MPs back new Coronavirus lockdown for England amidst Tory backbench uproar

The Commons voted in favour by 516 to 38 - a Government majority of 478 - for the new restrictions.

The move came as the NHS in England was set to go into its highest alert level - level 4 - from midnight amid a continuing rise in coronavirus patients needing hospital care.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive said the service already had "22 hospitals' worth" of Covid-19 patients and now faced a "serious situation ahead".

With Labour backing the new lockdown restrictions - which were also expected to be approved by the House of Lords later on Wednesday - the Government's majority was certain.

However, Mr Johnson faced an angry backlash from some Tory MPs - led by former prime minister Theresa May - shocked at the economic impact of the controls as well as the curtailment of civil liberties.

In the Commons, the Prime Minister 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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