if the latest round of government funding falls short of what is needed to cover the outstanding deficit. Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, said this was ‘only a problem deferred, not a problem solved’, with the impact likely to be felt in years to come.“What we need now is a long-term financial settlement from the government which recognises the unique challenges we face and the vital role the Council needs to play in the city's recovery from the pandemic,” he added.“That's something we will continue to fight for.