themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Ed Woodward questions why football fans can't return to stadiums

Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has questioned why football fans are not being allowed back into stadiums while some indoor concerts have been permitted to restart .
The club 's executive vice-chairman said he was confident that fans could be welcomed back to Old Trafford in a 'safe , bio-secure environment ' .
Some indoor venues have been allowed to re-open , including the Royal Opera House in London 's Covent Garden , for socially distanced performances .
Eyebrows were also raised following an event at the London Palladium , where former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave a talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 'elite ' football clubs are unable to return to stadiums to support their teams .
In a conference call to United investors , Woodward said : `` If people are allowed to sit in a plane for hours , or in the cinema , or even watch football in a cinema why not outside in a stadium environment which is professionally managed and controlled ?
`` If indoor concerts are allowed , why should outdoor , socially-distanced football fans be treated differently ?
`` Fans are the bedrock of this game and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrating for them and for the clubs . ''
On Twitter , one user said : `` So how come folk can get into the Palladium and Royal Opera House to watch performances , but not into any open air arena to watch football ? ''
It comes as fans of rugby league side Salford Red Devils were forced to miss out on their team 's trip to Wembley for their first Challenge Cup final in 51 years .
The Government previously said it hoped to start letting fans back into grounds this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases started to rise again .
Woodward said he accepted public health was the priority , but said he is confident United can provide a safe setting for the return of supporters .
He said : `` While the situation in Greater Manchester and the UK as a whole continues to evolve , our plans for this are well advanced and we are confident of ours and the whole league ’ s ability to welcome them back in a safe , bio-secure environment .
`` Crowds have been permitted to return to varying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ albeit with significant capacity restrictions to allow for social distancing , and we urge the UK government to follow these positive examples as soon as it is safe to do so .
`` While we recognise that public health must always be the priority , what is needed is consistency of approach . ''

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Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has questioned why football fans are not being allowed back into stadiums while some indoor concerts have been permitted to restart.
The club's executive vice-chairman said he was confident that fans could be welcomed back to Old Trafford in a 'safe, bio-secure environment'.
Some indoor venues have been allowed to re-open, including the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden, for socially distanced performances.
Eyebrows were also raised following an event at the London Palladium, where former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave a talk to promote his new book.
Meanwhile supporters of 'elite' football clubs are unable to return to stadiums to support their teams.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
In a conference call to United investors, Woodward said: "If people are allowed to sit in a plane for hours, or in the cinema, or even watch football in a cinema why not outside in a stadium environment which is professionally managed and controlled?
"If indoor concerts are allowed, why should outdoor, socially-distanced football fans be treated differently?
"Fans are the bedrock of this game and some of the inconsistencies out there are frustrating for them and for the clubs."
On Twitter, one user said: "So how come folk can get into the Palladium and Royal Opera House to watch performances, but not into any open air arena to watch football?"
It comes as fans of rugby league side Salford Red Devils were forced to miss out on their team's trip to Wembley for their first Challenge Cup final in 51 years.
(Image: PA)
Salford agonisingly lost to 17-16 to Leeds Rhinos.
The Government previously said it hoped to start letting fans back into grounds this month, but this was cancelled as cases started to rise again.
Woodward said he accepted public health was the priority, but said he is confident United can provide a safe setting for the return of supporters.
He said: "While the situation in Greater Manchester and the UK as a whole continues to evolve, our plans for this are well advanced and we are confident of ours and the whole league’s ability to welcome them back in a safe, bio-secure environment.
"Crowds have been permitted to return to varying degrees in over 20 European countries, albeit with significant capacity restrictions to allow for social distancing, and we urge the UK government to follow these positive examples as soon as it is safe to do so.
"While we recognise that public health must always be the priority, what is needed is consistency of approach."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Two weeks that unmuted Greater Manchester

Possibly one of the most symbolic moments of the past fortnight took place not under the glare of the TV cameras , but on the private screens of a Microsoft Teams call .
When council leaders here sat down to a crunch meeting with communities secretary Robert Jenrick on Monday , they found they literally couldn ’ t be heard .
“ We got on the call and basically nobody could unmute themselves , ” says one senior local figure .
“ It was ‘ the government will let you speak ’ .
” When ministers later moved to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s council chiefs had not actually been given the chance or ability to say anything .
Andy Burnham had to type in the chat at the side and point that out .
Councillor Elise Wilson and Mayor Paul Dennett were briefly unmuted - and then the call ended .
It ’ s not a subtle metaphor .
But it does point to something about the mood here , as the latest chapter in an unprecedented public health and political crisis draws to a close .
A Conservative minister appearing on TV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to deliver ultimatums to local leaders who had been trying to get more money for minimum wage workers , struck an uneasy tone for a government whose election victory was won on the back of ‘ levelling up ’ rhetoric , handing back power and courting former Labour northern votes .
It may not be quickly forgotten .
Rarely - if ever - do you see a political story cutting through to the extent that pubs put out A-boards offering the mayor a free pint .
Or advertising a burger dreamt up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern times , gathering spontaneously in the street to hear local politicians speak - a feature not once but twice in the last week .
Or groups of men sitting outside the pub loudly and drunkenly debating the mayor ’ s status as the ‘ king of the north ’ , as was the case in Manchester city centre last night .
We didn ’ t even have a mayor four years ago .
Only Boris Johnson himself , as London mayor , could rival that kind of modern civic prominence .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a region that has already been under constantly changing restrictions since the start of August .
Or , equally , that they just didn ’ t consider it .
Certainly they appear to have done little , until the weekend , to manage their own MPs here .
And it is equally possible , through their approach to the past couple of weeks , the Tories have simply sharpened the teeth of a mayoral monster they created through their 2014 devolution deal .
Nevertheless the political reality of the situation is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold by either side ’ s press conferences .
Political consensus here was never as solid as it appeared on TV , even if government seemed slow to cotton on .
Labour and Conservative politicians alike - both MPs and local leaders - were in agreement that ‘ tier three ’ was not the way forward .
But their solutions were diametrically opposed .
For a Tory MP like Hazel Grove 's William Wragg , economic measures were wrong , full stop .
“ The sense of failure is overwhelming , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tories of all stripes felt economic restrictions were the wrong way forward , even if they began to fracture over the weekend as Downing Street finally began to have conversations with them .
Meanwhile Manchester council ’ s veteran Labour leader Sir Richard Leese has also opposed economic restrictions .
As another senior figure here remarked a week or so ago , his objection was more ‘ philosophical ’ than the cash being provided for workers .
For a leader who had seen Manchester rise from the ashes of the 1980s , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the core of his thinking .
Therefore the fight to keep Manchester ’ s economy open - one that was always going to come to ahead eventually - has been fundamental to his position .
Controversially for a Labour politician , his view is one arguably most matched up with the libertarian right .
`` Most people who test positive for the virus are not getting particularly ill .
They are not the problem .
Too many are now getting ill and the number of hospital cases is going up , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in intensive care .
That 's the problem , '' he wrote on his blog this week .
Government know who is most at risk , he said , adding : `` If this is the evidence , would n't it be much better to have an effective shielding programme for those most at risk , rather than have a blanket business closure policy of dubious efficacy . ''
Many would disagree that such an approach is safe or possible , but his view was nonetheless a key factor in the dynamics within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
It was one reason its position sometimes looked a little confused to anyone paying close attention .
Andy Burnham does not have the ability to go out with a position unilaterally : it has to be a collective line .
Government finally seemed to notice the tension at the start of this week , when the Daily Telegraph splashed with a story highlighting Sir Richard ’ s alignment with Tory MPs .
For many other Labour leaders , the mayor and Labour nationally , the solution was a circuit break : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the midst of that , where everyone agreed was furlough - as well as the general view that ‘ tier three ’ would not work anyway , given that the Chief Medical Officer had said the base level was unlikely to solve the problem .
So that was where the argument crystalised .
The rhetoric of the now-infamous ‘ king of the north ’ speech outside Central Library last week was therefore focused on that .
Which is not to say the rage was confected , as the government would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exacerbated by the way conversations with Downing Street had played out - as well as ten years of iniquitous public service cuts and a running sore about centralisation throughout the pandemic .
`` We are not going to have acceptance of a deal that will damage thousands of people in this city region for no apparent benefit , ” said Sir Richard at that press conference last week .
And he meant it .
At the same media opportunity , Andy Burnham played to his showbiz strengths .
This was a historic moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weak and strong , a fight on behalf of the underdog , played out live on TV to applause from the streets .
Government was not happy , as soon became clear .
Following a weekend that saw the row played out on the Sunday political media round , Andy Burnham on one side and Michael Gove on the other , Monday morning saw the suggestion of a ‘ hardship fund ’ materialise at a meeting between local officials and civil servants .
This originated at officer-level here - seemingly an attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a political crisis .
Perhaps , if some kind of pot was framed in that way , both sides would be able agree while saving face .
But this didn ’ t go down well with government , said one official .
“ The hardship fund was a mechanism to support individuals by topping up furlough , ” they said the following day .
“ Government didn ’ t like this .
They would prefer a business support package through which businesses can support employees , rather than mess around with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains why Robert Jenrick irritably told leaders later on Monday that such a mechanism ‘ had never been on the table ’ .
Regardless , it was only yesterday that haggling over numbers began .
Downing Street had already called a 5pm press conference - and briefed the lobby that it would be about ‘ tier three ’ restrictions in Greater Manchester - while leaders here were still in meetings , both among themselves and with ministers .
In the end , it came down to a £5m difference in opinion , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go on air .
For many here , that two weeks of fire and fury had come down to such a small amount of money seemed unfathomable .
Government has spent up to £300m on Deloitte consultants for a failing test and trace system , £50m cancelling Brexit ferry contracts and £250m on PPE that was unusable to the NHS .
Greater Manchester Combined Authority still remains unconvinced , on its own workings , that everyone affected will now be able to top up to 90pc of their pay using Universal Credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the time of writing , it remains unclear how much money will be given to local authorities here , ten days after the row began , or what that would mean for workers .
Or for local authorities themselves , many of whose books are shot to bits .
It is worth noting , however , that the kind of psychodrama that has played out here in recent days could not have happened in the same way anywhere else outside of London .
Never has the platform available to the Greater Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has a leader been viewed with as much venom by the government .
Other areas - particularly those also having ‘ tier three ’ waved over their heads - may well have been looking on with some bemusement ; maybe even a shade of resentment .
As Nancy Fielder , editor of a range of newspapers in South Yorkshire , tweeted yesterday : “ Today negotiations continue for how Sheffield will move into ‘ tier three ’ , quietly , very quietly .
“ We know far more about the situation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No details , no interviews .
Wondering which is better for people who will live under the rules.
” This morning Sheffield did indeed sign up to ‘ tier three ’ , without Greater Manchester ’ s blaze of national publicity .
In West Yorkshire , politicians are also calculating how to best move forward over a rocky landscape , as they too aim to stay out of ‘ tier three ’ .
Last week they wrote to government raising concerns about ‘ rumours in the media ’ relating to an imminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be familiar to people here .
Their resulting proposals don ’ t look too dissimilar to those spelt out by Greater Manchester previously - a request for more local involvement in strategy , more money for contact tracing and a localised furlough scheme .
It ’ s worth noting , again , that local systems across the country have been making these arguments for months .
Nevertheless one insider said the system there is ‘ wary and weary ’ ; it is avoiding a public fight for now , even if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greater Manchester ’ s methods .
And even if they wanted to kick up a huge national fuss , they don ’ t have an Andy Burnham .
His ability in the last two weeks to grab the limelight says as much about the media culture in this country - the political psychodrama quickly taking centre stage - as it does about him .
It takes two to tango .
For some insiders here it is a blessing ; for others , particularly those who have served in local government over a longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manchester was borne of the need to stick together after the county council was scrapped in the late 1980s , notes one veteran insider .
When that system here ‘ matured ’ , ‘ the memory of Thatcher abolishing the county meant there was a mood that wanted to demand responsibility ’ .
“ Not to campaign for powers , but to prove that you could be trusted with more , '' they say .
`` That was the culture that secured the devolution deal - and the mayor .
“ But while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate memory , Andy hasn ’ t got that education .
“ Instinctively , he ’ s a Westminster animal .
He definitely believes in what he says .
But I do think he could have made the same speech about free school meals.
” The mayor ’ s knowledge of the Westminster game has been amply demonstrated .
National journalists who remember him from his days in government , the shadow cabinet and two party leadership contests know who he is and are keen to give him air time .
Ministers knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s one of many reasons they find him so intensely irritating .
It ’ s one reason they were briefing that he simply wants to return as leader of the Labour Party .
They smell hypocrisy .
And much as the mayor would dispute the parallel , there are shades of Boris Johnson in his instincts .
Neither , while being city mayors , have ever really looked through a local politician 's lens .
And so Greater Manchester ’ s row has played out not like a traditional dispute between local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignored - but like classic Westminster theatre , with a hint of Alan Bleasdale thrown in .
Meanwhile a political leadership famed for its pragmatism here is now noisily out on the town hall steps in a way it hasn ’ t been since the mid-1980s .
Some also feel there may , possibly , have been a better way of negotiating .
That there could have been a solution offered to government far earlier , one that recognised the Treasury ’ s red lines around furlough ; perhaps something that at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far earlier than it was challenged - that once we ’ re in this , we ’ re in it until March .
None of which removes the miscalculation ministers made this week of the public mood .
Neither is it to suggest that most of the politicians spoken to by the M.E.N .
in recent days disagree with Greater Manchester ’ s position .
“ The government are the equivalent of hoodlums - no class , no ethics , no leadership , ” says one veteran figure , who is still in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money as a political bargaining chip , rather than as a mechanism to keep infection rates and hospital numbers down .
Many remain baffled , too , that national government would allow politicians here to be martyred for the sake of £5m , simply as a result of their fury at being disobeyed ; the risk of being outplayed .
The sight of Andy Burnham being shown , on a mobile phone , the restrictions London were imposing while live on TV spoke to a resentment that had long simmered beneath the surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following months that saw the lives of people messed about with continuously by Westminster without any minister bothering to visit , the level of intensity that followed the TV cameras this week is at least over , for now .
A city under the brief flare of outside broadcast lighting breathes out .
But for better or worse , it has been unmuted .

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Possibly one of the most symbolic moments of the past fortnight took place not under the glare of the TV cameras, but on the private screens of a Microsoft Teams call.
When council leaders here sat down to a crunch meeting with communities secretary Robert Jenrick on Monday, they found they literally couldn’t be heard.
“We got on the call and basically nobody could unmute themselves,” says one senior local figure.
“It was ‘the government will let you speak’.”
When ministers later moved to end the call abruptly, Stockport and Salford’s council chiefs had not actually been given the chance or ability to say anything.
Andy Burnham had to type in the chat at the side and point that out. Councillor Elise Wilson and Mayor Paul Dennett were briefly unmuted - and then the call ended.
It’s not a subtle metaphor. But it does point to something about the mood here, as the latest chapter in an unprecedented public health and political crisis draws to a close.
(Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
A Conservative minister appearing on TV, as Robert Jenrick did on Monday night, to deliver ultimatums to local leaders who had been trying to get more money for minimum wage workers, struck an uneasy tone for a government whose election victory was won on the back of ‘levelling up’ rhetoric, handing back power and courting former Labour northern votes.
It may not be quickly forgotten. Rarely - if ever - do you see a political story cutting through to the extent that pubs put out A-boards offering the mayor a free pint. Or advertising a burger dreamt up in his honour.
Or, in modern times, gathering spontaneously in the street to hear local politicians speak - a feature not once but twice in the last week. Or groups of men sitting outside the pub loudly and drunkenly debating the mayor’s status as the ‘king of the north’, as was the case in Manchester city centre last night. We didn’t even have a mayor four years ago. Only Boris Johnson himself, as London mayor, could rival that kind of modern civic prominence.
So it is likely ministers underestimated the mood in a region that has already been under constantly changing restrictions since the start of August. Or, equally, that they just didn’t consider it. Certainly they appear to have done little, until the weekend, to manage their own MPs here.
(Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
And it is equally possible, through their approach to the past couple of weeks, the Tories have simply sharpened the teeth of a mayoral monster they created through their 2014 devolution deal.
Nevertheless the political reality of the situation is, as always, cloudier than the ones sold by either side’s press conferences.
Political consensus here was never as solid as it appeared on TV, even if government seemed slow to cotton on.
Labour and Conservative politicians alike - both MPs and local leaders - were in agreement that ‘tier three’ was not the way forward. But their solutions were diametrically opposed.
For a Tory MP like Hazel Grove's William Wragg, economic measures were wrong, full stop.
“The sense of failure is overwhelming,” he said after the government imposed them. Tories of all stripes felt economic restrictions were the wrong way forward, even if they began to fracture over the weekend as Downing Street finally began to have conversations with them.
(Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
Meanwhile Manchester council’s veteran Labour leader Sir Richard Leese has also opposed economic restrictions. As another senior figure here remarked a week or so ago, his objection was more ‘philosophical’ than the cash being provided for workers.
For a leader who had seen Manchester rise from the ashes of the 1980s, the health and social impacts of recession are at the core of his thinking. Therefore the fight to keep Manchester’s economy open - one that was always going to come to ahead eventually - has been fundamental to his position.
Controversially for a Labour politician, his view is one arguably most matched up with the libertarian right.
"Most people who test positive for the virus are not getting particularly ill. They are not the problem. Too many are now getting ill and the number of hospital cases is going up, as is the number of people with Covid in intensive care. That's the problem," he wrote on his blog this week.
Government know who is most at risk, he said, adding: "If this is the evidence, wouldn't it be much better to have an effective shielding programme for those most at risk, rather than have a blanket business closure policy of dubious efficacy."
(Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
Many would disagree that such an approach is safe or possible, but his view was nonetheless a key factor in the dynamics within Greater Manchester over the past couple of weeks. It was one reason its position sometimes looked a little confused to anyone paying close attention. Andy Burnham does not have the ability to go out with a position unilaterally: it has to be a collective line.
Government finally seemed to notice the tension at the start of this week, when the Daily Telegraph splashed with a story highlighting Sir Richard’s alignment with Tory MPs.
For many other Labour leaders, the mayor and Labour nationally, the solution was a circuit break: a short, sharp national lockdown.
In the midst of that, where everyone agreed was furlough - as well as the general view that ‘tier three’ would not work anyway, given that the Chief Medical Officer had said the base level was unlikely to solve the problem.
So that was where the argument crystalised.
The rhetoric of the now-infamous ‘king of the north’ speech outside Central Library last week was therefore focused on that. Which is not to say the rage was confected, as the government would like to imply: the anger was real and exacerbated by the way conversations with Downing Street had played out - as well as ten years of iniquitous public service cuts and a running sore about centralisation throughout the pandemic.
(Image: Joel Goodman)
"We are not going to have acceptance of a deal that will damage thousands of people in this city region for no apparent benefit,” said Sir Richard at that press conference last week. And he meant it.
At the same media opportunity, Andy Burnham played to his showbiz strengths.
This was a historic moment for the north, a battle between weak and strong, a fight on behalf of the underdog, played out live on TV to applause from the streets.
Government was not happy, as soon became clear.
Following a weekend that saw the row played out on the Sunday political media round, Andy Burnham on one side and Michael Gove on the other, Monday morning saw the suggestion of a ‘hardship fund’ materialise at a meeting between local officials and civil servants. This originated at officer-level here - seemingly an attempt to find a political solution to what had become a political crisis. Perhaps, if some kind of pot was framed in that way, both sides would be able agree while saving face.
But this didn’t go down well with government, said one official.
“The hardship fund was a mechanism to support individuals by topping up furlough,” they said the following day.
(Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
“Government didn’t like this. They would prefer a business support package through which businesses can support employees, rather than mess around with the national Job Support Scheme.”
Which perhaps explains why Robert Jenrick irritably told leaders later on Monday that such a mechanism ‘had never been on the table’.
Regardless, it was only yesterday that haggling over numbers began. Downing Street had already called a 5pm press conference - and briefed the lobby that it would be about ‘tier three’ restrictions in Greater Manchester - while leaders here were still in meetings, both among themselves and with ministers.
In the end, it came down to a £5m difference in opinion, three hours before the Prime Minister was due to go on air.
For many here, that two weeks of fire and fury had come down to such a small amount of money seemed unfathomable. Government has spent up to £300m on Deloitte consultants for a failing test and trace system, £50m cancelling Brexit ferry contracts and £250m on PPE that was unusable to the NHS. Greater Manchester Combined Authority still remains unconvinced, on its own workings, that everyone affected will now be able to top up to 90pc of their pay using Universal Credit, as claimed by the Chancellor.
At the time of writing, it remains unclear how much money will be given to local authorities here, ten days after the row began, or what that would mean for workers. Or for local authorities themselves, many of whose books are shot to bits.
It is worth noting, however, that the kind of psychodrama that has played out here in recent days could not have happened in the same way anywhere else outside of London.
Never has the platform available to the Greater Manchester mayor been theirs, or, indeed, has a leader been viewed with as much venom by the government.
Other areas - particularly those also having ‘tier three’ waved over their heads - may well have been looking on with some bemusement; maybe even a shade of resentment.
As Nancy Fielder, editor of a range of newspapers in South Yorkshire, tweeted yesterday: “Today negotiations continue for how Sheffield will move into ‘tier three’, quietly, very quietly.
“We know far more about the situation in Manchester than we do about South Yorkshire. No details, no interviews. Wondering which is better for people who will live under the rules.”
This morning Sheffield did indeed sign up to ‘tier three’, without Greater Manchester’s blaze of national publicity.
(Image: Huddersfield Examiner)
In West Yorkshire, politicians are also calculating how to best move forward over a rocky landscape, as they too aim to stay out of ‘tier three’.
Last week they wrote to government raising concerns about ‘rumours in the media’ relating to an imminent increase of restrictions, a scenario that will be familiar to people here. Their resulting proposals don’t look too dissimilar to those spelt out by Greater Manchester previously - a request for more local involvement in strategy, more money for contact tracing and a localised furlough scheme. It’s worth noting, again, that local systems across the country have been making these arguments for months.
Nevertheless one insider said the system there is ‘wary and weary’; it is avoiding a public fight for now, even if that isn’t an implied criticism of Greater Manchester’s methods.
And even if they wanted to kick up a huge national fuss, they don’t have an Andy Burnham. His ability in the last two weeks to grab the limelight says as much about the media culture in this country - the political psychodrama quickly taking centre stage - as it does about him. It takes two to tango. For some insiders here it is a blessing; for others, particularly those who have served in local government over a longer period, it causes unease.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
Greater Manchester was borne of the need to stick together after the county council was scrapped in the late 1980s, notes one veteran insider.
When that system here ‘matured’, ‘the memory of Thatcher abolishing the county meant there was a mood that wanted to demand responsibility’.
“Not to campaign for powers, but to prove that you could be trusted with more," they say. "That was the culture that secured the devolution deal - and the mayor.
“But while that’s literally the Greater Manchester corporate memory, Andy hasn’t got that education.
“Instinctively, he’s a Westminster animal. He definitely believes in what he says. But I do think he could have made the same speech about free school meals.”
The mayor’s knowledge of the Westminster game has been amply demonstrated. National journalists who remember him from his days in government, the shadow cabinet and two party leadership contests know who he is and are keen to give him air time.
Ministers knows this too, of course - it’s one of many reasons they find him so intensely irritating. It’s one reason they were briefing that he simply wants to return as leader of the Labour Party. They smell hypocrisy. And much as the mayor would dispute the parallel, there are shades of Boris Johnson in his instincts. Neither, while being city mayors, have ever really looked through a local politician's lens.
(Image: Vincent Cole)
And so Greater Manchester’s row has played out not like a traditional dispute between local government and ministers - which usually go ignored - but like classic Westminster theatre, with a hint of Alan Bleasdale thrown in.
Meanwhile a political leadership famed for its pragmatism here is now noisily out on the town hall steps in a way it hasn’t been since the mid-1980s.
Some also feel there may, possibly, have been a better way of negotiating. That there could have been a solution offered to government far earlier, one that recognised the Treasury’s red lines around furlough; perhaps something that at least challenged the government's costing implications - far earlier than it was challenged - that once we’re in this, we’re in it until March.
None of which removes the miscalculation ministers made this week of the public mood. Neither is it to suggest that most of the politicians spoken to by the M.E.N. in recent days disagree with Greater Manchester’s position.
“The government are the equivalent of hoodlums - no class, no ethics, no leadership,” says one veteran figure, who is still in disbelief that ministers are using contact tracing money as a political bargaining chip, rather than as a mechanism to keep infection rates and hospital numbers down.
Many remain baffled, too, that national government would allow politicians here to be martyred for the sake of £5m, simply as a result of their fury at being disobeyed; the risk of being outplayed.
The sight of Andy Burnham being shown, on a mobile phone, the restrictions London were imposing while live on TV spoke to a resentment that had long simmered beneath the surface.
But after two weeks of hell, following months that saw the lives of people messed about with continuously by Westminster without any minister bothering to visit, the level of intensity that followed the TV cameras this week is at least over, for now.
A city under the brief flare of outside broadcast lighting breathes out. But for better or worse, it has been unmuted.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Sean's son Dylan is returning to Corrie but who plays him?

Sean Tully returns to Weatherfield with his son Dylan on Friday 's Coronation Street , and the actor who plays him will be familiar to TV viewers .
Actor Liam McCheyne is back to play Dylan 10 years after he was first cast in the role on the ITV soap .
Dylan is Sean 's son with his friend Violet Wilson after the pair formed a drunken pact that , if they were both single and childless by the age of 30 , they would have a child together .
Since Violet fled with Dylan to London , Sean has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Liam appeared alongside his twin brother Connor as Dylan in 2011 .
Sharing the news on Twitter actor Antony Cotton who plays Sean said : `` Here ’ s a little secret that ’ s ready to be let out of the bag .
`` Sean ’ s son , Dylan , makes his return to Weatherfield !
`` Ten years after first being cast , I am thrilled that Liam McCheyne has come back to play Dylan , older and a lot wiser .
I ’ m looking forward to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a picture of the on-screen father an son playing football .
Since his previous stint on Coronation Street Liam , who has been acting since he was a toddler , has played Harrison in the BBC comedy-drama series Last Tango in Halifax .
His character was born in 2008 in the Rovers Return and he was delivered by his biological father and Sean 's partner Marcus Dent as it was too late for barmaid Violet to get to Weatherfield General .
Two years later there was drama when Sean decided to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Liz McDonald on the social networking site Facescene .
He added Violet as a friend and saw updated photos of Dylan .
He was found out when Sean , posing as Liz , asked her how she 'd feel if she had her child stolen from her and Violet phoned Liz angrily .
Violet later forgave Sean and allowed him to have contact with Dylan .
As a baby the character was played by Charlie Corry and Grace Robinson .
On Friday Sean arrives home with his son and is shocked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's panic when he loses Dylan .
Todd finds Dylan and Billy is grateful when he assures the boy that his dad loves him .
At Todd ’ s suggestion , Sean reluctantly agrees to a kickabout on the Red Rec with Dylan , and he confides in Sean that his girlfriend has dumped him .

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Sean Tully returns to Weatherfield with his son Dylan on Friday's Coronation Street, and the actor who plays him will be familiar to TV viewers.
Actor Liam McCheyne is back to play Dylan 10 years after he was first cast in the role on the ITV soap.
Dylan is Sean's son with his friend Violet Wilson after the pair formed a drunken pact that, if they were both single and childless by the age of 30, they would have a child together.
Since Violet fled with Dylan to London, Sean has been visiting his boy in the capital.
Liam appeared alongside his twin brother Connor as Dylan in 2011.
Sharing the news on Twitter actor Antony Cotton who plays Sean said: "Here’s a little secret that’s ready to be let out of the bag.
"Sean’s son, Dylan, makes his return to Weatherfield! "Ten years after first being cast, I am thrilled that Liam McCheyne has come back to play Dylan, older and a lot wiser. I’m looking forward to the many stories ahead!"
Antony also posted a picture of the on-screen father an son playing football.
(Image: ITV)
Since his previous stint on Coronation Street Liam, who has been acting since he was a toddler, has played Harrison in the BBC comedy-drama series Last Tango in Halifax.
His character was born in 2008 in the Rovers Return and he was delivered by his biological father and Sean's partner Marcus Dent as it was too late for barmaid Violet to get to Weatherfield General.
Two years later there was drama when Sean decided to get back into contact with Dylan and posed as Liz McDonald on the social networking site Facescene.
He added Violet as a friend and saw updated photos of Dylan.
He was found out when Sean, posing as Liz, asked her how she'd feel if she had her child stolen from her and Violet phoned Liz angrily.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
Violet later forgave Sean and allowed him to have contact with Dylan.
As a baby the character was played by Charlie Corry and Grace Robinson.
On Friday Sean arrives home with his son and is shocked to find missing Todd Grimshaw there, and there's panic when he loses Dylan.
Todd finds Dylan and Billy is grateful when he assures the boy that his dad loves him.
At Todd’s suggestion, Sean reluctantly agrees to a kickabout on the Red Rec with Dylan, and he confides in Sean that his girlfriend has dumped him.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Chairman of Manchester Tory youth Cameron Cosh hits out at PM

The chairman of a Conservative supporting Manchester group has hit out at Boris Johnson , saying his government is 'not living up to ' their election promises .
Cameron Cosh , 20 , the chairman of Manchester Young Conservatives , said the failure to negotiate financial support with Mayor Andy Burnham was contrary to the Government 's pledge to 'level up ' areas including Greater Manchester .
Mr Cosh said he feared a 'backlash ' against Conservative MPs who breached the 'red wall ' at last year 's election , turning many areas Tory which had previously been regarded as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was catapulted into the spotlight after a series of tweets , which have now been deleted , calling on Boris Johnson `` to go . ''
`` Boris has lied about helping us in the North .
It ’ s time for him to go , '' one tweet read .
Mr Cosh , a third year politics student at Manchester University , told the M.E.N .
: `` It 's just not on really , they 're not living up to what they promised at the election .
`` I feel really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are really going to struggle and might get a backlash , when really they are all good MPs , because the folks down in Downing Street have n't done a good job . ''
Asked whether he thought the Government 's handling of the coronavirus crisis might cost some Conservative MPs their seats at the next election , he said : `` I hope not , we have got some great MPs , people like Will Wragg and Chris Green , they do a really good job .
`` We 're four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to turn this around , but it 's not a good start at all . ''
Mr Cosh , who said he supported Mr Johnson in becoming Conservative leader , said he believed the ideals of the party he supports are not compatible with further lockdowns .
He said : `` You ca n't pretend you 're the party of business and support more lockdowns , the two do n't go hand in hand .
`` And you ca n't say we care about the red wall and the north , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the north , asks for money to help people in the north , you say no that 's too much , we ca n't afford that . ''
The Scot said he believed a national lockdown as proposed by Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer would be worse than the current tiered approach .
He added : `` I think that the young and healthy should be allowed to go out , and shop , eat , drink , do all these things that help the economy .
`` If you 're vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say it may be the best decision for you to stay in . ''
It comes as a row between Greater Manchester 's MPs continues , with some Conservatives criticising Mr Burnham 's role in negotiations , with others backing the Mayor .

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The chairman of a Conservative supporting Manchester group has hit out at Boris Johnson, saying his government is 'not living up to' their election promises.
Cameron Cosh, 20, the chairman of Manchester Young Conservatives, said the failure to negotiate financial support with Mayor Andy Burnham was contrary to the Government's pledge to 'level up' areas including Greater Manchester.
Mr Cosh said he feared a 'backlash' against Conservative MPs who breached the 'red wall' at last year's election, turning many areas Tory which had previously been regarded as Labour's heartlands.
The youth group was catapulted into the spotlight after a series of tweets, which have now been deleted, calling on Boris Johnson "to go."
"Boris has lied about helping us in the North. It’s time for him to go," one tweet read.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
Mr Cosh, a third year politics student at Manchester University, told the M.E.N.: "It's just not on really, they're not living up to what they promised at the election.
"I feel really bad for Tory MPs in Greater Manchester that are really going to struggle and might get a backlash, when really they are all good MPs, because the folks down in Downing Street haven't done a good job."
Asked whether he thought the Government's handling of the coronavirus crisis might cost some Conservative MPs their seats at the next election, he said: "I hope not, we have got some great MPs, people like Will Wragg and Chris Green, they do a really good job.
"We're four years away, so we've got time to turn this around, but it's not a good start at all."
Mr Cosh, who said he supported Mr Johnson in becoming Conservative leader, said he believed the ideals of the party he supports are not compatible with further lockdowns.
He said: "You can't pretend you're the party of business and support more lockdowns, the two don't go hand in hand.
"And you can't say we care about the red wall and the north, and when Andy Burnham, someone who lives in the north, asks for money to help people in the north, you say no that's too much, we can't afford that."
The Scot said he believed a national lockdown as proposed by Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer would be worse than the current tiered approach.
He added: "I think that the young and healthy should be allowed to go out, and shop, eat, drink, do all these things that help the economy.
"If you're vulnerable or at risk, its a shame to say it may be the best decision for you to stay in."
It comes as a row between Greater Manchester's MPs continues, with some Conservatives criticising Mr Burnham's role in negotiations, with others backing the Mayor.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Manchester Arena bombing inquiry adjourned after coronavirus outbreak

The inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing will not be held for the rest of the week after a coronavirus outbreak .
There have been three confirmed cases of the virus and three suspected cases at Manchester magistrates court , where the inquiry is being held .
It is hoped that the inquiry into the bombing on May 22 , 2017 , will resume on Monday .
A statement released tonight read : `` The Manchester Arena Inquiry will adjourn the hearing tomorrow as a precaution following three confirmed and three suspected cases of Covid-19 connected to staff working at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven days .
`` The cases are not directly connected to the Manchester Arena Inquiry .
`` It is hoped the hearings will resume on Monday , subject to advice that it is safe to continue .
`` The safety of everyone attending the Manchester Arena Inquiry is our priority . ''
Wednesday marked the 23rd day of the inquiry .
It is continuing to hear evidence surrounding the movements of suicide bomber Salman Abedi , 22 , who detonated a rucksack bomb in a foyer area of the Arena , known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an Ariana Grande concert .
A total of 22 people died , and hundreds more were injured .
His younger brother Hashem Abedi , now 23 , was convicted of 22 counts of murder , one count of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to cause an explosion following a trial in March .
He was jailed for a minimum of 55 years in August .
The inquiry is expected to last for several months , into spring next year .

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The inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing will not be held for the rest of the week after a coronavirus outbreak.
There have been three confirmed cases of the virus and three suspected cases at Manchester magistrates court, where the inquiry is being held.
It is hoped that the inquiry into the bombing on May 22, 2017, will resume on Monday.
A statement released tonight read: "The Manchester Arena Inquiry will adjourn the hearing tomorrow as a precaution following three confirmed and three suspected cases of Covid-19 connected to staff working at the Manchester Magistrates Court in the past seven days.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
"The cases are not directly connected to the Manchester Arena Inquiry.
"It is hoped the hearings will resume on Monday, subject to advice that it is safe to continue.
"The safety of everyone attending the Manchester Arena Inquiry is our priority."
Wednesday marked the 23rd day of the inquiry.
It is continuing to hear evidence surrounding the movements of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, who detonated a rucksack bomb in a foyer area of the Arena, known as the City Rooms, at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
A total of 22 people died, and hundreds more were injured.
His younger brother Hashem Abedi, now 23, was convicted of 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to cause an explosion following a trial in March.
He was jailed for a minimum of 55 years in August.
The inquiry is expected to last for several months, into spring next year.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Tier 3 lockdown rules explained - everything you need to know ahead of Friday

The lockdown rules in Greater Manchester will change again on Friday .
The region 's coronavirus alert level will be considered as 'very high ' as it moves into Tier 3 .
Residents in all 10 boroughs will face the toughest set of restrictions set out in the government 's new three-tier localised system , first introduced last Wednesday by the Prime Minister .
It will see further limits on mixing between households , while some businesses will be forced to close .
Boris Johnson announced the change in a press conference on Tuesday .
`` Given the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving Greater Manchester , as I say , to the 'very high alert level , '' he said .
The imposition came after an ultimatum was given by Downing Street to the region 's leaders .
Following days of failed negotiations over a financial package to support the move from Tier 2 , they had to agree to an offer of £60m by noon or the government would place Greater Manchester in Tier 3 regardless .
Only £22m to help 'implement and enforce restrictions ' was confirmed on the announcement , which caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Questions on Wednesday , Mr Johnson promised that £60m `` will be distributed to the boroughs of Greater Manchester '' , which will be used to help support businesses and workers .
Following a long summer of changing local restrictions and varying rules between boroughs , it has proven difficult to keep up .
We 've outlined all the rules under Tier 3 , which will come into effect in Greater Manchester at 0.01 on Friday , October 23 .
Alongside these , people in the region will also have to abide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of England .
These include the 'rule of six ' for when meeting different households in outdoor spaces , as well as the 10pm curfew for the hospitality industry .
Failure to comply with the results can result in hefty fines of up to £10,000 .
The government also advises everyone to follow 'Hands .
Face .
Space ' .
Here 's everything you need to know about meeting family and friends , heading to work , travel , and more : It 's worth noting that the below guidance is for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is separate guidance for those isolating and that are clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus .
You ca n't meet with anyone outside of your household/support bubble in any indoor setting , including homes , restaurants , pubs and bars .
Support bubble guidance remains the same , meaning a household with only one adult can join up with another household , allowing them visit each other , stay overnight , and visit places together .
Unlike in Tier 2 areas , you must also not meet with people outside of your household/support bubble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoor public venues ' .
This suggests you should n't meet those not in your household at an outdoor seating area at a restaurant or pub beer garden .
Full guidance on households mixing can be read on the below link .
You can not meet with people outside of your household indoors or outdoors - including private gardens , beer gardens and restaurant terraces - unless you 're in a support bubble .
Therefore you can continue to visit restaurants and pubs , that can remain open due to serving substantial meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But you can not visit these hospitality venues with people not in your household/support bubble .
For example , you wo n't be able to sit in a beer garden with up to five friends if they are all from different households .
Which businesses have to close ?
During the Downing Street press briefing , the PM said : `` Pubs and bars must close , unless they are serving substantial meals , households can ’ t mix indoors , or in most outdoor settings .
`` In line with the additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bingo halls , betting shops , adult gaming centres and soft play areas must also close . ''
Boris Johnson did not include gyms in his round up of businesses that will be ordered to close their doors .
It appears to mean that , like in Lancashire which has also been placed in Tier 3 , gyms will be able to stay open .
What about sports and exercise classes ?
You can take part in organised outdoor sport and physical activity , including exercise classes , in any number , provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport , exercise classes and other activity groups are only permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with .
Exceptions apply for disability sport , sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s , which can take place in any number .
You can still attend places of worship for a service , but must n't mingle with other households whilst there .
Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can take place with up to 15 people .
But only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public outdoor spaces , unless in exceptional circumstances .
Thirty people are allowed at funerals , while wakes are limited to 15 .
Where food or drink is consumed , this should be in the form of a sit-down meal to ensure people can keep their distance from each other .
There are exceptions to the legal gathering limit for registered childcare .
A childcare bubble can also be formed where someone in one household provides informal ( unpaid and unregistered ) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same two households .
Do I need to work from home ?
Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so .
Public sector employees working in essential services , including education settings , should continue to go into work where necessary .
Anyone else who can not work from home should go to their place of work .
Can you travel outside Greater Manchester during Tier 3 lockdown ?
The government says that you may continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open , for work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very high alert level area , but you should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make .
They are also advising people not to travel into or out of an area if it has been categorised as a very high alert level area ( Tier 3 ) .
You can continue to travel into or out of very high alert level areas if you need to for work , education , to access youth services or because of caring responsibilities .
You may also do so where necessary as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a journey between lower risk areas passes through a very high alert level area , or when going to an airport , port or international rail terminal to travel abroad .
Unfortunately , you 're unable to visit a care home in a very high alert area .
However you can do so in exceptional circumstances , for example to visit an individual who is at the end of their life .
You can still move home if you ’ re in a very high alert level area .
Estate and letting agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people looking to move home can continue to undertake viewings .
However there are stricter rules in place for those travelling to university in high alert areas .
You must not move back and forth between your home and student accommodation during term time .
If I am vulnerable , do I need to shield again ?
The government does n't say so .
The guidance says that if you are clinically vulnerable you , you can go outside as much as you like but you should still try to keep your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit businesses , such as supermarkets , pubs and shops , whilst keeping two metres away from others wherever possible or one metre plus other precautions .
How long will Greater Manchester be in Tier 3 for ?
Boris Johnson said that restrictions in medium and high alert areas will be kept under 'constant review , ' and could change at any time .
`` We will also keep these measures under constant review , including a four-week sunset clause for interventions in very high areas , '' he said .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The restrictions in Greater Manchester will be reviewed by at least 11 November . ''
Can even more measures be added ?
Yes , the above rules are 'baseline measures ' .
The government can seek to agree additional measures , which could include : • restrictions preventing the sale of alcohol in hospitality or closing all hospitality ( takeaway and delivery permitted ) • closing indoor and outdoor entertainment and tourist attractions and venues • closing venues such as leisure centres and gyms ( while ensuring provision remains available for elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical activity ) • closing public buildings , such as libraries and community centres ( while ensuring provision remains available for youth clubs and childcare activity and support groups ) • closing personal care and close contact services or prohibiting the highest-risk activities • closing performing arts venues for the purposes of performing to audiences

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The lockdown rules in Greater Manchester will change again on Friday.
The region's coronavirus alert level will be considered as 'very high' as it moves into Tier 3.
Residents in all 10 boroughs will face the toughest set of restrictions set out in the government's new three-tier localised system, first introduced last Wednesday by the Prime Minister.
It will see further limits on mixing between households, while some businesses will be forced to close.
Boris Johnson announced the change in a press conference on Tuesday.
"Given the public health situation, I must now proceed with moving Greater Manchester, as I say, to the 'very high alert level," he said.
The imposition came after an ultimatum was given by Downing Street to the region's leaders.
Following days of failed negotiations over a financial package to support the move from Tier 2, they had to agree to an offer of £60m by noon or the government would place Greater Manchester in Tier 3 regardless.
Only £22m to help 'implement and enforce restrictions' was confirmed on the announcement, which caused further confusion.
But at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Johnson promised that £60m "will be distributed to the boroughs of Greater Manchester", which will be used to help support businesses and workers.
Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now
Following a long summer of changing local restrictions and varying rules between boroughs, it has proven difficult to keep up.
We've outlined all the rules under Tier 3, which will come into effect in Greater Manchester at 0.01 on Friday, October 23.
Alongside these, people in the region will also have to abide by rules set out for the whole of England.
These include the 'rule of six' for when meeting different households in outdoor spaces, as well as the 10pm curfew for the hospitality industry.
Failure to comply with the rules can result in hefty fines of up to £10,000.
The government also advises everyone to follow 'Hands. Face. Space'.
Here's everything you need to know about meeting family and friends, heading to work, travel, and more:
It's worth noting that the below guidance is for people who are fit and well. There is separate guidance for those isolating and that are clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.
Meeting family and friends
(Image: ABNM Photography)
You can't meet with anyone outside of your household/support bubble in any indoor setting, including homes, restaurants, pubs and bars.
Support bubble guidance remains the same, meaning a household with only one adult can join up with another household, allowing them visit each other, stay overnight, and visit places together.
Unlike in Tier 2 areas, you must also not meet with people outside of your household/support bubble in a private garden 'or in most outdoor public venues'.
This suggests you shouldn't meet those not in your household at an outdoor seating area at a restaurant or pub beer garden.
Full guidance on households mixing can be read on the below link.
Visiting pubs and restaurants
You cannot meet with people outside of your household indoors or outdoors - including private gardens, beer gardens and restaurant terraces - unless you're in a support bubble.
Therefore you can continue to visit restaurants and pubs, that can remain open due to serving substantial meals, with your household/support bubble only.
But you cannot visit these hospitality venues with people not in your household/support bubble.
For example, you won't be able to sit in a beer garden with up to five friends if they are all from different households.
Which businesses have to close?
During the Downing Street press briefing, the PM said: "Pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals, households can’t mix indoors, or in most outdoor settings.
"In line with the additional measures taken in Lancashire, casinos, bingo halls, betting shops, adult gaming centres and soft play areas must also close."
Can gyms stay open?
Boris Johnson did not include gyms in his round up of businesses that will be ordered to close their doors.
It appears to mean that, like in Lancashire which has also been placed in Tier 3, gyms will be able to stay open.
What about sports and exercise classes?
You can take part in organised outdoor sport and physical activity, including exercise classes, in any number, provided it follows the relevant guidance.
Organised sport, exercise classes and other activity groups are only permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with.
Exceptions apply for disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place in any number.
Weddings, civil partnerships, religious services and funerals
You can still attend places of worship for a service, but mustn't mingle with other households whilst there.
Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can take place with up to 15 people. But only at 'Covid secure' venues or in public outdoor spaces, unless in exceptional circumstances.
However, receptions are banned.
Thirty people are allowed at funerals, while wakes are limited to 15. Where food or drink is consumed, this should be in the form of a sit-down meal to ensure people can keep their distance from each other.
Childcare
There are exceptions to the legal gathering limit for registered childcare.
A childcare bubble can also be formed where someone in one household provides informal (unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. But this must always be between the same two households.
Do I need to work from home?
(Image: PA)
Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so.
Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary.
Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work.
Can you travel outside Greater Manchester during Tier 3 lockdown?
The government says that you may continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, for work, or to access education, within a very high alert level area, but you should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make.
They are also advising people not to travel into or out of an area if it has been categorised as a very high alert level area (Tier 3).
You can continue to travel into or out of very high alert level areas if you need to for work, education, to access youth services or because of caring responsibilities.
You may also do so where necessary as part of a longer journey – such as when a journey between lower risk areas passes through a very high alert level area, or when going to an airport, port or international rail terminal to travel abroad.
Visiting care homes
Unfortunately, you're unable to visit a care home in a very high alert area.
However you can do so in exceptional circumstances, for example to visit an individual who is at the end of their life.
On moving homes
You can still move home if you’re in a very high alert level area.
Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work and people looking to move home can continue to undertake viewings.
Schools and universities
Educational settings will remain open.
However there are stricter rules in place for those travelling to university in high alert areas.
You must not move back and forth between your home and student accommodation during term time.
If I am vulnerable, do I need to shield again?
The government doesn't say so.
The guidance says that if you are clinically vulnerable you, you can go outside as much as you like but you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low.
You can visit businesses, such as supermarkets, pubs and shops, whilst keeping two metres away from others wherever possible or one metre plus other precautions.
How long will Greater Manchester be in Tier 3 for?
Boris Johnson said that restrictions in medium and high alert areas will be kept under 'constant review,' and could change at any time.
"We will also keep these measures under constant review, including a four-week sunset clause for interventions in very high areas," he said.
The government later said in a press release: "The restrictions in Greater Manchester will be reviewed by at least 11 November."
Can even more measures be added?
Yes, the above rules are 'baseline measures'.
The government can seek to agree additional measures, which could include:


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Thugs threaten couple with knife for their Audi A4

A couple were threatened with knife in their own home by car thieves in Stockport .
A man and a woman broke into a property on Wythens Road in Heald Green at around 7.50pm on Tuesday .
The pair threatened the couple with a knife , demanding the keys to their Audi A4 .
The drove off in the motor , leaving the man and woman uninjured but badly shaken , police said .
Later that night , the Audi was spotted in Wythenshawe .
A man , 34 , and a woman , 42 , were arrested on suspicion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , GMP said .
They both remain in custody for questioning .
The force said enquiries are ongoing .
Detective Inspector Julia Bowden of GMP 's Stockport district , said : `` This was a frightening ordeal for the victims of this burglary and we are doing all we can to thoroughly investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice .
`` We have made two important arrests in connection to this incident , and I hope that this demonstrates our commitment to tackling this type of crime whenever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone has any information in relation to this investigation we ask them to make contact with police as it could aid our enquiries . ''
Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 9970 , quoting incident number 2551 of 20/10/2020 ; or Crimestoppers , anonymously , on 0800 555 111 .

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A couple were threatened with knife in their own home by car thieves in Stockport.
A man and a woman broke into a property on Wythens Road in Heald Green at around 7.50pm on Tuesday.
The pair threatened the couple with a knife, demanding the keys to their Audi A4.
The drove off in the motor, leaving the man and woman uninjured but badly shaken, police said.
Later that night, the Audi was spotted in Wythenshawe.
A police chase ended on Washway Road in Trafford.
(Image: Vincent Cole)
A man, 34, and a woman, 42, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and 'other offences', GMP said.
They both remain in custody for questioning.
The force said enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Inspector Julia Bowden of GMP's Stockport district, said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the victims of this burglary and we are doing all we can to thoroughly investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
"We have made two important arrests in connection to this incident, and I hope that this demonstrates our commitment to tackling this type of crime whenever and wherever it occurs.
"If anyone has any information in relation to this investigation we ask them to make contact with police as it could aid our enquiries."
Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 9970, quoting incident number 2551 of 20/10/2020; or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--The latest borough-by-borough coronavirus infection rates in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester recorded more than 2,342 cases of coronavirus today , 55pc more than last Wednesday .
The infection rate for the region is now over 400 ( 413.9 ) and is back on an upward trend , up 7.6 per cent week-on-week .
Bolton has the fastest growing spread of infection and recorded more than 200 cases on a single day for the first time - now up 35 pc week-on-week .
In Stockport , the number of confirmed cases of the virus is going back up after seeing a downward trend for the last two days .
Cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the tenth day in a row , but there are signs it may be levelling out .
Trafford , the other area where cases are falling , may also level out over the next couple of days .
Rochdale continues to be the borough with the highest number of coronavirus rates in the region - with a rate of 486.5 per 100,000 population .
Salford is just behind Rochdale , with an infection rate of 461.7 .
Wigan currently has an infection rate of 459.5 , while the rate in Oldham is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase of 11pc , while in Tameside , that percentage increase is 17pc .
Yesterday it was confirmed that all ten boroughs in Greater Manchester will enter Tier 3 - the strictest tier of the new lockdown grading system .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the move after days of tense negotiations with local leaders broke down .
Both sides had failed to agree on the level of finances needed to implement the rules and support local businesses affected .
Pubs that do not serve a substantial meal with drinks will be ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while stricter social distancing measures will be enforced .
Other venues , such as betting shops , casinos , bingo halls , adult gaming centres and soft play areas will also be forced to close .

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Greater Manchester recorded more than 2,342 cases of coronavirus today, 55pc more than last Wednesday.
The infection rate for the region is now over 400 (413.9) and is back on an upward trend, up 7.6 per cent week-on-week.
Bolton has the fastest growing spread of infection and recorded more than 200 cases on a single day for the first time - now up 35 pc week-on-week.
In Stockport, the number of confirmed cases of the virus is going back up after seeing a downward trend for the last two days.
Cases in Manchester are continuing to fall, for the tenth day in a row, but there are signs it may be levelling out.
Trafford, the other area where cases are falling, may also level out over the next couple of days.
Rochdale continues to be the borough with the highest number of coronavirus rates in the region - with a rate of 486.5 per 100,000 population.
It represents a week-on-week increase of 17pc.
Salford is just behind Rochdale, with an infection rate of 461.7.
Wigan currently has an infection rate of 459.5, while the rate in Oldham is 447.5.
Bury has seen a week-on-week increase of 11pc, while in Tameside, that percentage increase is 17pc.
Yesterday it was confirmed that all ten boroughs in Greater Manchester will enter Tier 3 - the strictest tier of the new lockdown grading system.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the move after days of tense negotiations with local leaders broke down.
Both sides had failed to agree on the level of finances needed to implement the rules and support local businesses affected.
Pubs that do not serve a substantial meal with drinks will be ordered to close from 00.01 on Friday, while stricter social distancing measures will be enforced.
Other venues, such as betting shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres and soft play areas will also be forced to close.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-10-21--Why Nathan Ake is not in Man City squad vs Porto

Nathan Ake was left out of the Manchester City squad to take on Porto in the Champions League after being deemed not fully fit .
The £40m defender , who joined from Bournemouth in the summer , played at left centre-back in the 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday and also trained with the squad ahead of this fixture .
However , after suffering what the manager called `` niggles in the groin '' on the morning of the game the decision was taken to leave him out of the squad to rest up and recover full fitness in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem during the international break that has caused him to miss the two most recent games .
In the absence of Ake , Eric Garcia has been selected to start alongside Ruben Dias in the middle of defence ahead of John Stones and Taylor Harwood-Bellis .
Garcia 's start is significant because it is the first time he has been picked since the transfer window closed , having last made an XI in the 5-2 drubbing by Leicester where he gave away a penalty and then stood off James Maddison for the fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his desire to leave the club for Barcelona but with no acceptable offer arriving from the Nou Camp in the window the Blues decided that it would make more financial sense to keep him for the final year of his contract rather than sell him on the cheap .
From the moment Garcia announced his intention to leave , City were of the belief that he would not sulk if he did n't get his move , and his selection for the first Champions League game indicates that his attitude has not @ @

Nathan Ake was left out of the Manchester City squad to take on Porto in the Champions League after being deemed not fully fit.
The £40m defender, who joined from Bournemouth in the summer, played at left centre-back in the 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday and also trained with the squad ahead of this fixture. However, after suffering what the manager called "niggles in the groin" on the morning of the game the decision was taken to leave him out of the squad to rest up and recover full fitness in a relentless schedule.
Aymeric Laporte suffered a problem during the international break that has caused him to miss the two most recent games. In the absence of Ake, Eric Garcia has been selected to start alongside Ruben Dias in the middle of defence ahead of John Stones and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Garcia's start is significant because it is the first time he has been picked since the transfer window closed, having last made an XI in the 5-2 drubbing by Leicester where he gave away a penalty and then stood off James Maddison for the fourth goal.
The 19-year-old made no secret of his desire to leave the club for Barcelona but with no acceptable offer arriving from the Nou Camp in the window the Blues decided that it would make more financial sense to keep him for the final year of his contract rather than sell him on the cheap.
From the moment Garcia announced his intention to leave, City were of the belief that he would not sulk if he didn't get his move, and his selection for the first Champions League game indicates that his attitude has not dropped.