Paul Foster, (Lab) Leader of South Ribble Council has given me his account of the Lancs negotiations:

-Negotiations lasted for five or six days, in which the councils said that Tier 3 wouldn't work, because Jenny Harries had told them so (as she told Greater Manchester).
-Councils said what's the point then in damaging the economy for something which won't work (again as GM said).
-Foster says that Sir Eddie Lister (PM's effective chief of staff) at this point began to "divide and conquer" and said govt would impose the v harshest restrictions...
...if all the councils didn't agree, with no economic support at all. He says that travel restrictions were even mentioned for holdouts.
-Last holdout was Preston but in the end, he says, there were threats to "isolate them" with tougher measures still.
-The councils thus acquiesced in face of possibility of the toughest restrictions of all, with nothing to show for it/extra financial support to ameliorate it. "It was blackmail" Foster says. "No wonder if we haven't got a Brexit deal, if that's how they negotiate."
Worth saying that Conservative Leader of LCC has a different take: "It's been a long drawn out process but I think we've got a good deal...After major negotiations with govt, we have agreed a bespoke deal for Lancs that means our biz and residents will receive extra support...
that will not be available elsewhere in the country."

Meanwhile confusion continues in Liverpool. Council leaders there tell me there was no idea of T3 having variation when they were negotiating.
One tells me: "There was no discussion about gyms, leisure, or anything being ‘optional extras’. The first time we were told some was ‘extra’ was when Johnson announced it on Monday. A massive breakdown in comms has occurred somewhere, or they're making up as they go along."
The tension between parts of the North West and Westminster is only growing...
Clearly though, the allegation that the government has suggested it will penalise hold out areas (and by extension those who live there) with the toughest restrictions of all is pretty extraordinary.

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More from @lewis_goodall

16 Oct
NEW: I understand that a “briefing call” has been arranged between Matt Hancock and North East MPs at 1730. V last minute, am told message went out about 45 mins ago.
Nonetheless, am told not to expect anything to dramatic, that it's an engagement call to update MPs.
Am old that there was nothing especially new at the meeting save for JVT showing more slides. Seemed to be designed as a warning that NE must show improvement or Tier 3 beckons, with the position reviewed within a week.
Read 4 tweets
16 Oct
Important. Vallance joins Whitty in saying T3 alone isn't enough: "We recommended in Sept a circuit break. Idea there was that we would take levels back to August and at those levels test and trace is more effective...where we are now is a different situation...
...It's crucial we get R below 1...there are a number of ways that can be done...as CMO said T3 measures on their own aren't enough to get R below 1 but if you go up to higher levels in T3 and start adding in other areas that should be enough to get R below 1."
Important comments for both government and Labour

1) Vallance endorses the idea that the measures in the Tier 3 baseline alone aren't enough and extra measures are needed.
2) Hints at the idea that a short "circuit break lockdown" might have been enough in Sept...
Read 4 tweets
15 Oct
.@AndyBurnhamGM reading a statement from leaders in GM: “it is wrong to place some of the poorest part of England without economic support.”
Burnham says that Deputy CMO told GM leaders that to be effective the lockdown restrictions would have to go further than is proposed and include neighbouring regions.”

Says Dep CMO that only thing to work would be a national lockdown.
“GM and Lancashire are being set up as canaries in the coal mine for an experimental strategy”
Read 12 tweets
15 Oct
BREAK: Dan Carden has quit the Labour front bench over the CHIS bill. Had hoped party’s position would change. Understand that there are several other frontbenchers considering their future for the same reason.
Carden was one of the last prominent Corbyn allies in a senior position on the front bench.
Confirmed- Margaret Greenwood has also resigned over the CHIS bill.
Read 4 tweets
15 Oct
We’re moving to a situation when most of the major English conurbations will be living under substantial restrictions in one form or another but with less national support than in spring. Beyond Treasury concerns about cost, it isn’t immediately obvious why that’s the case.
Treasury will point to the idea that restrictions are less severe than spring. But just because all businesses aren’t forced to close doesn’t mean restrictions aren’t a body blow. The signal alone has an effect on economic activity and banning inter household mixing...
...isn’t much removed from forcing them to close, as it removes so much opportunity for trade.
Read 4 tweets
14 Oct
.@MetroMayorSteve: “as we’ve seen over the last few days, we’re entering the era of Devo-blame.”
Rotherham again says it isn’t good enough that the government’s new furlough scheme will put low paid workers workers well below min wage

For more on this, see my breakdown from Friday
Rotherham: “We’re not going to let the government do lockdown in the north on the cheap”
Read 6 tweets

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