Greater Manchester's leaders condemn vaccine queue-jumping

Andy Burnham reacts to our story

Good evening members — we just got the first reactions from Greater Manchester’s leaders to our story last night about people jumping the queue to get vaccinated by using signup links that were meant for NHS staff.

Here’s what they said: “I would certainly support the actions of Rochdale Council in dealing with this situation,” Andy Burnham told journalists at his weekly press conference this afternoon. “If people do share the link and if people go when it's not their time to go, they are jumping the queue, and they are potentially taking a slot away from someone in much greater need.”

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese speaks to journalists earlier. Picture: Mill screengrab.

Sir Richard Leese vowed to catch anyone who has abused the system. “We don't know who those people are at the moment, but we will,” he told the press. “We will eventually be able to identify anyone who has had a vaccine ahead of their eligibility criteria. And when we do know, then I will certainly …