How coronavirus 'diktats' from Downing Street tore Britain apart

Manchester is in revolt, Wales is restricting movement and Liverpool is furious ... Boris Johnson's one nation' pledge is failing

After six days of difficult and largely fruitless discussions with Downing Street, tempers were fraying among Greater Manchester council leaders and MPs on Thursday morning.

In a meeting at 9am between the region's mayor, Andy Burnham, and local government chiefs, the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Allen Brett told his colleagues he was so fed up with London that he wanted to make his feelings clear to Edward Lister, the prime minister's close adviser, with whom the group was preparing to open yet another online discussion at 9.30am.