Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wants ‘clarity before Christmas’ from Government on Covid measures

There are also concerns the latest support package announced for businesses does not go far enough.
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Andy Burnham has called for “clarity before Christmas” from the Government on any further Covid measures it plans to put in place over the coming weeks.

The Greater Manchester mayor welcomed the £1bn fund announced on Monday by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to help businesses affected by the rise in Covid cases.

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But he urged the government to close a “gaping hole” in the support package.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (21 December), the Labour mayor said support should be offered to individuals affected, not just to businesses.

Mr Burnham also called on the Government to make a decision and “just be honest” with people about any further Covid restrictions it has planned.

What did Mr Burnham say about the current Covid situation?

Mr Burnham said: “Given the situation that we’ve got and the uncertainty that people are feeling, we do believe there needs to be clarity before Christmas on what the decisions are with regard to any further measures – and certainly soon after Christmas if they can’t do it before.

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“But it is something that needs to be dealt with quickly so that people know where they stand going into the Christmas break.”

The metro mayor said any additional Covid-related restrictions should be “proportionate”, taking into consideration the vaccination programme.

Around 33,000 doses of the Covid vaccine were administered in Greater Manchester on Saturday (18 December) – a new record for the city-region.

However, Mr Burnham said he does not have access to “expert analysis” about the Omicron variant and how effective vaccinations will be in stopping the spread.

What did Mr Burnham say about the financial support package?

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The Greater Manchester mayor also criticised the £1bn support package aimed at helping hard-hit businesses in the leisure and hospitality sector.

Businesses in these sectors will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises and more than £100m will be available for councils to support other businesses, the Government announced before Mr Burnham’s press conference.

The Government will also cover the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences for small and medium-sized employers across the UK.

And a further £30m of funding will be made available for cultural organisations in England to apply for support during the winter, the government announced.

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But Mr Burnham said there is no guarantee that businesses will pass on this support to their staff who may be facing a cut in pay or reduced hours.

Hospitality and leisure bosses had warned they were struggling in the wake of the Omicron variant (image: AFP/Getty Images)Hospitality and leisure bosses had warned they were struggling in the wake of the Omicron variant (image: AFP/Getty Images)
Hospitality and leisure bosses had warned they were struggling in the wake of the Omicron variant (image: AFP/Getty Images)

He said: “For those staff who are being sent home from pubs, bars and restaurants because there isn’t any work, there’s no guarantee that those people will see any support passed on.

“That is a real concern because many individuals across Greater Manchester who work in hospitality, events, conferences, music and in other creative industries, are seeing a huge drop in their income at a pretty devastating time of the year.

“Bear in mind a number of these individuals were excluded from public support last year so have really struggled this year as well.”

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Mr Burnham said there is a “real gaping hole” in the support package and urged the Chancellor to close it and support people ahead of the Christmas period.

What other reaction has there been locally?

The Government’s latest financial intervention has received a mixed response in Greater Manchester.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) welcomed the move from the chancellor.

Development manager for Greater Manchester Robert Downes said: “These positive measures will help alleviate the intense pressures small firms are currently under, and hopefully arrest a significant decline in confidence over this year.

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“With the prospect of one million people sick or self-isolating by January, we encouraged the Chancellor to bring back the Covid statutory sick pay rebate. We’re really pleased to see our recommendation taken forward.

“Not only will this move reduce stress for small employers up and down the country, it will help those who are struggling most with depleted cashflow. It’s vital small firms – once again up against a massively disrupted festive season – can reclaim the costs of supporting staff.

“The Government has also rightly taken forward other aspects of our 10-point plan, with £1bn worth of grant support for the hardest-hit sectors, alongside accelerated delivery of the business rates relief fund for supply chains launched months ago.

“The encouragement of HMRC to give as much breathing space as possible to small firms as we head towards tax return season will also come as a relief to many.

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“We’ve always said that support needs to move in lockstep with restrictions, and this intervention will help give small businesses confidence that this is the approach Government will be taking.”

However, Greater Manchester night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord gave a scathing reaction on social media.

Greater Manchester night time economy adviser Sacha Lord. Photo credit: Darren Robinson PhotographyGreater Manchester night time economy adviser Sacha Lord. Photo credit: Darren Robinson Photography
Greater Manchester night time economy adviser Sacha Lord. Photo credit: Darren Robinson Photography

Mr Lord tweeted: “Support package being announced today. It’s pathetic. Won’t even touch the sides or save jobs. We all need to continue to ramp up the pressure.”

In a second message on Twitter Mr Lord said: “ It’s not a package. It’s an insult.”

What has the Government said?

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Announcing the support package, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “We recognise that the spread of the Omicron variant means businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors are facing huge uncertainty, at a crucial time.

“So we’re stepping in with £1bn of support, including a new grant scheme, the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and further funding released through the Culture Recovery Fund.

“Ultimately the best thing we can do to support businesses is to get the virus under control, so I urge everyone to Get Boosted Now.”