UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson confirms £60m will go to Greater Manchester boroughs in tier 3




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Scotland records 28 Covid deaths – highest daily figure since May

Scotland has surpassed 50,000 cases of Covid-19 after recording 1,739 positive cases in the last 24 hours, with 28 deaths of people confirmed to have the virus, the highest daily figure since 21 May.

Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, said the continuing surge in cases led her government to extend the restrictions on pubs and cafes, on unnecessary travel and on contact sports across central Scotland for a further week.

She said Scotland had now recorded 50,903 positive cases since March, with the numbers in hospital rising again by 49 to 873 and the numbers in intensive care up by three to 73.

The data came as National Records of Scotland, the government public records agency, said that 75 deaths with Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate last week, up by 50 on the previous week, and the highest weekly figure since early June.

Sturgeon added, however, that the latest data suggested the rate of increase in cases was slowing, giving her “cautious optimism” the existing restrictions were having an impact on the latest surge in cases.




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The Welsh health minister has criticised people who spread false stories about coronavirus via social media and called for platforms to do more to stop lies being disseminated.

Vaughan Gething spoke after a tweet falsely claiming one Welsh hospital was so empty that its doctors were able to take time off to play golf gained traction and made headlines. Gething said:


It’s incredibly frustrating to see direct lies being told about what is taking place within our health service, Our health service is under significant pressure.

He said people had to think before sharing wrong and damaging information but also said social media platforms needed to take responsibility. “We are not in a game here. We are in a really serious position.”

Speaking at the Welsh government’s press conference, Gething said it was not possible to say what Christmas would look like in Wales, calling such a prediction a “mug’s game”.

Gething said there were 894 people in hospital with Covid – up 26% on the same time last week and the highest number since June.

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MPs debate Labour plan for economic support for areas under Covid restrictions




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Greater Manchester is no longer a city region united after the only Conservative-run council announced it was willing to consider a bespoke deal for its hospitality workers.

David Greenhalgh, the leader of Bolton council, said he was “willing to look at” a Bolton-only package, breaking away from the rest of the cross-region negotiating block and distancing himself from Andy Burnham.

He said he had spoken to Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, this morning, after hearing that the £60m offered by government to Greater Manchester on Tuesday was still up for grabs for individual councils.

Greenhalgh said:


It is clear the amount on the table, which is what has been accepted in Liverpool, Lancashire and now South Yorkshire, and I am not prepared for Bolton businesses to miss out on this extra financial help.

This is not the time for posturing and politics. This is about getting the best deal available for Bolton business, and those who work in the sectors worst affected.

I hope to have further discussions later today with government officials and ministers, and progress as a matter of priority to enable a scheme to be worked up that targets those most affected.

Unsurprisingly, his Labour counterparts are fuming.




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Government invites Greater Manchester council leaders, but not Burnham, to discuss allocation of £60m

Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, has written to all 10 Greater Manchester council leaders inviting them to come forward individually to claim their share of the £60m still on offer.

The move appears to be a deliberate attempt to cut Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, out of the discussions following the dramatic breakdown of talks on Tuesday.

In the letter, seen by the Guardian, Jenrick says it was “with regret” that he had to inform the prime minister that they had been unable to reach a deal. But he adds:


Though our discussions with the mayor were unable to reach agreement, the government remains committed to providing people and businesses in Greater Manchester with the support they need as we move into the next phase of action against coronavirus.

I am therefore writing to restate our offer of business support to your areas. This funding of £60m is for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester and with your help, we will ensure it reaches them as swiftly as possible and ensure this support can go to those who need it. Our officials stand ready to work quickly and closely with their counterparts to ensure this can happen – starting today.

I have valued the conversations I have had with you in recent days. I do not underestimate how challenging it is to lead your councils and communities through this period. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss further.

Josh Halliday
(@JoshHalliday)

Here’s the letter from Robert Jenrick. Clear deliberate attempt to cut Andy Burnham out of the picture. pic.twitter.com/H2eUM9YVXN


October 21, 2020

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Starmer says ‘miserly’ treatment of Greater Manchester defining moment for government

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PMQs – Snap verdict




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