Andy Burnham threatened Boris Johnson with a legal battle if the city was plunged into a blockade

Tier 3 in Manchester raises a fight between Boris and Andy Burnham

Boris Johnson urged leaders in Greater Manchester to "reconsider and engage constructively" on Level 3 restrictions, but said he would intervene if no agreement could be reached. The prime minister put Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham under even greater pressure to agree to new restrictions, saying that time was "essential. But Burnham insisted that he would be willing to take legal action, as the current system of leave and support "is not fair" to low-paid workers.