The Government has said that 191 more people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, taking the UK death toll to 44,158

There have also been 26,688 new cases confirmed

By ali khalil

Five further deaths in Northern Ireland

There have been five further Covid-19 linked deaths reported in the last 24-hour reporting period in Northern Ireland and 1,039 new cases of the virus, the Department of Health has announced.
The death toll recorded by the department now stands at 629.
There have been 29,992 confirmed cases, 6,791 in the last seven days.
There are currently 289 patients with Covid-19 being treated in hospital, with 32 in intensive care.

Labour’s motion for a ‘clear and fair national criteria’ for financial support is rejected

Labour’s motion calling on the Government to publish “clear and fair national criteria” for financial support for businesses facing additional Covid-19 restrictions was rejected in the Commons.
MPs voted against it by 261 to 340, majority 79.

Nottinghamshire has not yet held talks with Government over Tier 3

Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council said they have not yet held talks with the Government over potential Tier 3 restrictions.
The PA news agency understands internal meetings within the county council have taken place but there have been no meetings with Government ministers.
It is also understood that there are no meetings in the diary for Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen with Government ministers.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the city council said the “situation is still the same” after Mr Mellen previously said he was “expecting to meet with Government this week”.

Labour MP brands the Government ‘inept’

Labour’s Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) branded the Government “inept”.
He said: “If there is actually a formula, it doesn’t add up, they don’t even lie well. This Government is so inept that it can’t even get their story straight when they’re screwing people over.
“When it comes to laying people off because all their measures so far have failed, the people of Manchester aren’t even worth £20. What a shabby disgrace.”
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds described the Government’s approach as a “phantom framework”.
She said: “If that framework is there, why hasn’t the Government published it? Why won’t they put it in front of us, why won’t they write it down anywhere so that we can see that framework, why won’t they let us vote on it?
“I know the reason why… because they know that it’s iniquitous.”

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‘We’ve worked incredibly closely together’

Mr Jarvis said: “Right now, there’s an urgency about transitioning into Tier 3 so we had to get on with it and the deal that I accepted, I think, gives us a reasonable chance of supporting our economy.”
He said he was “absolutely” in step with all four council leaders in South Yorkshire, adding: “We’ve worked incredibly closely together.”
Asked whether he could realistically see the region coming out of Tier 3 in 28 days, Mr Jarvis said: “I think that will be very challenging, given the pressures of winter. But that’s what we’ve got to aim for.
“Let’s not be defeatist about it. Let’s renew our efforts. Let’s move heaven and earth to ensure that all of our local authorities have got a fighting chance of coming out.”
He said the increasing rates in Barnsley, where he is also a Labour MP, are “particularly worrying”.

‘I’ve moved heaven and earth to secure the maximum amount of resource that we could’

Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis told the PA new agency: “I’ve moved heaven and earth to secure the maximum amount of resource that we could. I honestly don’t think I could have got any more money out of the Government.
“But we’ve secured a package that will help us to reduce the rate of reinfection, to reduce the pressure on our NHS, at the same time supporting our economy.
“So we need to keep talking to Government about what more support they are able to give. Certainly I’ll be making that case over the coming weeks and months.”
Asked whether he should have taken the same approach as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, he said: “I think the approach was the right one. In the end, we’ve got to do what we think is best for our residents.
“Andy’s done that in Greater Manchester. I hold him in the highest regard.
“I’ve done what I think is best here in South Yorkshire and we’ve secured an amount that I don’t think we honestly could have bettered.”

Rebecca Long-Bailey slams Government’s strategy

Labour’s Rebecca Long-Bailey (Salford and Eccles) criticised the Government’s strategy, telling MPs: “To most this doesn’t appear to be an exercise in infection control.
“It appears to be an exercise in keeping the North and other Tier 3 areas away from the rest of the country to engage in our own version of The Hunger Games – where only the fittest and wealthiest will survive.”

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Labour MP slams ‘chaotic’ and ‘incompetent’ events of the past week

Labour MP Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale East) told the Commons: “Not since the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 has the state displayed such coercive power over the people of Greater Manchester.
“Oh, the irony of those talking about one-nation conservatism.”
He criticised the “chaotic” and “incompetent” events of the past week involving the Government.
An estimated 18 people died in the Peterloo Massacre after cavalry troops charged into a crowd of around 60,000 pro-democracy and anti-poverty protesters.

‘It is restricting their business to such a significant degree’

Treasury minister Steve Barclay indicated further financial support for businesses in Tier 2 areas is under consideration.
Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) said: “Where we’re requiring businesses to close, I think the schemes are good and purposeful, but there are some businesses that because of the restrictions, for example, in hospitality around the one household rule, they’re effectively unviable.
“It is restricting their business to such a significant degree.
“Would he consider widening those schemes – the job support scheme, for example – to those businesses which are just not viable in Tier 2 and Tier 3 because of that?”
Mr Barclay replied: “A lot of the debate is on Tier 3 – there are businesses that are impacted particularly in Tier 2, and we’re acutely aware of that and we’re discussing that with business leaders.”
He added that measures have already been taken to help businesses.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury says GM mayor has ‘difference in approach’

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay said there was a difference in approach between Andy Burnham and other local leaders.
He told MPs: “The mayor of Manchester in his discussions with Government expressly said Manchester should be treated differently to the other areas and (Ms Rayner) said that the mayor of Manchester ‘spoke for Great Britain’.
“Well I think that is a disservice to other local leaders who have also spoken for their areas, that have worked constructively with Government. I don’t think it is the case that the mayor of Manchester, unlike the mayor of Liverpool, speaks for Great Britain in the way that (she) suggested.
“Indeed it is also a point of record that the mayor of Manchester’s position is both not deliverable operationally, because local authorities do not have access to welfare payments for the dynamic aspect of joint job support… but also it was at odds with the tiering approach that we set out.
“So there is a difference, I am sorry to say, between the approach taken by the mayor of Manchester and the constructive approach taken by other local leaders.
“It is important not just to talk about local authority support in terms of £8 per head, that is just one component of a much wider package of support that the PM has announced.”

27 more deaths in North East and Yorkshire

The number of deaths of patients in England with Covid-19 by region are as follows:
East of England – 5
London – 8
Midlands – 12
North East & Yorkshire – 27
North West – 37
South East – 3
South West – 2

94 more hospital deaths in England

NHS England has said a further 94 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 31,275.
Patients were aged between 49 and 97 years old. All but one patient (aged 71) had known underlying health conditions.
Date of death ranges from 14 October to 20 October 2020 with the majority being on or after 17 October.
Their families have been informed.

No changes to free school meal policy

A Number 10 spokesman said there were no changes to the Government’s free school meal policy despite pressure to extend them over the holidays.
The spokesman said: “While schools continue to play an integral role in the community, it’s not for them to regularly provide food during school holidays.”

Government talks with Tees Valley and Tyneside over Tier 3 restrictions ‘paused’

Government talks with Tees Valley and Tyneside over introducing Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions have been paused, it is understood.
It follows signs that progress has been made in controlling Covid-19 in the area.
Discussions have also taken place about moving Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire into the highest category of restrictions.

Labour deputy leader brands Greater Manchester support package ‘an insult’

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has called the Government’s financial support package for Greater Manchester “an insult”.
She also told the Commons her aunt died last week from Covid-19 at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.
During a Commons debate on financial support for areas under tighter Covid-19 restrictions, she said: “So I speak today not just as a member of this House, nor as a Mancunian, but as someone who, like many others across our city and our country, who in the last few weeks has lost loved ones to this terrible virus.
“We were offered £8 per head or, to put it another way, 30 seconds work for a consultant working on the collapsed Test and Trace system.
“Let me say this: £8 per person is an insult and now they are attempting to play us off against each other across GM.
“Well let me tell the Prime Minister, our mayor stood up for Greater Manchester but he spoke for Great Britain.”

14 further deaths reported in Wales

There have been a further 962 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 38,361.
Public Health Wales said 14 further deaths had been reported, with the total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic rising to 1,736.

Ministers urgently reviewing powers

Ministers are “urgently reviewing” Covid-19 powers which enable government officials to use “reasonable force” to make people self-isolate.
Conservative former Home Office minister Mark Harper welcomed regulations to put the requirement to self-isolate in law but told the Commons: “I have grave concerns about the powers to use reasonable force that have been given to state officials other than police officers who are simply not trained to use those powers safely.
“As a former Home Office minister, I think this risks the safety and lives of individuals.”
He asked health minister Edward Argar to assure him that these powers would be limited to police officers only, adding: “If he can’t give me that reassurance, I regret to say I am unable to support the measures on today’s order paper.”
Mr Argar replied: “We do appreciate concerns about the reasonable force allowances in the regulations. The powers to authorise persons other than the police and PCSOs to use reasonable force have not been used and there are no intentions to use them.
“But he does make his point well, as always, and we’re urgently reviewing these powers given concerns he and others have raised around proportionality of enforcement.”

Hospitality businesses ‘hung out to dry’

Labour MP Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) argued hospitality businesses were being “hung out to dry”, adding the deal “doesn’t meet all the concerns of local leaders, nor does it provide the support that businesses need”.
He said: “Because they are not being required to close, they won’t get the support that they need, they are simply being hung out to dry.”
Mr Argar said the Government’s deal was “fair and proportionate”.
Tory Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) said it was very important “that we do know what we’re aiming for”, adding: “Can he guarantee that he will have regular ongoing discussions with local leaders and local people about whether we’re heading in the right direction to make sure that people do know that we’re on the right track?”
Mr Argar replied: “The 28-day period is the sunset point at which these fall unless renewed or altered, there are actually reviews within 14 days, the secretary of state continues to monitor data and so will be reviewing progress at more frequent intervals.”

‘Fair and proportionate’

Health Minister Edward Argar said the Government has to be “fair and proportionate” when it comes to awarding further financial support for regions in the same tier.
Health minister Edward Argar(Image: Loughborough Echo)
Labour’s Peter Kyle (Hove) said: “If you are leading an authority, you’ve got to ask the question – what is the point of negotiating?”
Mr Argar replied: “We have been working very closely in a collegiate way with local authorities, but it is absolutely right that alongside that negotiation, that discussion on the package and the support that they need, that we recognise that we have to be fair and proportionate again across other regions which are in the same tier.”
Labour’s Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) said it is being widely reported that Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick is meeting with Greater Manchester MPs about the next steps for the city region, adding: “Sadly it seems that none of the 18 Labour MPs have received an invite.”
Mr Gwynne said: “Is this an accidental oversight or further evidence of increasing ambivalence towards our city region?”
Mr Argar replied that there is “no ambivalence towards his city region”, adding: “I am happy to look into the specific question he raises about being briefed by the local government secretary.”

Bolton Council leader ‘not prepared’ for them to miss out on support given to other areas

The Conservative leader of Bolton Council said he has spoken to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and confirmed the council is willing to look at an individual deal over the Government’s offer of £60 million in additional support to Greater Manchester.
Councillor David Greenhalgh said: “It is clear the amount on the table, which is what has been accepted in Liverpool, Lancashire and now South Yorkshire, and I am not prepared for Bolton businesses to miss out on this extra financial help.
“This is not the time for posturing and politics. This is about getting the best deal available for Bolton business and those who work in the sectors worst affected.
“I hope to have further discussions later today with Government officials and ministers, and progress as a matter of priority to enable a scheme to be worked up that targets those most affected.”

Minister not aware of plans for circuit-break lockdowns

A health minister told MPs he is not aware of reported plans to implement circuit-break lockdowns in different parts of the country.
Conservative former health minister Steve Brine said: “Surely people in South Yorkshire and elsewhere need to know where they’re at and be confident the goalposts won’t move.
“So can the minister please comment on stories this morning that plans are being worked up by the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) for local, not national, three-week circuit-break lockdowns in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas?”
Mr Argar replied in the Commons: “I can reassure him that is not something I have been involved in or being sighted of.”

Businesses worried about the future

Conserative Nick Fletcher (Don Valley) said businesses and employees are “worried about the future”, adding: “Can he confirm to the people of Doncaster that if they play their part they will be able to move down to Tier 2 independent of Sheffield City region?”
Mr Argar replied: “I am clear, as is the Government, that no area should remain in a tier longer than is absolutely necessary to address the infection rate and to protect the health of those local people.”
SNP Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) said regional leaders in England “have been expressing frustrations with Downing Street which are very similar to Scotland’s”.
He asked: “Why is there an insistence on announcing measures to Westminster journalists before speaking to devolved and regional governments, and does he not see that changing this approach could greatly improve working relationships?”