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Boris Johnson Says Manchester Councils Will Get £60m Lockdown Support

Boris Johnson has confirmed Greater Manchester councils will get £60m in government support for entering the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from Friday.

The prime minister said the money, which the city’s mayor Andy Burnham turned down on Tuesday in the hope of getting a minimum of £65m, would be “distributed to the boroughs of Greater Manchester” to help support people through a minimum of 28 days of tier 3 restrictions, including pub closures.

Labour had accused Johnson of “punishing” the city on Tuesday after he suggested just £22m of business support would go to the city, with the £60m package seemingly in jeopardy after talks with Burnham ended without agreement.

Johnson’s confirmation that the £60m will go to the city goes beyond the government’s previous suggestion that it simply remains “on the table”.

But the PM’s comments on Wednesday also suggested the money would be divided up among the city’s councils, rather than being overseen by the mayor.

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick later confirmed that his officials were ready to speak to Manchester councils, rather than the mayor, to decide how the money is allocated.

Burnham had accused the government of a “deliberate act of levelling down” and “playing poker” with the city after Johnson initially offered less cash support.

At prime minister’s questions, Labour leader Keir Starmer accused Johnson of “bargaining with people’s lives”.

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