Andy Burnham today warned Good Morning Britain viewers that the UK is set to head into the worst of the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking live from his home in Leigh, the Greater Manchester Mayor warned residents that 'firm action' will be taken against those who flout the lockdown measures over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Mr Burnham made reference to the breaches Greater Manchester Police publicised on Thursday, where they revealed 660 parties had been broken up during the pandemic.
The force said there were 1,132 coronavirus-related incidents from March 25 to April 7, which included 494 house parties - some with DJs and bouncy castles - and 166 street parties.
Mr Burnham added that he agreed with presenter Piers Morgan and said it would be 'absolutely crazy' to loosen discipline now.
He said: "The vast majority of people are staying close to the rules, staying at home, doing the right thing.
"But there were these isolated incidents last weekend, which the wider chief constable publicised yesterday."
Mr Burnham joked: "We are 24-hour party people here."
"But you know, I'm saying to everyone who lives here, not this weekend, not for the foreseeable," he continued.
"We're heading into the worst of this crisis now - to loosen our discipline would be absolutely crazy thinking right now, so dare I say it, I'm with Piers on this one.
"We need to be tough now and I would say to the police take a firm line. They actually arrested and charged somebody under the Covid legislation for holding one of those house parties last weekend and that's the message we're sending out.
"We're pleading with people don't do it this weekend, if you do, we will take firm action against you."
You can catch GMB on weekdays on ITV from 6am.
