Boris Johnson is facing mounting questions over how his plan to test up to 23million people for coronavirus will actually work.
Ministers are claiming any area that goes into Tier 3 next week can apply for a “major community testing programme” like in Liverpool.
That will allow local leaders to bring in the Army test as many residents as possible over six weeks to get a grip on Covid-19.
Yet now the government has confirmed 23.4million people will be going into Tier 3 - almost 50 times more than live in Liverpool.
In Liverpool alone, 2,000 troops were used to help administer rapid tests.
The entire Armed Forces consists of 155,000 people but they include untrained personnel, the Navy and RAF, and anyone currently posted overseas. Not to mention those on leave for Christmas.
Before the sheer number of people in Tier 3 emerged, Boris Johnson claimed the scheme would "follow the example of Liverpool" and "offer all local authorities in tier 3 areas in England a six week surge of testing."
But the details were unclear today.
Downing Street insisted capacity was available to all Tier 3 areas and all could apply, but didn’t say explicitly if they’d all get a testing programme.
Instead the PM’s spokesman said Test and Trace and Armed Forces "stand ready to help" and details will be published next week.
Councils can apply for the testing programme from next week, but No10 did not say how long it would take to be in place.
Asked if mass testing was "guaranteed" for any Tier 3 area, No10 said: "It will be available to all local authorities to apply and NHS Test and Trace and the Armed Forces stand ready to support."
Asked if all Tier 3 areas would actually get mass testing, rather than just be able to "apply", a No10 spokesman said: "You've had my answer".
Asked if requests for testing would be guaranteed to be granted, he replied: “You’ve had my answer”.
The spokesman also failed to rule out troops - who are also expected to help roll out a vaccine - having to brought back off leave over Christmas.
Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth told the Mirror: “Liverpool has shown that mass testing is a key tool in the arsenal.
“But it’s not clear if other cities will get the same level of back up and support that helped Liverpool through the pilot.
“Families and small businesses on northern and midlands lockdown needs urgent clarity from ministers on what the exit strategy is and how they will get there.”
It comes amid a mounting backlash from regional leaders and Tory MPs as 99% of England is put in Tier 2 or 3 from next week.
While shut-down pubs can get furlough cash, Tier 3 areas will get just £4 per head of population of extra funding per month, and just £2 per head in Tier 2.
Tory MP Steve Baker blasted the “authoritarian” government while Hartlepool Council’s leader Shaun Moore branded the system a “farce”. Mr Moore tweeted: “Once again London getting preferential treatment while the North is punished.”
Conservative MP Sir Robert Syms demanded that local authorities be allowed to appeal the decision.
He told the Commons: "If we're going to have regular reviews, ie weekly, that's great and that's fine but if we're not, if we're stuck in that tier for two or three weeks, I wonder whether the Secretary of State would consider some kind of appeals process?"
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Tobias Ellwood also said he would not support the bid to introduce the measures after Bournemouth was put in Tier 2.
He said: "With only 160 cases per 100k I’m puzzled to see us placed in this tier which will cause further hardship for our hospitality industry.
"I will NOT be supporting the Gov’s motion to introduce this next week."
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Local authorities that fall into Tier 3 will be able to apply for support from NHS Test and Trace and the armed forces to deliver a six-week, rapid community testing programme.
"That will include access to a supply of lateral flow tests, support with planning and logistics and funding and communication support."
A Government spokesperson said: “From next week, local authorities that fall into tier 3 will be able to apply for support from NHS Test and Trace and the Armed Forces to deliver a six-week rapid community testing programme.
This includes access to lateral flow tests and planning, logistics, funding and communications support. A full prospectus setting out how the programme will work and how local authorities can apply will be published on gov.uk next week.”
