Burnham: ‘Curfew doing more harm than good’

The 10pm curfew rule is “doing more harm than good” and should “probably” be lifted, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Burnham said that following scenes of a packed city centre as people gathered on streets and in supermarkets on Saturday night, the curfew appears to be contradictory.

“I received reports that supermarkets were absolutely packed out to the rafters and lots of people were gathering after 10pm,” he said.

“My gut feeling is that this curfew is doing more harm than good. It is potentially contradictory. It creates an incentive for people to gather in the streets or more probably, to gather in the home. That is the opposite of what our local restrictions here are trying to do.”

Subsequently, he has called for an urgent review of the emerging evidence from police forces, and said that whilst he “can understand what the government is trying to do,” there could be better alternatives to curb socialising.

“Perhaps there could be a 9pm curfew on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and shops that would prevent the rush to shops once pubs have closed,” he suggested. “That’s what we certainly saw on Saturday.

“My personal feeling is that the curfew is probably doing more harm than good as it’s creating a major incentive for people to carry on drinking and partying at home. And that is where we are told the virus spreads, gatherings in the home.

“If it is doing more harm and damaging businesses, then the government shouldn’t just plough on with it. It certainly requires urgent attention.”