Greater Manchester could be plunged into Tier 3 lockdown within hours – yet despite a bitter war of words, a leaked letter shows the government still hadn’t named its price last night. Here’s what we know is coming down the track

Ministers issued a late-night ultimatum to metro mayor Andy Burnham to accept a deal – or have pubs and bookies shut, garden gatherings banned, and advice against travel, all against his will.

Yet despite more than a week of talks, the government’s letter – leaked to the Mirror – shows it still hasn’t offered a firm final sum of money to cope with the pandemic. 

Instead the region had still only been offered a “p*ss-take” sum of £8 a head – the basic amount for Tier 3 anywhere.

Mr Burnham today branded the letter “provocative”, saying the “late-night ultimatum” was “a bit odd” when the government hadn’t yet concluded talks over funds.

The metro mayor was meeting Greater Manchester leaders this morning “quite early” and was planning to write to the government before noon setting out a “fair figure”