matt hancock
Talks are also under way about moving Warrington moving to tier 3 restrictions.
Scientists, opposition MPs and a majority of the public think it is necessary to get the virus under control, but the PM can't make up his mind.
The price will be in hard cash, or political capital. Or both.
The mayor says he will "stand firm" against the government's attempts to impose tier 3 lockdown restrictions.
Health secretary confirms London and other areas of England will move to tier 2, saying infection rate in the capital is on “a steep upward path”.
The region's leaders had anticipated the northern city would move into tier 3 restrictions to stem the spread of coronavirus.
"Boris and co have done nothing for the north," said the owner of the pub in New Brighton, Merseyside, following its closure under the tier 3 rules.
Andy Burnham said "millions of lives" are being "affected by Whitehall diktat".
Health secretary Matt Hancock says some not alerted to virus risk after IT error meant 16,000 positive cases not counted.
The figures were published a day after Matt Hancock defended the 10pm curfew which Tory MPs warned was killing pubs.