THE UK Government’s plan for a four-week coronavirus lockdown in England has been backed by MPs.
A total of 38 Parliamentarians opposed the measures, despite the opposition siding with Boris Johnson, who warned of an "existential threat" to the NHS without action.
From tomorrow, pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will again be forced to close their doors after the Government secured a majority of 478.
The move came as the NHS in England was set to move into its highest alert level – level 4 – from midnight amid a continuing rise in coronavirus patients needing hospital care.
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NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the service already had "22 hospitals' worth" of Covid-19 patients and now faced a "serious situation ahead".
With Labour supporting the new lockdown restrictions – which are expected to be approved by the House of Lords later – the Government's majority was never in doubt.
However, Johnson faced an angry backlash from some Tory MPs, led by former prime minister Theresa May. They were alarmed at the economic impact of the controls as well as the curtailment of civil liberties.
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In the Commons, Johnson sought to reassure MPs that the measures – which are due to expire on December 2 – should enable shops and businesses to reopen in time for the run-up to Christmas.
He acknowledged however that it would depend on getting the R number – the reproduction rate of the virus – back down below 1.
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