Greater Manchester delays tier three restrictions over wage concerns.

Delaying the COVID-19 restrictions in Greater Manchester would "put people's lives at risk", Robert Jenrick has said.

The region is being encouraged to move to tier three rules, of the government new system.

The Secretary for Communities and Local Government hopes that an agreement can be reached between the MPs in the region within "the next day or two".

Talking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Jenrick said: "Delay I'm afraid will only make the situation worse, will only put people's lives at risk, and will only make the economic fallout for the city worse in the long term,"

This comes as Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, urged the government to return to the initial lockdown furlough scheme for those businesses who would be forced to close. He suggests that the proposed Job Support Scheme, which covers 67% of wages, would not provide adequate pay for places with low wages such as gyms and pubs.

Mr Jenrick suggested that Greater Manchester could get a financial support package, similar to those agreed for Liverpool City, another city in England which is in tier three.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said last week that he would "need to intervene" if local government did not accept the movement of the region within the tier system.

Mayor Andy Burnham said that despite having a "constructive call" with the Prime Minister over the weekend, he told media outlets: "I'm not going to roll over at the sight of a cheque."