Andy Burnham is facing a new clash with Boris Johnson over claims that hospitals in Greater Manchester are running out of beds to treat people infected with COVID-19.
As the Greater Manchester mayor battles with the prime minister over Tier 3 status and cash to support businesses forced to close, it is reported that some of the region’s 12 hospitals are already full.
The claim, in a leaked NHS document reported in The Guardian, comes after Mr Burnham accused Mr Johnson of exaggerating the severity of the crisis in the region.
It is also being reported that after Mr Burnham held “constructive” talks with Mr Johnson’s senior aide Sir Edward Lister, the PM is now ready to offer tens of millions of pounds to head off a Tier 3 revolt.
The Greater Manchester mayor is in a stand-off with Westminster over its tiered status
Mr Burnham has written to Mr Johnson and other party leaders proposing a Commons debate and vote to “break the impasse” and establish a cross-party consensus on financial aid for Tier 3 areas.
According to The Guardian, the leaked NHS document shows that by last Friday the resurgence of the disease had left hospitals in Salford, Stockport and Bolton at maximum capacity, with no spare beds to help with the growing influx.
A spokesperson for the NHS in Greater Manchester told Sky News: “It’s not unusual for 80 to 85% of ICU beds to be in use at this time of year and our hospitals work together if there are particular pressures in any one area, to ensure the best care for patients who need the high level of support ICU provides, both for COVID-19 and for other reasons.”
But a spokesperson for the NHS in the North West admitted: “Coronavirus cases are rising and it is obviously a serious situation so it is vital everyone does what they can to control the virus.”
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Gove: Starmer must tell Burnham to accept measures
The reported beds crisis came after Mr Burnham disputed a claim by the prime minister in a Downing Street news conference on Friday, when he said the coronavirus outbreak in Manchester was “grave” and cases had doubled in the last nine days.
Mr Burnham said in a Sunday TV interview: “I think it was an exaggeration of the position that we’re in. Of course it’s a matter of concern, and we watch the figures very closely indeed.
“But the figures have been falling in Manchester itself in the last few days, across Greater Manchester up slightly but certainly not doubling every nine days.”
Although Mr Burnham’s criticism of Mr Johnson prompted Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove to accuse the mayor of “posturing”, it is reported the PM is ready to offer extra cash for the region if a deal on Tier 3 is reached.
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The Times reports that Downing Street has not ruled out imposing Tier 3 status on Greater Manchester, but has accepted it is more likely to work if backed by local leaders.
Significantly, Mr Burnham’s demands for more cash are being backed by Sir Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West and chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee.
But cracks began to appear in Tory backing for Mr Burnham when five Conservative MPs from Greater Manchester wrote to him urging him to do a deal “around the negotiating table and not via loud-hailer”.
Measures under Tiers 1, 2 and 3 of England’s lockdown system
Earlier, proposing a Commons debate and vote, Mr Burnham urged party leaders: “We recognise the uncertainty that this is causing and write to ask for your help in breaking the impasse and finding a fair resolution.
“This could be done by parliament calling an urgent debate and vote this week to establish a cross-party consensus on what constitutes a fair financial framework for people in areas under Tier 3 restrictions.”