thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--'Living Here Is Like Hell': How People In Manchester Feel About Reduced Furlough Wages

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In late July, weeks after the first coronavirus lockdown was lifted, Manchester was thrust back into fresh restrictions – and there it has remained for the last three months.
As university students returned to cities and punters were encouraged to drink in pubs, Greater Manchester and the wider north-west saw a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, finding itself one of the UK’s coronavirus hotspots.
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Lockdown misery was compounded when, on Tuesday, the region was forced by the government to move into the tier 3 category, a move that would see bars and pubs that don’t serve food close, along with casinos.
There’s other Whitehall decisions that are leaving people fearful. The national furlough scheme is set to be replaced with the new job retention scheme at the end of this month – which would mean those out of work due to the virus would be paid only 67% of their wages compared with the 80% they were afforded when the country first went into lockdown.
Many residents are worried this will only lead to more pain and suffering in the region, a point acknowledged by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham during a press conference as news of tier 3 broke. “Most people, myself included, on more middle income jobs, could live on two-thirds of their income,” he said, but the lower paid could not.
For one 20-year-old hospitality worker, who preferred not to be named, having access to two-thirds of her wages means she won’t be able to pay her bills.
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“I’ve been on furlough for six months,” she told HuffPost UK. “I’ve gone from earning £1,250 a month to £800 on the 80% furlough scheme. That’s a huge difference for me, it’s just enough to cover my bills, which come in at just under £790 every month.”
One of her main concerns is that the tier 3 lockdown will last for an extended amount of time, mainly because of a turbulent home life.
Her mother is suffering with mental health problems and can’t work, so she is the main breadwinner and is responsible for paying the bills. Being stuck at home, unable to work, and with no disposable income to see friends, her mental health has also suffered. “Living here is like hell. It’s draining for both my pocket and my mental health,” she says. “And during lockdown it’s been worse.”
She is also aware that she can’t get a second job to make ends meet, because if she makes up enough hours to cover her bills, she would lose furlough at her current job, leaving her with even less.
David, a Spanish chef working in Salford, says that, although he’d rather live under the restrictions in England than in his home country, he is worried about having to be put on the job retention scheme. He says: “I am worried what is going to happen with my job. A lot of businesses can’t keep going with this, and a lot are going to close.”
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David: "I will struggle to pay my bills." HuffPost UK
David is worried that the restaurant he works in will close if things go on for much longer. “I would obviously rather have the 80% that we got in the first lockdown, because with 67%, I will struggle to pay my bills,” he says, but adds that he does understand if that isn’t possible.
The hospitality industry has undeniably suffered nationwide due to the pandemic. Despite venues doing much to remain safe for customers and to control the spread of the virus, these businesses will be disproportionately affected, with most of the industry’s low-paid workers paying the price.
As well as low-paid workers, Burnham was hoping to negotiate a deal with the government that would protect self-employed people, who slipped through the cracks of the last government furlough scheme.
Kate Whapples, a personal trainer in Manchester city centre, feels extremely let down by the government.
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“Throughout lockdown it’s been quite clear that people who work multiple jobs haven’t been as well looked after or even considered as people in ‘typical’ jobs, which is concerning as I earn my income through three jobs,” she said.
Kate is paid half of her wages by her employer and makes up the rest with her self-employed income generated by clients.
“While I am aware how lucky I have been firstly to work for a gym that puts the well-being of their staff before profits and secondly because I have amazing clients that have supported me throughout the pandemic, the fear of the virus has resulted in lots of people cancelling their sessions,” Kate tells HuffPost UK.
“This combined with only receiving a potential 67% of my wages on furlough is quite a scary thought.”
Kate Whapples: "It seems clear that very little of what we are doing is founded in science." HuffPost UK
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Greater Manchester’s main frustration with being forced into a tier 3 lockdown is that the tier system proposed by Downing Street isn’t backed by science, the region’s leaders say.
Burnham has suggested that the government is using Greater Manchester as the “guinea pig” or a “sacrificial lamb” and doesn’t feel the economic suffering that tier 3 would cause is worth the risk.
Kate agrees: “It seems clear that very little of what we are doing is founded in science, which I find really worrying. In my opinion, the government needs to listen to the concerns of the people in Greater Manchester and hear from the bars and pubs that will simply have to close their doors forever if the right support is not attained.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Labour To Force Vote On 'Punishing' Tier 3 Local Lockdowns

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Labour leader Keir Starmer in the House of Commons, London. PA
Labour leader Keir Starmer will try to end Boris Johnson’s “punishing” local lockdown deals by forcing a Commons vote on the toughest Tier 3 restrictions.
Demanding a “fair one nation deal” for areas under the restrictions, Starmer will call on the government to standardise the level of support for businesses and workers.
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The move could see some “red wall Tories” rebel and back the Labour motion, which will be tabled as part of an opposition-led debate on the pandemic.
It comes after a dramatic stand-off between Downing Street and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham ended when Johnson ended talks and imposed Tier 3 curbs without local leaders’ agreement.
The government has given the area £22m to support firms and workers, but said £60m remains “on the table”.
Burnham, who had sought £65m for the region’s town halls, accused the government of a “deliberate act of levelling down” and “playing poker” with the city after Johnson intervened and offered less cash support.
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The former Labour health secretary was informed of the area’s restrictions live on TV, as Johnson made a public statement on the issue.
“This is no way to run the country in a national crisis,” Burnham told the cameras.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the furlough scheme, which when the pandemic took hold in March was set at 80% of lost wages, would be cut to two-thirds.
It is expected further Tier 3 restrictions will be introduced in parts of Yorkshire and the North East in the coming days, where hospitalisations among older people are beginning to climb, as talks begin with other local leaders.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Starmer said: “The Conservatives have been treating local communities, particularly in the Midlands, North West and North East, and their leaders with contempt.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham speaking to the media outside the Central Library in Manchester, he has threatened legal action if Tier 3 restrictions are imposed without agreement. PA
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“This is not just a matter of fairness for people in Greater Manchester, but for people across the country who could find themselves in Tier 3 in the weeks ahead. Families and businesses will be deeply anxious that they might not be able to make ends meet under the government’s wholly inadequate proposals.
“The prime minister and the chancellor need to make good on their commitment to the British people to do whatever it takes to help us through this pandemic. We need a fair one nation deal that can help us through the second wave.
“I would urge all Conservative MPs, particularly those in areas of the country that are most affected by this, to vote with us tomorrow and force the government’s hand.”
Confirming the Tier 3 restrictions for Greater Manchester in the Commons late on Tuesday, health secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged that the local restrictions were a lot to ask.
He said: “The path through a pandemic is never straightforward. It requires all of us to make difficult decisions and tough sacrifices and to get the virus under control.
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“I know that these local restrictions are hard and they’re another sacrifice in a year full of sacrifices.
“I feel a deep sense of disappointment at this collective failure that we have seen today, and quite frankly my constituents in Hazel Grove deserve better.” - Tory MP William Wragg
“But we must not waver now, we must persevere as we’ve worked so hard on the long-term solutions that will see us through and come together once again.”
Echoing anger from several MPs on the Labour benches about the deal, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: “Where is the chancellor? He should be here to defend the consequences of his decisions that will mean a winter of hardship across the north.
“Now the leaders of Greater Manchester were prepared to compromise, they offered to settle for £65m to support jobs and livelihoods, the government insisted on £60m, but rather than finding the £5m extra, the prime minister pulled the plug on negotiations and then this afternoon took £38m off the table.
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“What a petty, vindictive, callous response in a national crisis. The PM may think he’s punishing the politicians, in fact he’s punishing the people of Greater Manchester.”
Conservative MP William Wragg, who represents Hazel Grove and had backed Burnham, hit out over the Greater Manchester decision, saying he fears the “medicine is worse than the disease”.
He told the Commons: “I feel a deep sense of disappointment at this collective failure that we have seen today, and quite frankly my constituents in Hazel Grove deserve better.
“I shall resist the urge to lose my temper because these exchanges deserve a greater elevation of tone, but I say this – the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing over and over again in the hope it’ll turn good.
“We have had three months of interventions in Greater Manchester which have yielded very little results indeed.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Boris Johnson Is 'Punishing' Greater Manchester With £22m Deal After Andy Burnham Row, Say MPs

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Boris Johnson is “punishing” Greater Manchester by cutting £60m in government lockdown support cash to £22m because local leaders rejected the deal, MPs have said.
The prime minister faced anger from Tory and Labour MPs after he confirmed at a Downing Street press conference he would intervene and impose tier 3 restrictions on the area with just £22m offered to help struggling firms.
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Labour MPs branded the deal an “utter disgrace” and said Johnson “appears to be waging war on the people of Greater Manchester” during the Covid-19 crisis.
It comes after talks with mayor Andy Burnham and other local leaders had collapsed on Tuesday, and the area will now see pubs, betting shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, and soft play areas shut down.
Earlier, at a press conference in Manchester flanked by other council leaders, Burnham said the city faced a “winter of real hardship”.
The former health secretary said Johnson was behind a “deliberate act of levelling down”, adding that city officials had calculated £65m was “needed” but Downing Street had offered just £60m.
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Johnson, however, appeared to confirm just £22m of business support would go to the city, leading to a string of claims Johnson had turned his back on the area’s residents. Conservative MP Chris Green, who represents Bolton West, was among the Conservatives angry with the government over the new lockdown.
He wrote on Facebook: “The government believes that three weeks of closing pubs and soft play centres will make a dramatic difference. It hasn’t and it won’t.
“I am disappointed that this lockdown has been imposed and I don’t believe the science supports this action. I think the health and economic impact will be damaging to our community but we have to do all we can to respect these rules since they have been imposed.
It’s an utter disgrace that businesses and workers in GM won’t get an extra penny from government to support them in Tier 3.
Andy is right: it’s utter spite.
The idea of all in this together has been totally shattered this week. — Lucy Powell MP (@LucyMPowell) October 20, 2020
Pointing to Liverpool’s £30m deal for its tier 3 restrictions, Johnson said the £22m was part of a “comprehensive package of support”, adding his “door was open” to more talks.
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He said: “Obviously we want to do more, but for the sake of fairness the deal has to be in line with the agreements we reached with Lancashire and Merseyside, where we have made progress.”
Burnham said the government was “playing poker” over the funding settlement and cut the £60m original offer down at the last minute.
Accusing the government of a “deliberate act of levelling down”, he said: “It’s brutal, to be honest. This is no way to run a country in a national crisis.
“It’s not right, they should not be doing this.”
Confusion, meanwhile, reigned over how the £22m was calculated and what, if any, of the “additional support” Johnson had promised would emerge.
Labour’s Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell tweeted: “It’s an utter disgrace that businesses and workers in GM won’t get an extra penny from government to support them in tier 3.
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“Andy is right: it’s utter spite. The idea of all in this together has been totally shattered this week.”
Wigan MP and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: “In ten years in Parliament I’ve never seen anything like this.
“MPs are on a call with the health secretary being told Greater Manchester is getting only £22m while our mayor is at a press conference being told by the media. This is bad faith, it’s immoral – just disgraceful.
“We were told £22m is for test and trace, not a single extra penny promised to help businesses and minimum wage workers.
“The government appears to be waging war on the people of Greater Manchester. I grew up under Thatcher but I’ve honestly never seen anything like this.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Dramatic Moment Andy Burnham Found Out Manchester Is Being Put In Tier 3 Lockdown

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The government has been accused of “waging war” against Greater Manchester after the region’s mayor found out from the media that it had been put in Tier 3 lockdown.
Boris Johnson has imposed tough coronavirus restrictions on Greater Manchester after talks with the region ended in acrimony and chaotic scenes.
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Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was giving a press conference on Tuesday when he discovered the government had refused to meet his demand for £65m to support the livelihoods of people in the region as they face the closure of pubs, bars, bookmakers and other premises.
Burnham, the former Labour cabinet minister, was shown a phone screen by Manchester City Council leader Richard Leese that appeared to suggest the area would be put into tier 3 at 12.01am on Friday, and Burnham was told the message said ”£20m only and they’re going to try to pick off individual councils”.
“It is brutal. This is no way to run the country in a national crisis,” Burnham said after a pause.
“Grinding people down. Try to get people to accept the least they can get away with.”
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham (left) with leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard showing him when the measures will come into force after speaking to the media outside Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. Jacob King - PA Images via Getty Images
It was unclear how much money the region would get.
Addressing reporters, Burnham said leaders of the authorities in Greater Manchester had originally wanted £90m – £15m a month until the end of the financial year – to protect incomes for people forced out of work.
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They reduced that sum eventually to £65m, but ministers would only offer £60m.
The prime minister then confirmed a £22m sum as he announced the new restrictions at a Downing Street press conference, and repeatedly dodged questions about what additional support the region would get – if any.
In ten years in Parliament I’ve never seen anything like this. MPs are on a call with the Health Secretary being told Greater Manchester is getting only £22m while our Mayor is at a press conference being told by the media. This is bad faith, it’s immoral - just disgraceful — Lisa Nandy (@lisanandy) October 20, 2020
We were told £22m is for test and trace, not a single extra penny promised to help businesses and minimum wage workers. The Government appears to be waging war on the people of Greater Manchester. I grew up under Thatcher but I’ve honestly never seen anything like this — Lisa Nandy (@lisanandy) October 20, 2020
Following the announcement, Wigan MP and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: “In ten years in Parliament I’ve never seen anything like this.
“MPs are on a call with the health secretary being told Greater Manchester is getting only £22m while our mayor is at a press conference being told by the media. This is bad faith, it’s immoral – just disgraceful.
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“We were told £22m is for test and trace, not a single extra penny promised to help businesses and minimum wage workers.
“The government appears to be waging war on the people of Greater Manchester. I grew up under Thatcher but I’ve honestly never seen anything like this.”
Burnham said £65m was the “bare minimum to prevent a winter of real hardship” over a “punishing” winter.
“That is what we believe we needed to prevent poverty, to prevent hardship, to prevent homelessness. Those were the figures that we had – not what we wanted – but what we needed to prevent all of those things from happening.”
The mayor accused the government of walking away from the talks, saying: “At no point today were we offered enough to protect the poorest people in our communities through the punishing reality of the winter to come.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--National Circuit Breaker Lockdown Would Be Wrong 'Right Now', Top Scientist Says

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A national circuit breaker lockdown would not be the right course of action to contain coronavirus in England “right now”, the country’s deputy chief medical officer has said.
Jonathan Van-Tam acknowledged that infections are “heating up” across the country but said the virus was only “out of control” in some areas, mainly concentrated in the north.
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After Boris Johnson imposed a tier 3 lockdown on Greater Manchester, Van-Tam said the government and scientists were trying to “walk a very fine line” between controlling Covid-19 and minimising the economic damage of restrictions required to do so.
But he said the recommendation on September 21 by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) for a two- or three-week national lockdown to break the chains of transmission was not the right course of action now.
Van-Tam told a Downing Street Covid briefing: “Pretty much everywhere in England is now heating up to some extent and we are trying to walk a very fine line between getting the virus under control in areas where it is out of control and incurring the minimum amount of economic damage in doing so.
“And it is clear that in the areas where it is out of control [...] hard measures are needed.
“But do I think right now it is appropriate to insist on those similar hard measures in, for example, the south-west of England or Kent, where levels of disease are really very, very much lower than in the North of England?
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“In other words, the national firebreak you talk about?
“No, I don’t think that’s right, and I don’t think that’s consistent with the epidemiological picture we’re seeing, or indeed consistent with the pressures we are seeing in different parts of the health service across the country.”
But Van-Tam did suggest harsher restrictions may be needed soon.
“We can’t take the brake off on this and we may have to push on the pedal a little harder,” he said.
“We can’t afford to just let our elderly die.”
Government coronavirus data presented by Van-Tam at the No.10 briefing UK government
Government coronavirus data presented by Van-Tam at the No.10 briefing UK government
Government coronavirus data presented by Van-Tam at the No.10 briefing UK government
Government coronavirus data presented by Van-Tam at the No.10 briefing UK government
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NHS medical director Stephen Powis said there was “variation” in the number of Covid patients going to hospital in different areas of the country, stressing there are more going into Greater Manchester hospitals than in the entire south-east and south-west.
“So we are seeing variability in infection rates,” Powis said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Watch Live: Boris Johnson Speaks On The Manchester Lockdown

Watch Live: Boris Johnson Speaks On The Manchester Lockdown
The UK Prime Minister speaks at a press conference on imposing the new lockdown restrictions on Greater Manchester, after talks earlier today collapsed without agreement.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Boris Johnson 'Jokes About Roulette' During Brexit Call With Business Leaders

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Boris Johnson has delivered his latest assessment on the stalled Brexit negotiations, telling business leaders in French: “Rien ne va plus,” which means “no more bets” in a game of roulette.
The prime minister also insisted that the UK would prosper outside the EU with or without a trade deal, a source on the phone call with industry told HuffPost UK.
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But Johnson stressed that, while companies have been “terribly busy with Covid”, they must now get on and prepare for the end of the Brexit transition on December 31.
Michael Gove, who appeared alongside Johnson on the 21-minute call, meanwhile tried to reassure those present by saying Brexit was like moving house – initially expensive but with long-term benefits.
The Tuesday afternoon call came after the PM on Friday said the UK must prepare for the transition to end without a Brexit trade deal, and with a default to World Trade Organisation terms for trading with the EU – widely predicted to be the most economically damaging outcome.
One industry source said the mood among leaders on the call was “disappointment” as they wanted “a bit more certainty on how it would play out if we are to leave without a deal”.
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They wanted to see that Johnson and Gove understood the difficulties and specifics of what was being planned and “some sense of the needs of businesses”, the source said.
And they also bemoaned the fact that the questions seemed pre-selected as there was no mechanism for industry leaders to jump in with a query.
Gove did seem open to demands led by the CBI lobbying group for a business taskforce to help companies prepare.
And he promised to look at the introduction of “transition vouchers” – cash payments to help firms prepare for the potentially huge change in trading terms from January 1, the source said.
Ireland has operated a similar scheme, giving firms 9,000-euro grants to help them get ready for new trading terms with the UK.
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The call came as the UK chief negotiator Lord David Frost held more talks with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier.
🇪🇺🇬🇧 I spoke again to @DavidGHFrost today. My message: we should be making the most out of the little time left.
Our door remains open. — Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) October 20, 2020
On Monday, Barnier attempted to unblock the stalled negotiations by offering for the first time to work on the legal text for an outline Brexit trade deal.
But Frost rebuffed his offer and demanded that the EU makes a “fundamental change in approach to the talks and make clear it has done so”.
Following another call with Frost on Tuesday, Barnier said: “My message: we should be making the most out of the little time left.
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“Our door remains open.”
A Downing Street spokesperson responded: “Lord Frost and Michel Barnier had a constructive discussion.
“The situation remained as yesterday, and they will remain in contact.”
No.10 sources meanwhile refused to comment on the specifics of the call Johnson and Gove had with business leaders, describing it as a “private” event.
Downing Street later provided limited quotes of the call.
Johnson told business leaders: “Our job is to create the platform for dynamic businesses such as yours to compete and to grow.
“But it is vital that everybody on this call takes seriously the need to get ready, because whatever happens – whether it’s Canada or Australia – change is going to happen.
“There is a big opportunity for this country and we want to help all of you to seize that opportunity.”
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Gove said: “I am hugely appreciative of the efforts that so many companies have made over the course of this year, both to help us deal with the Covid crisis and also to prepare for the end of the transition period.
“We know that this December 31 we will be leaving the customs union and single market come what may.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--UK Records More Than 200 Daily Covid-19 Deaths For First Time Since June

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The UK has recorded 241 Covid-related deaths in a single 24-hour period – the highest number since June 5.
England recorded 213 deaths, Wales 10, Scotland 15 and Northern Ireland three. The figures represent deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test that were recorded in the 24 hours up to 5pm on Monday (for England and Wales) or 9.30am on Tuesday (for Scotland and Northern Ireland).
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The UK last saw 200 deaths recorded in a single 24-hour period on June 5 when 258 deaths were reported, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) figures show.
The DHSC’s overall death toll, measured since the start of the pandemic, has now risen to 43,967. But due to how and when deaths are reported this doesn’t tell the full story – here’s how to interpret the daily updates.
Deaths remained below 20 each day for the entirety of August and the first half of September, but have since been rising. On July 30, the UK hit the milestone of recording no new deaths with the virus at all – though this did not become apparent until August, when data were revised to remove deaths that had occurred more than 28 days after diagnosis.
Meanwhile 21,331 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported in the UK over the most recent 24-hour period, meaning the number of confirmed cases now stands at 762,542.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Gary Lineker Apologises After Being Pictured Without Face Mask In Shop: 'In My Old Age, I Forgot'

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2nd time out of the house in 3 weeks to get some food supplies. I’m taking no chances. Great to see people respecting the social distancing and everyone good natured. 👏🏻👏🏻


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Ranvir Singh Admits She Had To Be 'Put In Her Place' After 'Total Meltdown' During Strictly Rehearsa

Ranvir Singh Admits She Had To Be 'Put In Her Place' After 'Total Meltdown' During Strictly Rehearsals

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Ranvir Singh has admitted she’s already had to be “put in her place” after having a “total meltdown” in rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing.
The Good Morning Britain presenter is currently gearing up for this weekend’s first live show, which will see her take to the floor with partner Giovanni Pernice.
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However, it seems things haven’t exactly been going smoothly in practise.
Giovanni Pernice and Ranvir Singh BBC/Guy Levy
In a chat with Giovanni on Tuesday’s GMB, Ranvir revealed: “I’m going have to be honest, I had a total meltdown. Giovanni put me in my place and just said, ‘Look, it says never give up’.
“It says ‘never give up’ on his arm. He was like, ‘That’s who I am’. I was like, ‘OK.’”
Ranvir revealed the pair have already “had a few moments” just days into their rehearsals together, but they have since made up after their disagreement.
She added: “We’ve had a few moments, haven’t we Giovanni? We got over our moments though.
“We had a 20 minute divorce, did Giovanni and I. We had 20 minutes apart and then it’s been plain sailing ever since.”
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The pair have been in rehearsals ahead of the first live show BBC/Guy Levy
Professional dancer Giovanni appeared to be understanding of his celebrity partner, acknowledging how tough it can be coming into such a challenging show.
He said: “You’ve never done anything like this before, so coming in the training room and listening to somebody for hours repeating what you have to do - obviously that’s uncomfortable.
“Unfortunately that’s my job, to tell you what to do.”
Introducing… @ranvir01’s Strictly partner @pernicegiovann1🕺✨
Or in @Kategarraway’s words ‘the man who is in charge of wheeling her round’😂
Giovanni reveals that we will see a very different side of Ranvir this Saturday👀 pic.twitter.com/oZj4kSJsWJ — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 20, 2020
Saturday’s launch episode of Strictly introduced us to the 12-strong line-up, and saw the celebrities meet their partners for the first time.
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There was also a number of notable changes to fit in with coronavirus guidelines, including a socially distanced audience, individual judges’ desks and pre-recorded routines from the professional dancers.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.25pm on BBC One, while Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--I Tried This £4 Face Mask Hack And It’s Actually A Godsend

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Normally, I love a bold lip. Painting on red, orange, plum or black hues to my face ties a look together, makes my teeth look whiter, and gives me confidence – it’s my makeup power item. But since the coronavirus outbreak, working from home and the drop-off in socialising has left my beloved Fenty lip paint collecting dust at the bottom of my make-up bag.
Wearing my signature lippy can feel a bit futile – a face mask is either going to cover up or smudge my hard work. Plus, most mornings, I can’t even be bothered to do my makeup anymore – I’m comfortable baring my true face, I tell myself – even though I miss the lift that a slick of lippy gives me.
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I’m not the only one abandoning it. According to The Grocer, Covid-19 has dealt a blow to the cosmetics industry – with lipstick sales dropping by 12% (interestingly, My Beauty Brand reports a 480% increase in eye products, however, from eyeshadow and mascara to false lashes).
Historically, lipstick was the one product that could weather a storm. Leonard Lauder, current chairman of the board at Estée Lauder, coined the term “lipstick index” after he noticed people were buying a lot of lipstick as a mood-enhancer and a relatively cheap luxury during the economic downturn of the early 2000s.
But with lippy use in decline, is it any wonder someone’s invented a solution?
Face Masks On Face mask and mask bracket from Face Masks On.
What is a face mask bracket?
The face mask bracket is a cage-like accessory, made from plastic or silicon, which fits inside your mask to provide structure and support so the mask sits away from your mouth and skin.
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It’s designed to stop your makeup from budging, prevent steaming for glasses wearers, ward off the dreaded ‘maskne’ (or face mask acne), and make for an all-round more comfortable mask-wearing experience in general.
You can buy them from a range of online retailers, big and small. The bracket in these pictures costs just £3.99 from Etsy and has a stream of four and five star reviews from happy shoppers.
There’s been a rise in pointless Covid merch this year. Is this one just creating more unnecessary plastic waste or does it actually make mask-wearing more comfortable? I put it to the test to find out.
Angela Hui Angela's face mask with mask shield inside
How does it feel and fit?
I start by applying a full face of make-up for the first time in what seems like forever. There are two small hooks in the bracket to slot into the folds of a disposable or pleated fabric mask. My reusable mask doesn’t have these, so I simply place the bracket inside, hoping there won’t be too much movement.
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I won’t lie. The bracket on its own makes me look like Hannibal Lecter. I’m worried if my mask slips down, the woman sitting opposite me on the Central Line tube would freak out that I was wearing some strange torture device.
Surprisingly, however, it actually works a treat. Having space between my mouth and the face mask provides ample breathing room. My lips are no longer rubbing on the mask or doused with water droplets when I do breathe.
When I speak with a mask on, I’ve always had issues, having to readjust it every couple of seconds when it slips up or down. But with this new accessory, neither my mask nor my lipstick are going anywhere. I’m sold.
Angela Hui Angela Hui wearing her face mask with a mask bracket.
Are mask brackets safe to use?
Dr David Strain, senior lecturer at University of Exeter Medical School, sees no issue with the bracket impacting the effectiveness of a face mask – provided both mask and bracket fit properly. “The chances of the droplets being aerosolised between mouth and the few millimeters away where the mask is now minimal,” he tells HuffPost UK. “Indeed the FFP3 masks that we use in hospitals are rigid and take a similar sort of structure on the face.”
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His main issue is they could become a “biological weapon” (in his words), “moving to and from the face mask to handbag and pocket, then back out again. They will very quickly become coated in fomites [virus particles] that can then be spread on to hands, money and passed around shops.”
Each time I head out, I carry a small fabric pouch around to keep my face mask separate when I’m not wearing it and, now, I do the same with my new mask bracket. But I imagine many people might just stuff it along with their mask into a pocket – or leave both to one side on the table while eating, for example.
“The chances of it being appropriately sterilised between each time they are touched are minimal,” says Strain, who advises regular handwashing. “I suspect people will hand-wash after taking them out, but not necessarily every time they put them in... The virus lives for quite some time on the smooth dry surface.”
Cleaning and storing your mask bracket
Reusable face masks and any mask accessories should be washed every day after use. Disposable face masks should not be reused as they are single-use.
Strain suggests two options for keeping your bracket safe and clean. The first is washing it in alcohol – or soap and water. The second is putting your bracket in a ziplock bag at the end of every day and using another bag and bracket the following day. “The evidence suggests that the virus only lasts 48 hours, therefore a couple of days in a ziplock will be enough,” Strain advises.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-20--Greater Manchester Forced Into Tier 3 Lockdown After Talks With Government Collapse

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). PA
Ministers are preparing to impose new lockdown restrictions on Greater Manchester after talks between local leaders and ministers collapsed without agreement.
Businesses including pubs, betting shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, and soft play areas now look set to be closed for 28 days in a bid to curb the spread of the disease.
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Boris Johnson is expected to confirm the new and stringent restrictions as part of a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham had been among the local leaders to reject the move, saying the support would leave many facing hardship ahead of winter.
Reacting to the news at a press conference in the city, Burnham said local leaders had calculated the area needed £65m to prevent a “winter of real hardship” under the new restrictions.
It is not yet clear what financial package for businesses and workers has been agreed, if any, but it is thought £60m was offered by ministers.
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Burnham insisted the government “walked away” from negotiations and said people faced a “punishing” winter ahead, after what he branded a “deliberate act of levelling down”.
He told reporters: “We need to carry people with us, not crush their spirit.”
After issuing a midday deadline on the talks on Monday night, communities secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed negotiations had “concluded without an agreement” on Tuesday afternoon.
Burnham said: “In summary, at no point today were we offered enough to protect the poorest people in our communities through the punishing reality of the winter to come.
“Even now I am still willing to do a deal but it cannot be on the terms that the government offered today.”
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham speaking to the media outside Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, following last-ditch talks with the prime minister aimed at securing additional financial support for his consent on new coronavirus restrictions Jacob King - PA Images via Getty Images
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The mayor added: “I don’t think it is right to ask people to go into a lockdown, to accept further changes within their lives, without supporting them through all of that.
“How can we carry the public with us through this pandemic if we are forcing them to lose their income, their place of work, without supporting them through that?”
Jenrick, meanwhile, pointed to rising hospitalisations and Covid-related deaths in the north-west.
He said: “I’m disappointed that, despite recognising the gravity of the situation, the mayor has been unwilling to take the action that is required to get the spread of the virus under control in Greater Manchester and reach an agreement with the government.
“I have therefore advised the prime minister that these discussions have concluded without an agreement.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the collapse of talks was “a sign of government failure”.
He said in a statement: “The Conservatives have been treating local communities, particularly in the Midlands, north-west and north-east, and their leaders with contempt.
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“Labour recognise the need for stricter public health restrictions. However, that must be accompanied by extra financial support.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Stacey Dooley Hits Back At 'Unnecessarily Cruel' Criticism Of Her New Show

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Stacey Dooley has hit back after her latest TV show came in for criticism before anyone has even seen it.
On Tuesday, the Strictly Come Dancing champion was announced as the host of new BBC series, This Is MY House.
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It will see four people walk into a home and declare that they own the property, with only one of them telling the truth, while a team of celebrity judges will have to work out who is the honest homeowner.
Stacey Dooley will host This Is MY House Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
However, the show prompted much discussion online after the announcement, with Stacey calling out some of the “unnecessarily cruel” comments.
She tweeted: “Reading some of the unnecessarily cruel comments re my new gig.
“I got the same criticism doing Strictly and Glow Up. I did well on Strictly and Glow Up went on to be a global series, that was recommissioned and Netflix took.
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“I don’t know why this platform is so unkind.”
Reading some of the unnecessarily cruel comments re my new gig.
I got the same criticism doing strictly and Glow up.
I did well on strictly and Glow up went on to be a global series, that was recommissioned and Netflix took.
I don’t know why this platform is so unkind.. — Stacey Dooley (@StaceyDooley) October 21, 2020
Stacey previously said of her latest project: “I love to see inside people’s houses, so I’m made up to be involved in a gig that allows us to do that in a format that will bring some fun, humour and warmth at a time when we are all so craving escapism.”
This Is MY House is the latest project for Stacey since winning Strictly in 2018.
She has hosted two series of make-up challenge series Glow Up for BBC Three, and fronted behind-the-scenes show EastEnders: Secrets From The Square when the soap fell off the air due to the pandemic earlier this year.
Stacey, who is now in a relationship with her former Strictly partner Kevin Clifton, has also hosted two episodes of Panorama and presented documentary series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over for the W channel.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Sky Launches Investigation Into Claims The Chop Contestant Has ‘Nazi Tattoos’ On His Face

Sky has launched an investigation into claims that one of the contestants on The Chop: Britain’s Top Woodworker has “Nazi tattoos” on his face.
A&E Networks said it will not broadcast the Sky History show pending an investigation into Darren Lumsden AKA “The Woodman” and his facial inkings.
Shortly after Sky History shared a clip from the show featuring The Woodman on Tuesday, there were claims on social media that some of his facial inkings could be associated with neo-Nazi ideology.
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The since-deleted video introduces Darren, and is captioned: “Meet the Woodman, the Bloke-With-All-The-Tattoos or Darren as we like to call him. #TheChop.”
Darren Lumsden AKA “The Woodman”. SkyHistory
Viewers raised concerns about his facial art, with some claiming the “88” on his cheek is a white supremacist symbol representing “Heil Hitler” (H is the eighth letter of the alphabet, so 88 could symbolise HH). Others pointed out that Darren has the word “Homegrown” tattooed above his top lip.
Hey Sky History, I get you're barely a history channel anymore but maybe do your homework on who you get on yeah? There's a few red flags there... — Steven Kelly (@kane_richards) October 20, 2020
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I knew, as did many people. I find it hard to believe that none of the production crew knew, especially as they asked him about it. — Frances McF (@francesmcf) October 20, 2020
In a statement issued to HuffPost UK, A&E Networks, which runs Sky History jointly with Comcast, insisted it stood against racism and hate speech and was investigating:
“While we further investigate the nature, and meaning, of Darren’s tattoos, we have removed the video featuring him from our social media pages, and will not be broadcasting any episodes of The Chop: Britain’s Top Woodworker until we have concluded that investigation. Sky HISTORY stands against racism and hate speech of all kinds.”
The investigation was launched after a Sky spokesperson initially insisted the tattoos simply denote significant events in Darren’s life and that “88” is the year his father died.
Responding to the claims on Twitter, Sky History tweeted: “Darren’s tattoos denote significant events in his life and have no political or ideological meaning whatsoever. Amongst the various numerical tattoos on his body, 1988 is the year of his father’s death.
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“The production team carried out extensive background checks on all the woodworkers taking part in the show, that confirmed Darren has no affiliations or links to racist groups, views or comments.
“Sky History is intolerant of racism and all forms of hatred and any use of symbols or numbers is entirely incidental and not meant to cause harm or offence.”
Darren’s tattoos denote significant events in his life and have no political or ideological meaning whatsoever. Amongst the various numerical tattoos on his body, 1988 is the year of his father’s death.
(1 of 3) — Sky HISTORY (@HISTORYUK) October 20, 2020
The production team carried out extensive background checks on all the woodworkers taking part in the show, that confirmed Darren has no affiliations or links to racist groups, views or comments.
(2 of 3) — Sky HISTORY (@HISTORYUK) October 20, 2020
Sky HISTORY is intolerant of racism and all forms of hatred and any use of symbols or numbers is entirely incidental and not meant to cause harm or offence.
(3 of 3) — Sky HISTORY (@HISTORYUK) October 20, 2020
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Talking about his tattoos to the Bristol Post ahead of his appearance on the Sky show, Darren said: “About 10 years ago I saw someone with facial tattoos and started to work with my tattooist on my look.
“I have my daughter on the back of my head and my son on my cheek.
“When some people first meet me they are a bit shocked, admittedly. But they soon warm to me after a few minutes.
“Some people ask for selfies with me. I’ve never had a negative reaction to my tattoos. They are just me.”
The Chop is hosted by comedian Lee Mack and Rick Edwards, along with Master Carpenter William Hardie.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Marcus Rashford Hits Back At Tory MP Who Called Free School Meals ‘Freebies’

PA
England footballer Marcus Rashford has hit back at a Tory MP who described free school meals for poorer children as “freebies” that increase “dependency” on the state.
The Manchester United striker responded to backbencher Ben Bradley as Labour stepped up the pressure on Boris Johnson to extend support for disadvantaged children over the school holidays during the Covid pandemic.
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With a crunch Commons vote on the issue due on Wednesday evening, the prime minister repeatedly refused to say whether he would U-turn and offer new cash over the winter.
Bradley tried to defend the government with a tweet in which he said: “We’re doing a lot to help the most vulnerable children, but ever-extending freebies are a sticking plaster not a solution.”
This is why we expanded FSM, introduced breakfast clubs, increased school budgets and made the welfare system more generous incl increasing UC during COVID. We're doing A LOT to help the most vulnerable children, but ever- extending freebies are a sticking plaster not a solution. https://t.co/Bs4MEJDtJF — Ben Bradley MP (@BBradley_Mans) October 21, 2020
Ben, the economy already pays a high price for child hunger. If children were fed properly you would increase educational attainment and boost life chances. @KelloggsUKI calculated we would spend at least £5.2M a year on lost teaching hours as teachers are caring for hungry kids https://t.co/mZTI3YFYz7 — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
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Gov has lots of responsibilities: supporting the vulnerable, helping people to help themselves, balancing the books. Not as simple as you to make out Marcus. Extending FSM to sch hols passes responsibility for feeding kids away from parents, to the State. It increases dependency. https://t.co/AGelqU78sz — Ben Bradley MP (@BBradley_Mans) October 21, 2020
In a Twitter exchange with Rashford, the Mansfield MP also said: “Not as simple as you to make out Marcus. Extending FSM to school holidays passes responsibility for feeding kids away from parents, to the state. It increases dependency.”
Rashford hit back, saying: “Ben, the economy already pays a high price for child hunger”. And he suggested “a more humane response”.
“Since March, 32% of families have suffered a drop in income. Nearly 1 million have fallen off the payroll. This is not dependency, this a cry for help. There are no jobs!! 250% increase in food poverty and rising. Nobody said this was simple,” Rashford said.
The England star added: “The #endchildfoodpoverty debate is still to come. The answer has to be long-term stability, not sticking plasters or ‘freebies’ as @BBradley_Mans called it. It’s about time we worked together.”
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Rashford has himself made clear that he wants a long term solution to child hunger, on top of the holiday extension.
On Saturday, Rashford challenged Johnson to honour his election pledge to “level up” the UK by introducing a comprehensive package to end child poverty and hunger.
He called for major changes to the welfare system, including an end to the Tories’ two-child cap on Universal Credit and an increase in the value of healthy eating vouchers for pregnant mothers.
Not about me. It’s for children crying out for our help. Try explaining this to them. The #endchildfoodpoverty debate is still to come. The answer has to be long-term stability, not sticking plasters or ‘freebies’ as @BBradley_Mans called it. It’s about time we worked together. https://t.co/fVLK4HS6yZ — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
The Commons motion tabled by Keir Starmer calls for free school meals to be funded outside term time to ensure vouchers and support were available for pupils right through until the Easter holidays next year.
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Johnson faced the threat of a rebellion by Tory MPs, with Commons education committee chair Rob Halfon urging the PM to rethink and backbencher Anne-Marie Morris warning she would back the Labour plan.
Both the Welsh government and the Scottish government have already put in place funding for the holiday extension.
Rashford warned he would not “turn a blind eye” to the vote and that he would be “paying close attention” to how MPs voted.
He has amassed more than 300,000 signatures in just over six days for his online parliamentary petition demanding urgent action to stop children going hungry.
Downing Street sparked anger last week when it flatly rejected his proposals, claiming that “it’s not for schools to regularly provide food to pupils during the school holidays”.
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Challenged three times in PMQs over the issue, the prime minister refused to say whether he would agree to extending free meal support - as he did through a voucher scheme last summer - over the coming holiday periods.
“We support kids on low incomes in school and we will continue to do so,” he told MPs on Wednesday.
“What I want to do is to make sure we continue to support families through the crisis,” he told Labour’s Rupa Huq.
But when asked directly by Labour MP George Howard whether he would support the plan to extend meals to next Easter, Johnson refused to say. “What we want to do is continue to support people on low incomes throughout the crisis and that’s what we are going to do,” he said.
Tory former minister Steve Baker warned about the cost of Rashford’s demands.
“Everyone knows feeding hungry children is a top priority. I’d like to see UC (Universal Credit) boosted,” he said.
“But if the economy and currency collapse, the poor will be devastated. Alleging a blind eye is just wrong.”
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At least turn on your comments and let me respond Steve. I very much welcome conversation on this. https://t.co/ly329QWMOp — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
Rashford challenged him to a debate online but the MP has so far refused.
Earlier, Halfon told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he would will either vote for the Labour motion or abstain depending on what the government says in the Commons.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--This Woman Made A Giant Tampon From Other People's Applicators. Here's Why

Ella Daish
An environmental campaigner has created a giant, plastic tampon – made from other people’s abandoned tampon applicators.
Ella Daish, the founder of the #EndPeriodPlastic campaign, asked people to send her any plastic tampon applicators they found polluting their local environment, beach, or waterway. She ended up with more than 1,000 items, which she then used to create the 6ft sculpture.
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“I instructed people to take precautions when picking these up, not only due to the pandemic, but also because of where tampon applicators come from,” Daish reassures HuffPost UK. “People rinsed them off and upon receiving them I washed and disinfected the applicators – it was certainly a unique activity!”
Daish’s ongoing campaign urges brands and retailers to remove plastic from their period products. She’s already convinced Aldi, Sainsbury’s, and Superdrug to ditch plastic applicators for biodegradable, cardboard alternatives in their own-brand products.
Now, she’s got her sights set on the queen of period products: Tampax.
“Manufacturers like Tampax often put the blame on consumers to avoid
ownership of the problem, but they must be held accountable,” she says.
“As a manufacturer, they have got the resources and money to bring about change at source, this is exactly what needs to happen, to put a stop to the negative impacts downstream.”
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Ella Daish
The giant, plastic tampon is designed to get Tampax’s attention. Of the applicators Daish was sent, 87.5% of them were Tampax. The remaining 12.5% were a mixture of other brands and ones which could not be identified.
“I was able to identify which manufacturers the plastic tampon applicators came from by looking at their different colours, shapes and patterns,” she explains. “It’s really easy to do and some even come with branded symbols on them, such as Tampax’s Pearl range.”
The finished tampon is made exclusively from 1,200 Tampax applicators collected from 15 locations across the UK.
“I expected a lot would be found, so when boxes and boxes arrived full to the brim with applicators, I wasn’t surprised,” says Daish. “However, I was shocked by the high number of applicators coming from specific locations, such as the River Clyde.”
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The project, which Daish began this summer, has been months in the making and creating the final structure wasn’t easy.
“The applicators were attached to an underlying wire structure, there was no adhesive or plastic used in the process,” she explains. “It took a few months for all the plastic tampon applicators to arrive and for me to clean them, but the process of planning and constructing the giant applicator took about a month.”
Daish’s online petition calling for an end to unnecessary plastic in period products has already gained more than 237,000 signatures. She’s also written an open letter to Tampax, which has been supported and signed by a coalition of over 40 groups, politicians and activists, including Caroline Lucas, Gillian Burke, Julia Bradbury and Megan McCubbin.
HuffPost UK asked Procter & Gamble, the makers of Tampax, if they have plans to change their products.
In response, the brand issued a statement saying it “agrees that plastics do not belong on beaches”, which is why it reminds customers how to dispose tampons and applicators properly on its packages.
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Tampax also said it is working towards reducing its material usage and incorporating 50% sustainable materials in its products. The statement pointed out that Tampax already offers some alternative options, including tampons with cardboard applicators.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Freddie Flintoff Says He Had To Seek Medical Help For Numb Penis: 'It Was Like A Dead Fish'

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Freddie Flintoff has revealed he had to seek medical help when his penis went numb during a charity bike ride.
The Top Gear presenter was left worried after his genitals felt “like a dead fish” three days into the 28-day cycle from Athens to London.
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Recalling the encounter in his new memoir Right, Said Fred (via The Sun), the former cricketer wrote: “It just suddenly went numb, as if I’d trapped it in a door. It was like a dead fish.
Freddie Flintoff Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images
“I said to the medic: ‘Doc, I’m afraid you’re going to have to have a look at my old fella, I can’t feel it’. He took a look and was quite blasé, ‘Oh, that’s quite common in cyclists.’”
Freddie said he was “taken aback” by the doctor’s reaction, explaining he was told it “was to do with something called the penile nerve” and was quite common among cyclists.
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There are two types of nerve in the penis – the pudendal nerves, which allow you to feel sensation, while the cavernous nerves supply the erectile tissue.
Sometimes the nerves can become blocked, meaning blood can struggle to reach the penis.
Freddie added that his “old fella only started to resurrect itself about three days after I arrived in London”.
Freddie and Lawrence Dallaglio completed a 28 day bike ride in 2012 Lucy Young/Shutterstock
He and former rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio completed the 2,872-mile Cycle Slam back in 2012, raising £2 million for charity.
They are set to get on their bikes for the event once again in 2021, this time cycling through Spain and Portugal.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--The Story Behind Nigeria’s #EndSARS

The Story Behind Nigeria’s #EndSARS

The Story Behind Nigeria’s #EndSARS
#EndSARS is a current social movement against police brutality in Nigeria. The slogan calls for an end to a particular unit in the police force, with a long record of abuses. The protests started in 2017 as a Twitter campaign, using the hashtag to demand the government disband them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Andy Burnham Was Right To Demand Better. And He Speaks For The Rest Of The Country Too

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The government’s recent announcement of a tier-3 lockdown in the Greater Manchester region without adequate financial support has been met with fury from the region’s mayor, Andy Burnham.
And he has every right to be angry. £22 million for the entire Manchester region equates to financial support of a measly £8 per head during a month-long local lockdown.
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Boris Johnson has now acquiesced to offer Greater Manchester councils £60m.
But this isn’t the first time that local government has been neglected, nor should these talks have taken such a sour turn.
A decade of austerity has meant local government has been systematically under-funded for years. Working class communities like my own are still reeling from its impact and now we are being faced with another round of potential austerity measures as the government provides inadequate support to local councils.
In my home town of Luton, my local council is on the brink of financial failure and has been forced to make a series of cuts to public services in order to prevent bankruptcy.
This crisis has its roots in the austerity measures imposed by the coalition government a decade earlier. Since 2010, the government has cut grants to local councils from £32.2 billion to £4.5 billion as part of a national austerity programme.
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In the absence of adequate government support, many councils such as my own have been forced to turn to unstable commercial sources of income in order to fund public services.
“What happened in Manchester could easily happen in any other part of the country. We must demand better.”
For my local council, this has meant heavy reliance on London Luton Airport to fund services such as childcare. In fact, Luton Borough Council is the second-most reliant upon commercial revenue for its budget.
With the travel industry being severely damaged by the economic consequences of the global pandemic, this has had a knock on effect on our local community as our council budget has been slashed.
Our council is considering making drastic cuts of up to £22 million, comprising 16% of its annual spending. Further cuts to Luton’s social care and mental health services will only harden the blow dealt by the global pandemic to our community.
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Like Andy Burnham, our local MPs have pleaded with the government to provide more financial support to no avail. We, like many working-class communities up and down this country, continue to be ignored and neglected by the government.
This issue is not a money problem; it’s a priorities problem. If our government can fork out tens of millions for outsourced companies such as Serco without accountability; why can they not provide adequate support to local communities like mine?
The government seems to struggle to find the money to support the low-paid and most vulnerable but didn’t seem to struggle when awarding a £252 million contract for personal protection equipment to an investment firm, Ayanda Capital Limited, owned through a tax haven in Mauritius.
The masks delivered were faulty and therefore could not be used due to health and safety concerns. Such incompetence has cost the taxpayer over £150 million.
Speaking of tax havens, we lose billions in corporate tax avoidance every year. Clamping down on things like this could be a lifeline for communities like mine.
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It’s vital we remember that economic policy is not detached from the daily lived reality of working class people in places like Luton and Manchester.
Growing up in Luton in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, I’ve witnessed the closure of youth centres, libraries and community centres. The effects of austerity are nowhere near over and its impact is apparent across the country.
If the government is serious about helping the most vulnerable in society, there are plenty of measures to be taken to lessen the burden on hard working people.
What happened in Manchester could easily happen in any other part of the country and therefore we must demand better. Andy Burnham is absolutely right; this is no way to run a government during a national crisis.
Taj Ali is a freelance journalist.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--14 Nostalgic 90s And 00s Boxsets Available To Stream For Free Right Now

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Let’s be frank, things feel pretty bleak right now, but we all know that in tough times there’s nothing like a little dose of nostalgia to make everything feel a bit better, if only momentarily.
Luckily, the BBC and Channel 4 are here to help you drag that feeling out for as long as possible, with a wealth of 90s and 00s boxsets available to watch for free on their streaming platforms over lockdown.
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Here’s our pick of the best...
The O.C. (All4 – From 22 January)
There’s not long to wait until we can re-live Seth and Summer’s romance from the beginning, shed tears all over again at that Marissa scene and marvel at Sandy Cohen’s perfect head of hair, as the hit 00s teen drama begins streaming later this month.
Get ready to sing along with the theme tune every single time, too.
The West Wing (All4)
You might have thought better of revisiting a US political drama while Trump was still in the White House, but with his presidency now drawing to a close, there’s no better time to remember when Martin Sheen was in charge – albeit fictionally as democrat Jed Bartlett.
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The classic US political drama ran for seven seasons between 1999 and 2006, and has been uploaded in its entirety to All4.
Dawson’s Creek (All4)
Nothing epitomises being a teenager in the 90s quite like Dawson’s Creek, and while it’s been nearly 18 years since it finished, the complicated love lives of Dawson, Joey, Pacey, Jen et al still feel so contemporary.
The whole series is available on All4, but if you can’t tolerate adverts and you have a Netflix account, you might be interested to hear its also available to stream there too.
One Tree Hill (All4)
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If you were a Dawson’s Creek fan back in the day, chances are you loved One Tree Hill too, which took the teen drama baton when we said goodbye to the Creek in 2003.
Having now been off our screens for eight years, all nine seasons are on their All4.
Spooks (BBC iPlayer)
Having helped launch the careers of its three main stars Matthew Macfadyen, David Oyelowo and Keeley Hawes, Spooks is still fondly remembered as one of the biggest British dramas of the 00s.
And if you’re wondering what all the spies have been up to since leaving their MI5 days behind, you can find out here.
Cutting It (BBC iPlayer)
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Long before her Britain’s Got Talent days, Amanda Holden was starring in this gloriously 00s drama about two rival hair salons.
If you loved Footballers Wives’ and Bad Girls (which sadly are still nowhere to be seen on streaming services), then this is perfect for a bit of camp, uncomplicated viewing.
Bodies (BBC iPlayer)
Jed Mercurio may now be best know for creating Line Of Duty, but long before the days of AC-12, he was behind the BBC Three drama Bodies.
Starring Max Beasley, it was unlike other British hospital dramas in that its surgical procedures were shown in explicit and detailed ways, which should come as no surprise given Jed’s love of procedure on Line Of Duty.
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Life On Mars (BBC iPlayer)
Life On Mars found a huge following when it debuted back in 2006 with its blend of fantasy elements with a period police drama.
And if you can’t get enough of Life On Mars, there’s also three seasons of spin-off show Ashes To Ashes on iPlayer to enjoy too.
Waterloo Road (BBC iPlayer)
So many familiar faces starred in the BBC school drama over the years, it’s hard to keep track.
But if you fancy revisiting where it all started for the likes of Jodie Comer, Chelsee Healey, Adam Thomas, Holliday Grainger and Jenna Coleman, all series are available on iPlayer now.
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Desmond’s (All4)
Technically, Desmond’s started in 1989, but we’ve still included it here as it became Channel 4′s longest running sitcom in terms of episodes during the 90s, running for 71 instalments before ending in 1994.
The Bafta-winning show also debuted on Netflix in October, so you can also watch there if you don’t fancy sitting through the adverts.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (All4)
While a Buffy reboot has been rumoured for a few years now, fans were delighted when the original series made its way to E4 earlier this year.
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But if you didn’t manage to catch it, or want to watch it all again, the complete boxset is still available on All4.
Angel (All4)
If after making your way through seven whole seasons of Buffy you’re still craving more supernatural shenanigans, there’s spin-off Angel, starring David Boreanaz as Buffy’s ex-boyfriend.
ER (All4)
While a medical drama may not be everyone’s top pick right now for obvious reasons, ER was an absolute force when it debuted in the 90s, running for 15 seasons – that’s a whopping 331 episodes!
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A pre-Hollywood George Clooney stars as the dishy Dr Doug, while later series see the likes of Alex Kingston, Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer and John Stamos heading up the emergency room.
Scrubs (All4)
Sticking with the hospital theme, why not book an appointment with hapless medics J.D. and Christopher and the rest of the gang, as let’s face it, we could all do with a few laughs right now.
Malcom In The Middle (All4)
This sitcom followed the lives of reluctant child genius Malcolm and his dysfunctional family, who would regularly find themselves in ridiculous situations.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Boris Johnson Says Manchester Councils Will Get £60m Lockdown Support

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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.
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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.
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I’ve written to the local council leaders of Greater Manchester inviting them to work with us at pace to design their business support schemes and ensure the funding reaches the people and businesses who need it.
My officials at @Mhclg stand ready to assist - today. 1/2 — Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) October 21, 2020
Here's the letter from Robert Jenrick. Clear deliberate attempt to cut Andy Burnham out of the picture. pic.twitter.com/H2eUM9YVXN — Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) October 21, 2020
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”.
"The mayor of Greater Manchester was offered a further £60m which he turned down," says PM Boris Johnson who adds "that cash will be distributed" to the region
Labour's Keir Starmer says "it's corrosive to public trust to pit region against region"#PMQs https://t.co/16IknOU857 pic.twitter.com/FXdbK7zt9q — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 21, 2020
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Starmer urged Johnson to end his “corrosive” approach which results in “local battles” for cash and instead support a Labour motion for a national criteria to resolve such matters.
He told the Commons: “This is a prime minister who can pay £7,000 a day for consultants on track and trace, which isn’t working, can find £43m for a garden bridge that was never built, but he can’t find £5m for the people of Greater Manchester.
“I really think the prime minister has crossed a Rubicon here, not just with the miserly way that he’s treated Greater Manchester, but the grubby ‘take it or leave it’ way these local deals are being done.
“It’s corrosive to public trust to pit region against region, mayor against mayor, council against council, asking them to trade away their businesses and jobs.”
Johnson said he is “proud” of the government’s support to the entire country, adding: “I think it’s the height of absurdity that he stands up and attacks the economic consequences of the measures we’re obliged to take across some parts of the country when he wants to turn the lights out with a full national lockdown.”
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A raft of different areas were weighing up whether they too would enter the “Very High Risk” status of the highest tier of restrictions.
No.10 sources said that talks between the government and council leaders in Teesside and Tyne and Wear had been “paused” because local infection rates appeared to have improved.
Negotiations were taking place on Wednesday at the level of officials, rather than ministers, between the government and Nottinghamshire leaders.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Boris Johnson's Coronavirus Strategy Will Cause 'Large Number Of Deaths', Warns Sage Scientist

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The “logical conclusion” of Boris Johnson’s three-tier strategy of local lockdowns will be a “large numbers of deaths”, a leading scientific expert has warned.
Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) which advises the government on the coronavirus pandemic, repeated his call for a national “circuit breaker” in England.
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Speaking to the Commons science committee on Wednesday, Edmunds said how people behaved in response to lockdowns was “difficult to predict”.
But he added: “The most difficult thing to predict is government behaviour. Most of the time people’s behaviour is governed by the government.
“That is the biggest determinant of individuals behaviour. At the moment it’s difficult to say what government will do.”
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine scientist said the prime minister’s current approach was “not being as cautious” as he would like.
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“What worries me a little bit is really where the strategy leads to,” he told MPs.
“The targeted strategy, the tiered strategy, if you think it through, where that leads to is a high level of incidents everywhere.”
South Yorkshire, the Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester and Lancashire have all been placed in the “very high”, or tier 3, category due to high levels of infections.
But Edmunds warned waiting until infection rates were high before enforcing the toughest measures was a mistake, as the most tier 3 would do is keep the R rate at 1.
“We will keep the incidence at this high level, which is putting hospitals under strain and causing significant numbers of deaths, and we are going to keep it at that high level now for the foreseeable future,” he said.
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“A few weeks later the Midlands goes into tier 3 and we keep the Midlands at a high level of incidents. And then London is shortly after.
“By logical extension of this, we all end up at a high level of incidents where hospitals are really under stretch and we have large numbers of deaths.”
He added: “That is the logical conclusion of this strategy we are following. I would not follow that strategy.”
Edmunds said a short “very stringent” national lockdown across England could cut the number of infections in half.
“So instead of holding the incidents at this high level where hospitals are under strain, you hold it at a lower level.
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“Or you move to tier 3 everywhere now. So places which haven’t got to a point where hospitals are under strain you keep them at that level now, to stop them getting there.”
By the weekend 7.3 million people, or 13% of England’s population, will be living under tier 3 restrictions which include a ban on households mixing and the closure of pubs and bars which do not serve meals.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--5 Things Living With A Stoma Has Taught Me About Embarrassment

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Listen to Chronic, our anti-wellness podcast about living well when you’re chronically unwell. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts – just search for “Chronic”.
HuffPost UK Chronic
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Hannah Witton is a sex educator, author and YouTuber. She also lives with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel condition she was diagnosed with in childhood.
This week, she’s joining HuffPost’s Lucy Pasha-Robinson on our brand new anti-wellness podcast Chronic, talking sex after surgery, rebuilding body confidence, and tackling that enduring question – why do people have so many opinions on chronic illness?
Here, Hannah shares five things she has learnt about embarrassment and bodily shame since having a stoma fitted in 2018:
1. Everybody poops! Just some people might poop in a different way to others.
2. It only takes one person to speak out unashamedly to break the ice for everybody else.
3. People find things that are unusual to them “gross” but normalising the conversation makes difference seem normal.
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4. We shouldn’t feel ashamed of things we have no control over.
5. The anticipation of embarrassment is often worse in our heads than reality.
Hear more from Hannah in this week’s episode of Chronic, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts – just search for “Chronic”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Met Police Told Off After 'Advising' Pubs To Ask Drinkers For Proof Of Address

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Scotland Yard is being urged to withdraw “misleading and unlawful” advice that pubs should ask for photographic identification to prevent households from mixing on the premises.
The Metropolitan Police sent a letter telling business licence holders that they should take steps to ensure groups were only from one household or part of a support bubble.
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This could include asking for photographic identification with names and addresses, it added.
A file image of a group at a pub. Under tier 2 coronavirus restrictions, people can only mix within households and support bubbles indoors, including in pubs JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images
The letter, dated October 16 and seen by the PA news agency, came the day before new tier 2 coronavirus restrictions banning households from mixing indoors came into force in London.
It said: “Premises should take steps to satisfy themselves that the group [maximum six people] is only from one household or part of a support bubble.
“This could include requesting photographic identification with names and addresses.
“We ask that you support the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] and the local authority by being proactive in discouraging groups from gathering in the public realm outside of your premises.”
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But Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said that following legal advice it was urging the Met to withdraw its “misleading and unlawful” advice.
He added: “The recent communication from the Met Police on October 16 we feel confuses an already confused situation.
“The conditions for trading are already extremely difficult and our entire sector have taken reasonable measures to ensure guidelines have been met and people are kept safe within their premises.
“Following legal advice we will be requesting that the Met withdraw their misleading and unlawful advice and issue a statement that reflects the correct current legal position.
“This is typical of erroneous advice and enforcement activity up and down the country.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “Pubs continue to ensure that all safety guidelines within the three tiers are adhered to, including the rule of six and no mixing of households inside and outside.
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“However, expecting pubs to demand all customers produce photographic identification with names and addresses would be fundamentally inappropriate and completely unacceptable.”
But the force defended its letter, saying it was only meant as “advice”.
A spokesperson added: “The main purpose of this communication has been to keep licensees informed of updates around Covid legislation, including recently the new measures that have come with the move to ‘tier 2’ status in London.
“The local advice from one of the Met’s licensing teams about this is just that – advice.
“It was well-intentioned and we hope that it is taken in that way.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--These Are The Risk Factors For Long Covid

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If you’re a woman or you experienced multiple Covid-19 symptoms in the first week of infection, you’re more likely to experience long Covid, according to new research.
New analysis by researchers at King’s College London, using data from the Covid Symptom Study app, shows that one in 20 people with Covid-19 are likely to suffer symptoms for eight weeks or more – so-called long Covid.
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This potentially adds up to many hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and millions worldwide.
Now, the researchers have identified the long Covid risk factors, providing some insight into who is most likely to be affected.
Tara Moore via Getty Images
Having more than five different symptoms in the first week of infection was one of the key risk factors. Headache, fatigue, loss of smell, fever and a persistent cough are the five most common symptoms of Covid-19 people have reported to the app. Other possible symptoms include a rash, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Women under the age of 50 were 50% more likely to suffer from long covid than men (14.5% compared with 9.5%). However, this gender difference wasn’t seen in the older age categories.
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Overall, the chance of being impacted by long covid increased with age. Long covid was found to affect around 10% of 18-49 year olds who become unwell with coronavirus, rising to 22% of over 70s.
Weight also plays a role, with people developing long covid having a slightly higher average BMI than those with short covid.
The study focused on data from 4,182 Covid Symptom Study app users who had been consistently logging their health and tested positive for Covid-19 through swab PCR testing.
The team found that while most people with Covid-19 reported being back to normal in 11 days or less, around one in seven (13.3%) had Covid-19 symptoms lasting for at least four weeks, with around one in 20 (4.5%) staying ill for eight weeks and one in 50 (2.3%) suffering for longer than 12 weeks.
Dr Claire Steves, clinical academic and senior author from King’s, thanked everyone who’s used the app so far and urged for more people to take part.
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Professor Tim Spector, Covid Symptom Study lead and professor of Genetic Epidemiology from King’s, added: “Covid-19 is a mild illness for many, but for one in 50 symptoms can persist for longer than 12 weeks.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Feminism & masculinity viewed through the Black experience

Feminism & Masculinity Viewed Through The Black Experience
Hosted by Yinka Bokinni, feminism and masculinity are explored in this episode of ‘Black Voices HuffPost UK’, with Dope Black Mums Endy Mckay, and filmmaker, theatre maker and writer Topher Campbell.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--5 Things Having A Stoma Has Taught Me About Embarrassment

5 Things Having A Stoma Has Taught Me About Embarrassment
Hannah Witton shares five things she’s learnt about embarrassment through living with a stoma. Listen and subscribe to Chronic with HuffPost UK's Lucy Pasha-Robinson.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--Royal Mail Now Picks Up Parcels From Your Home. Here's How It Works

Lee Smith / Reuters
Gone are the days when you’d have to trudge five miles to the nearest Post Office to send a parcel to your Great Aunt Daisy.
In what is a major move for Royal Mail – one of the biggest changes to the daily delivery since the launch of the postbox in 1852, in fact – postal workers can now pick up parcels from your doorstep.
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Under the new home collection service, people can buy postage online and book a collection for up to five items.
This will undoubtedly be welcome news ahead of Christmas, with more families likely to be spending the period apart and requiring simple ways to send gifts.
It will also help those who might be unable to get to their local Post Office, for example if they are in a shielded group or have mobility issues.
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So, how does it work?
Postal workers will collect a parcel from the customer’s door or nominated safe place for 72p per parcel, in addition to postage costs. Parcel Collect is also available for pre-paid return items at a cost of 60p per item.
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The service is available six days a week and can be booked up to five days in advance and up to midnight the day before.
Before you start, you’ll need:
a box or envelope to send your item in,
some weighing scales so you can weigh your item,
a printer to print the postage label (unless you have a pre-paid returns label)
some sellotape to attach the label with.
To arrange a home collection, you need to head to the Royal Mail website and select the option of ‘Click & Drop’. Type in the destination you’re sending it from (the UK will come up as the default) and the weight of your parcel – you can either input the weight in grams or kilograms. Click ‘Send an item now’.
The site will then ask you for more details. You’ll need to select the size of the parcel you’re looking to send (is it a letter, large letter, small parcel or medium parcel?), as well as how quickly you want the parcel to get to the recipient. You also need to input the recipient’s details and your details.
Once you’ve input all of that information, add it to your basket and head to the checkout. At this point, you’ll be able to see the details of what parcel you’re sending and where to. On the right hand side, there’s an option to ‘Arrange collection’ – click that.
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Collection costs extra on top of postage, so be mindful of that. You can choose which items you’d like collected, and then input the address you need your package collected from, and the date you’d like it to be collected.
You can also tell your postie where your safe place is in case you won’t be in when they need to collect your parcel. Options include the shed, porch, greenhouse, garage or an outbuilding.
If you have pets, you should also let the Royal Mail know about this so they can make sure they remain safe while collecting said package(s). There’s an option to do this below the area where you choose your ‘safe place’.
All done? Add that to your basket and you will be taken to a page which shows the postage you’ve bought, and the separate cost for the home collection. A word of warning, your collection will only be reserved for a short period so don’t go off to make a cuppa before you’ve paid for the service, otherwise you might end up back at the start.
People who need a next day guaranteed delivery are encourage to take their item to the Post Office and ask for Special Delivery Guaranteed.
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If you want to post a Special Delivery Guaranteed item but don’t need it to be guaranteed for the next working day, you can book a collection. Your parcel will likely be delivered to the recipient within two working days.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--The Apprentice’s Claude Littner Tells Manchester Restaurant Owner To ‘Suck It Up’ Over Tier 3 Lockdo

The Apprentice’s Claude Littner Tells Manchester Restaurant Owner To ‘Suck It Up’ Over Tier 3 Lockdown Restrictions

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The Apprentice’s Claude Littner has come under fire after he told a Manchester-based restaurant owner to “suck it up” during a debate about the city’s Tier 3 lockdown restrictions on Good Morning Britain.
The millionaire businessman appeared on the ITV show on Wednesday alongside restaurateur Simon Wood to discuss the latest restrictions placed on Manchester.
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The mayor savaged ministers for failing to provide the minimum sum of £65million needed to avoid a “winter of real hardship” under Tier 3 restrictions, which he said would plunge the poorest into poverty and homelessness.
During the discussion on GMB, Lord Sugar’s aide told Simon that while he “understood” the impact the tighter restrictions would have on businesses, he should “just suck it up”.
'People are going to be suffering no matter where they come from.'@claudelittner believes @AndyBurnhamGM should accept what is being offered by the government and work together during the pandemic.
He says it is important to focus on protecting lives and the NHS. pic.twitter.com/9SaPHfuTVw — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 21, 2020
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“I understand that small businesses are beyond struggling and of course that has an impact for their employees,” Claude said.
“But I think we’re in a situation, an ever-changing dynamic situation, I think you’ve got to just suck it up.
“It’s horrible, it’s difficult, it’s impossible, but you’ve just got to do it and hopefully we’ll get through this very quickly and your businesses will still be intact.”
But Simon, who kickstarted his career on MasterChef, fired back: “Is that what I’m supposed to tell my team when I can’t pay them, suck it up?”
Simon Wood ITV
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Claude replied: “I’m being realistic here. It’s a very difficult situation, you have to do the very best you can for yourself, for your staff, for your families.”
“Which is what we’ve been doing since March,” Simon hit back.
GMB host Kate Garraway then asked Claude what he meant by “suck it up”.
Claude replied: “Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t know we’ve been doing our best since March. Of course you have. So has everybody else. The virus is going bananas.”
Claude’s comments did not go down well on Twitter...
Interesting exchange #GMB between Claude Littner and Simon Wood
The first a millionaire telling people to ‘suck it up’
The second, a restaurateur fighting for his staff and hospitality industry who he knows can’t live off 66% wages
I’m with @SimonJWoodUK — Jim McMahon MP (@JimfromOldham) October 21, 2020
Claude Littner on GMB telling an independent restaurant owner in Manchester to "suck it up"!! Almost as spectacularly vile as when a nurse complained that she had to use a food bank while living on NHS wages & he suggested she get a 2nd job for extra cash 🤯 — hannah miles (@hannahsunited) October 21, 2020
Argh my blood is already boiling at Claude Littner this morning - stock it to him @SimonJWoodUK the Manchester absolutely stands behind Andy Burnham — Nyree Trimbel (@nyreehood) October 21, 2020
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Claude Littner, Millionaire telling people of Manchester to "suck it up", Andy Burnham standing up for the poorest. Who to support? Its a tough one but on balance Ill go with the person fighting for whats right over than a millionaire fighting for his equals and their friends. — Brexit Benefits Anyone? 🇪🇺🇬🇧🏳🌈 🔰 (@SpecificWayLtd) October 21, 2020
Wow Claude Littner so out of touch on this morning's @GMB telling northern business owners they just need to "suck it up" - really? 🤦♀ — ChronSallie (@ChronSallie) October 21, 2020
Next time Claude Littner enters any restaurant or pub, I hope the staff ask him to leave and "Suck it up" — Martyn (@Pitch_Blend) October 21, 2020
Pompous multi-millionaire egg, Claude Littner, in complete lack-of-empathy non-shock.
Who'd a thought it, eh? — John Bensalhia (@JohnBensalhia) October 21, 2020
The world is nuts when on GMB a certain Claude Littner worth over 30 million knocks Andy Burnham for fighting for people who may not have food on their tables. — karen barclay (@kazgti) October 21, 2020
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The government has been accused of “waging war” against Greater Manchester after the region’s mayor found out from the media that it had been put in Tier 3 lockdown.
Boris Johnson has imposed tough coronavirus restrictions on Greater Manchester after talks with the region ended in acrimony and chaotic scenes.
Andy Burnham was giving a press conference on Tuesday when he discovered the government had refused to meet his demand for £65m to support the livelihoods of people in the region as they face the closure of pubs, bars, bookmakers and other premises.
“It is brutal. This is no way to run the country in a national crisis,” the mayor said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-21--This Is How Bad The Coronavirus Picture Is In Greater Manchester

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After weeks of disagreement between local leaders and No.10, Greater Manchester will be put into a tier 3 lockdown at 12.01am on Friday.
Boris Johnson and Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham have been at loggerheads over the level of financial support offered to the conurbation to help it through the restrictions.
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Burnham said local leaders had calculated the area needed £65m to prevent a “winter of real hardship”, but Downing Street has so far only confirmed it will receive £22m. Government figures, though, have signalled that a maximum figure of £60m may still be on the table.
How many cases and deaths have there been?
Manchester Evening News reported on Tuesday that 2,457 people had died in Greater Manchester’s hospitals since the start of the Covid-19 crisis.
In the most recent 24-hour period (ending 4pm on Monday), 22 deaths had been registered.
The most recent local data on cases and Covid triages (online or through 111/999) made available by the NHS ends on October 18. From October 12 to October 18 there were 11,489 new Covid-19 cases reported across the 10 local authorities in Manchester.
The Manchester Evening News also reported that more than 2,000 cases of the virus (2,162) were confirmed in Greater Manchester on Tuesday – only the third time cases in the population had surpassed 2,000 in a day since the start of the crisis.
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The most recent NHS figures on infection rates, again from October 12 to October 18, show a rate of 405.2 per 100,000 people. Rochdale has the highest infection rate, at 475.2 per 100,000 people, while Stockport has the lowest at 281.2 per 100,000.
The full list is as follows:
Rochdale – 475.2 per 100,000
Salford – 469.8 per 100,000
Oldham – 448.7 per 100,000
Wigan – 440 per 100,000
Bolton – 427.8 per 100,000
Manchester – 418.2 per 100,000
Bury – 407.4 per 100,000
Tameside – 359.4 per 100,000
Trafford – 314.7 per 100,000
Stockport – 281.2 per 100,000
How full are the region’s hospitals?
Both Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock have warned that bed occupancy across the 12 hospitals in Greater Manchester is high, with hospitalisations from the virus rising so rapidly that they could run out of intensive care unit (ICU) beds by November 12.
But Burnham has insisted the government is using “selective statistics” – telling Andrew Marr on Sunday that Johnson had overstated the infection rate in the region and their impact on hospitals.
There is no clear data on hospital bed occupancy in Greater Manchester. The last NHS release about the number of Covid cases at UK hospitals ends on October 11 (a newer version comes out on Thursday, up to October 18) and the only data for intensive care beds is published monthly – the next one is due on November 12.
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From these, we can learn that 96 Covid patients were admitted to, or diagnosed at, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in the seven days up to October 11, the fifth highest number in the country – behind trusts in Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds and Blackpool.
There were 95 admitted to, or diagnosed at, the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust; 42 in Stockport; 39 in Salford Royal; 33 in Tameside and Glossop; 59 in Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh; and 42 to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. But these figures are 10 days old.
The Guardian reported that Burnham had published several charts showing how many beds, including ICU beds, are being used by Covid-19 patients in Greater Manchester – but these are not broken down by hospital. The most recent charts suggested there were 415 in hospital and 55 in ICU on October 13.
Days later a leaked NHS England document seen by The Guardian appeared to show there were 257 total ICU beds across Greater Manchester’s hospitals as of October 16, with 211 in use by both Covid and non-Covid patients – an occupancy rate of 82%.
Burnham said on Sunday that there were “around 62” Covid patients in ICU, but the leaked document said the figure was between 90 and 110. According to The Guardian, this disparity is likely down to Burnham referring only to confirmed cases, while the NHS list confirmed and suspected cases in the same category.
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The Manchester Evening News has pressed the issue of ICU capacity extensively, with one reporter spending a full day on Monday trying to access trust-by-trust Covid admissions numbers as a proportion of overall capacity, compared to the April peak, as well as the same figures for intensive care and high dependency beds.
Despite contacting every hospital trust in Greater Manchester, as well as five other bodies including the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Downing Street and the mayor’s office, not a single organisation responded with answers.
Most of the little information regularly published on bed occupancy only breaks the figures down by region, with the north-west presented unhelpfully as one homogenous area – which does nothing to explain what is going on in Greater Manchester.
On Tuesday No.10 did send out the slides used by the PM during his press conference announcing restrictions in Greater Manchester, showing the seven-day rolling average of Covid-10 patients in hospital beds in the conurbation edging towards 600 as of October 19.
These figures are across all hospital beds, and don’t refer specifically to ICU capacity – and also show that the number of hospitalised patients is still roughly half of what it was at the peak of the first wave in mid-April.
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North West: Number of Covid-19 patients in hospital beds by STP. Downing Street
What about other badly-affected areas in England?
As explained above, the NHS only puts out regional data on hospital capacity, meaning it’s very difficult to gauge how health services are coping from one specific area to the next.
The most recent charts issued on a regional basis, shown in the PM’s press conference, reveal that the north-west as a whole has a significantly higher bed occupancy rate for patients with Covid than the rest of England, followed most closely by the north-east and Yorkshire. The north-west, of course, also includes the Liverpool City Region that was the first place in England to go into tier 3.
Patients in hospital with Covid-19 in England by NHS region. Downing Street
Four regions of England – Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire – are now under tier 3 restrictions, but as infection rates remain high talks are ongoing to put other areas under tougher rules.
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Nottinghamshire currently has the highest infection rate in the country, with 2,237 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 16 – the equivalent of 672.0 cases per 100,000 people.
The PM announced during his press conference on Tuesday that leaders in Nottinghamshire were involved in talks about heading into tier 3 restrictions.
According to Yorkshire Live, eight areas of Yorkshire are currently higher than some areas of Greater Manchester in tier 3 lockdown. Sheffield – which went into tier 3 on Wednesday morning – is the highest of these with an infection rate of 406.1 per 100,000 people.