Theresa May confirms Government will cover full costs of Manchester terror attack
2 min read
Theresa May has confirmed the Government will cover the costs of dealing with the Manchester terror attack.
The move comes days after the Prime Minister wrote to Andy Burnham saying “reasonable” costs would be covered - but stopped short of saying the city would be fully reimbursed.
However, the Greater Manchester Mayor reacted to the letter, saying the offer "doesn't sound satisfactory to me".
Following the attack in May, in which 22 people were killed by a suicide bomber at an Ariana Grande concert, ministers said the city would receive £12m to help cover the "exceptional costs" of the attack, with £3m available immediately.
Mr Burnham said more than £17m had already been spent in dealing with the aftermath, and suggested at least £10.4m more could be needed.
Mrs May has told the Manchester Evening News however that the Government is ready to pay the full costs in dealing with "one of the darkest moments in the city's history.”
"Be in no doubt, Manchester will get the financial support it needs - and if that costs £28m, as Andy Burnham has estimated, then that is what we will make available," she wrote.
"I promised in the wake of that appalling atrocity this government would do all it could to help victims recover and the city to heal. I repeat that commitment today."
"Where your public services have had to bear, or will bear, unexpected and exceptional costs in coping with this terrible attack, these will be met by the government.
"The process of making those payments is ongoing and I understand the frustration felt at the pace of delivery.
"So I have taken steps to speed up our response. Over the weekend a taskforce has been established within the Cabinet Office to oversee progress and expedite payments when necessary."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
