Tier 3: Burnham says he is "not going to roll over at the sight of a cheque"

The government has said it is hopeful an agreement on Tier 3 with Greater Manchester's leaders will be reached 'today or tomorrow'. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has been calling for more financial support for workers that would be affected by further restrictions imposed on the region.

He also insists he's "not going to roll over at the sight of a cheque" following reports the region could receive tens of millions of pounds to move into Tier 3.

Ministers have warned that restrictions will be imposed if necessary. 

Speaking today (Monday), Mr Burnham said: "Nothing's changed as far as I'm concerned. 

"It's not about the size of the cheque.

"It's about protecting the low paid workers, people who are self employed, supporting business and preventing them from collapsing."

A question many people are asking is whether he is putting money before health, particularly with the reports that some of the region's 12 hospitals were running out of space on Friday.

Mr Burnham added: "We've always said we'll put people's health first and we will do that, but health is about more than controlling the virus.

"People's mental health I think is now pretty low given that we've been under restrictions here for three months already.

"Of course we will look very carefully at what is happening in the NHS.

"The NHS currently in Greater Manchester is very busy of course but it's got capacity to deal with the current situation.

"We watch these things very closely indeed but I take issue with the word posturing which cabinet minsters were using yesterday.

"Sticking up for people who are the lowest paid is not posturing. It's representation.

"People can use those kind of worlds all they like but this is about what is fair and right for those people."

He added that he's wiling to talk to the Government to resolve the issue by says a sufficient plan hasn't yet been proposed:

"The Government can solve it by, not doing something for me or for the other council leaders but it's by doing something for the people who are worrying about their jobs, worrying about whether they'll have enough money to pay the bills, worrying about the rent, the kids, their business," Mr Burnham added.

"Those are the people the Government needs to support.

"Tier 3 I think should have a fair financial framework set out and endorsed by Parliament so that anyone in our position knows what they're going into if they're going into Tier 3.

"At the moment it's like side deals with local areas but who knows if that money will be enough.

"What you need to say to those people who work in pubs, people who work in betting shops, people who drive taxis, people who work on the doors in security - they need to know what this means and they need to have a guarantee that they can work from 80% of their wages and they know that, that will be there for as long as the pubs are closed or everything else is closed.

"That isn't there at the moment. 

"And will it be applied to everywhere, not just in Greater Manchester."

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