Thread by @JenWilliamsMEN

Andy Burnham currently making a TV statement. He says GM was told by JVT last night that 'to bring the infection rates down any regional lockdown would require widespread closures way beyond pubs to stand any chance of working'

'and would have to be done in tandem with other neighbouring regions. And, even then, it would not be certain to work'.

'They are asking us to gamble our residents’ jobs, homes, and businesses - and a large chunk of our economy - on a strategy that their own experts tell them might not work.'

JVT told them that the only thing certain to work is a national lockdown. But, he says, No 10 told them this morning 'it is unwilling to do that because of the damage it will do to the national economy'.

'Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City-Region and Lancashire are being set up as the canaries in the coalmine for an experimental regional lockdown strategy as an attempt to prevent the expense of what is truly needed.'

They want the full 80% furlough they've asked for, including for the self employed.

'So far, they have not been prepared to offer that. Imposing damaging regionals lockdowns in this way won’t work.'

'This is an important moment. Greater Manchester will stand firm.'

I can hear clapping in the background. (Broadcast is outside Central Library.)

Sir Richard Leese: They're trying to divide us, but he's 'in almost hourly contact' with colleagues in eg Yorkshire. It won't work. The north is united.

"Why would we accept proposals their own advisers say won't work?"

SRL says they've put forward proposals about how they can bring Covid numbers down - some of them were put in four weeks ago.

But they're not going to accept something that will damage the livelihoods of thousands of people here 'for no apparent reason'.

They do sound pretty angry.

Bev Hughes says people feel confused by the messaging and the u-turns. If this 'v v poor deal' on GM, she has great concerns about people's willingness to comply in the future.

Secondly, it's the police and councils who see families at the 'sharp end'. She is 'enormously concerned' about violence in the home, mental health and anxiety when people can't pay their bills or feed their children.

What is the rationale for believing people here can survive on 60% (she means 67%) of their pay, when first time round it was 80%?

They're taking qs. (Not from me - I'm not there. I'm in a nice warm room.)

@BethRigby asks what the tone of today's meeting was like; plus you can't stop this, so is it going to happen anyway? And how worried are you about the PH situation?

@BethRigby It was a 'direct' exchange. All the way through GM has offered to do more on test and trace, says Burnham. 'But we've hit a point' where they can't put mental health at risk because govt wants to impose a 'second class deal'. [Applause in the background.]

They would work with govt to ensure the NHS can cope; the Nightingale is being stood up. But they won't be treated as 2nd class citizens.

They're waiting for further engagement.

SRL adds: There's a risk the hospitals will become overwhelmed, yes; but they know who is most at risk from this - age, older ppl; underlying conditions. If we really want to stop hosps being overwhelmed govt could support those ppl.

(Doesn't say what - not sure if he means a proper shielding programme.)

AB: 'They've said there's no money left...but I don't believe that for one second.' He references the £ms spent on consultants in the test and trace system (he means the @EdConwaySky scoop last night - will link in a min

@EdConwaySky Here you go: news.sky.com/story/coronavi…

@EdConwaySky AB: 'They've been treating the north with contempt, late night through briefings'

He notes people have gathered to listen to this. 'People aren't willing to be pushed around anymore...this is real. The north stands on the brink of being back where we were in the 1980s, forgotten, pushed aside.'

Think SRL says there is no need for a national lockdown either. He says CMO has said that (I don't think he has said that...? Will check on all this.)

And they wrap it up.

For anyone who has followed Andy Burnham over the years, that was classic Andy Burnham on many levels. Govt will think so too, I imagine. They won't like it.