Coronavirus: Local leaders appear to gain veto over lockdown rules as Boris Johnson urges them to ‘accept our offer’

Prime minister steps back from imposing pub closures - other than in Merseyside - after local protests

Boris Johnson has appeared to give local leaders a veto over the harshest lockdown rules – saying he hopes they will “accept our offer” of extra help to accept them.

The prime minister stepped back from imposing pub closures on Manchester, or towns and cities in Yorkshire and the North East, after failing to win their agreement.

Instead, he told MPs: “I hope they will accept our offer and go into Tier 3 where necessary.”

It was the first time that Mr Johnson has suggested he was making “an offer” to local politicians – rather than imposing new restrictions, as in the past.

City leaders have fought hard for greater involvement in decisions affecting their residents, attacking what they have called Whitehall “diktats”.

Unveiling the new three-tier system, Mr Johnson was expected to put much of the North under the harshest restrictions – but, for now, they will be imposed in Merseyside only.

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, spoke off his relief after it was placed in the middle tier, allowing its pubs and bars to remain open.

In the Commons, the prime minister praised Merseyside for its “cooperation”, telling MPs: “Engagement with other leaders in the North West, the North East and Yorkshire & Humber is continuing.”

He urged other areas to recognise what was on offer for going into tier 3 – more cash, greater influence over the test-and-trace scheme and the government paying two-thirds of the wages of workers in shut-down businesses.

“I believe not to act would be unforgivable, so I hope that rapid progress can be made in the coming days,” Mr Johnson said.

But he then hinted that local leaders had prevented tougher action being taken now, saying: “I hope they will accept our offer and go into tier 3 where necessary.”

Mr Johnson must win Commons votes tomorrow, before the tiered system becomes law, after bowing to pressure from Tory backbenchers to give parliament a say.

The opposition within his party to tougher rules was underlined when Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, objected to it being placed even in the middle, less restrictive tier.

Mr Street protested at a new ban on household mixing, saying: “This is something that the latest local epidemiology does not support. I am urging the government to review this decision.”

Night-time economy leaders have also launched a legal challenge over the threat of a draconian lockdown, posing another challenge to the government.

As well as pubs – but not food pubs – gyms, leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos will close in Merseyside, from Wednesday.