UK Covid response was London-centric, Andy Burnham tells inquiry

Greater Manchester mayor says Boris Johnson seemed unaware his region had been under tougher rules

Boris Johnson appeared to have no idea that Greater Manchester had spent months under tougher Covid restrictions than London, Andy Burnham has said, arguing that this exemplified an over-centralised approach to the pandemic.

Giving evidence to the inquiry into Covid, Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said he felt his region was given a “punishment beating” in terms of less financial support after pushing back against regional restrictions.