//Burnham has capitulated:-//
I'm not sure that's quite the case, Danny. It seems there has been no agreement. If that's the case the PM has no alternative but to impose the measures (not that I agree with them).
There are a number of potential conflicts here. Firstly, the Greater Manchester Police answer to Mr Burnham (there is no Police & Crime Commissioner for Manchester). Quite how they take their instructions from the Mayor is unclear but I imagine he has a say in setting their priorities. Secondly, Mr Burnham is suffering delusions of grandeur. He is an elected Mayor acting under devolved powers from Westminster, not a Feudal Lord operating his own personal feifdom. I admire him on one hand - the restrictions being imposed are pointless and ridiculous. But he cannot pick and choose which legislation he will "accept" and which he won't. The Westminster government has a duty to protect taxpayers' money. They can do so when it comes to Manchester. The scandal is that they cannot do so in Scotland, Wales and NI. In those provinces the UK taxpayers (predominantly the English) pick up the tab for policy decisions over which they have no control.