Government accuses Manchester Mayor of "risking lives" by opposing stric...

The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has urged party leaders at Westminster to agree on financial support for areas facing the strictest Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions.

Mr Burnham has been leading resistance by Manchester MPs and council leaders — who are opposing Boris Johnson’s plans to impose Tier 3 rules on the area without more financial support for people and companies who will be affected.

However the Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove accused Mr Burnham of  political posturing and “risking lives” -- and urged him to accept the highest level rules immediately.

Andy Burnham has accused Boris Johnson of exaggerating the severity of coronavirus in Manchester.  His opposition to the government’s plans has won backing by Conservative as well as Labour leaders in the region, including the senior backbench Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by deputy political editor Vicki Young and health correspondent Dominic Hughes.