

Greater Manchester’s Mayor is not on board with the UK Chancellor’s new plan.

The government plans to bring in a three-tier local lockdown system which means tougher rules for the Midlands and Northern England.

Yesterday, 15,166 people tested positive for COVID.

That’s an increase of 1,302 on the figures released Friday according to the government’s dashboard.

The chancellor is pledging to pay two-thirds of workers’ wages if restrictions force UK firms to close.

Mayors in Northern England discussed the lockdown in a join conference.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says that a “senior figure in Number 10” says that the proposed financial help was “non-negotiable”.

He also says the pledge is “insufficient”.

Burnham says the chancellor’s plans would the lowest-paid people on minimum or living wages.

He’s calling for the minimum package to be 80% of workers’ wages, in line with the initial national furlough scheme.

Burnham is joining forces with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, with mayors from Sheffield and North of Tyne.

The mayors have written letters to all MPs in northern England.

They’re requesting they call for a separate vote in Parliament and to reject the chancellor’s package.

Burnham adds he’s not ruling out a legal challenge.

The chancellor says that the government would pay two-thirds of employees’ wages for six months from next month.

Under the new restrictions, pubs and restaurants could close in areas where some of the highest numbers of cases are occurring.

They’re also considering a ban on overnight stays. (JSL)