The possibility of moving Greater Manchester into the top tier of the government's new local lockdown system will be discussed at a top level meeting tomorrow, it has been reported.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham accused the government of 'piling the pressure on' the region 'without negotiating' - and said ministers risked confusing residents.
One MP tonight hit out saying it would be 'utterly maddening' if a change came so soon after the new system came into force.
After days of wrangling, it was announced on Monday that the region would be placed into tier 2 of the new Covid Alert Level system.
That meant although households mixing indoors would remain prohibited, hospitality businesses would not be forced to close.
In the House of Commons, Boris Johnson said the infection rates in the region were 'worrying' and he put pressure on local leaders, urging Labour MP's to 'prevail on the authorities in Greater Manchester to come into Tier 3'.
And the potential moving of the region into the highest category is to be discussed at the top of government it has emerged tonight.
According to Sky News a 'gold command' meeting will be will be held on Wednesday where they say the escalation of Greater Manchester and Lancashire into Tier 3 will be discussed.
Sky claimed a Downing Street source had said they were 'concerned' about Greater Manchester and Lancashire and as a result top level discussions needed to be held.
Mr Johnson said on Monday that the banning of social mixing indoors and in private gardens, and closing of pubs and bars that do not serve meals would be a 'baseline' for all areas in Tier 3 with other measures being introduced based on local circumstances.
In the Liverpool city region, the first area to be placed into tier 3, gyms, leisure centres, betting shops and casinos will also be ordered to close.
It would come as a bitter blow to the region's already beleaguered hospitality industry if closures were enforced.
Town hall leaders including the leader of Manchester council Sir Richard Leese said there was no evidence that closing Covid secure establishments would have a material impact on the spread of the virus - but it would pose an ‘existential threat’ to the city’s businesses and workers.
Whilst key figures in the region's leisure and hospitality industry, led by night time economy adviser Sacha Lord, said they were preparing a legal challenge to any new curbs on their operations.
Reacting to the development, Mr Burnham tweeted tonight saying: "Disappointing that the Government is piling the pressure on GM in this way without negotiating.
"It risks confusing people coming so soon after the Tier 2 announcement.
"Our view is unchanged: unfunded restrictions are unfair & will cause real damage to lives, jobs & businesses."
Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Gwynne said: "It will be utterly maddening if Government puts Greater Manchester into Tier 3 before we’ve even given Tier 2 a go... and when our local leaders have put a full & comprehensive package of measures they are confident will work to Ministers, and have been ignored. So much for Devo!"
Boris Johnson said on Monday that the government were ready to step in and impose tougher local lockdown restrictions on areas where they thought it was necessary, even without the agreement of local politicians, a position repeated by his official spokesman at a press briefing earlier today.
