UK government faces off with Greater Manchester over COVID-19 measures

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham speaks to the media in Manchester, northwest England. While the government attempts to impose restrictions on the area, Burnham is holding out for more financial support. /Martin Rickett/Pool/AFP

The UK government has become embroiled in a stand-off with the northern metropolitan area of Greater Manchester after the region's mayor refused to move the area into England's strictest tier three alert level without improved financial support.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has demanded an improved financial package for employees of businesses who will be forced to close their doors as a result of the new measures.

Burnham also believes self-employed and low-paid workers haven't been given enough help to survive the coming months and wants the government to pay them more money if they're unable to work.

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On the streets, Burnham has the support of local people.

Alex, an insurance worker, tells CGTN Europe he is very concerned. "The economic package they announced won't keep people alive," he said. "That's the dangerous part."

Lisa, an animator, is also worried by the extent of the growing row. She added: "I do think it's very good that he's holding out for financial measures but there's also a point where you cannot hold human lives as a leverage any more."

If it wants to, the government can override Burnham and impose tier-three restrictions on the city – but it is reluctant to do so.

To the north, Lancashire has gone into tier-three measures and in the seaside resort of Blackpool local businesses are already getting worried. It's the last two weeks of the season and as autumn descends on the north, there is little prospect of visitors now.

People living in northern towns and cities are angry with the government for applying lockdown measures but offering insufficient financial support. /AFP

Alan Cavill is the town's Director of Tourism. "It's going to be incredibly painful for us," he said. "You know, there's certainly going to be redundancies and there's certainly going to be business failures."

A complex political sub-plot is also playing out behind Boris Johnson's new three-tier system.

While Burnham, of the opposition Labour party, is calling for an extension of the 80 percent furlough scheme to allow tier-three restrictions in Greater Manchester, at the national level his party leader Sir Keir Starmer is now calling for a two- to three-week 'circuit breaker' across the country – a move also supported by the government Treasury department.

But some Tory backbenchers led by Sir Graham Brady, whose constituency happens to be in Greater Manchester, are also supporting the Labour mayor – which makes matters harder for the government's ministers.