Extra police are deployed at train stations in bid to stop non essential Tier 4 trips and halt spread of mutant Covid strain, as Matt Hancock slams travellers fleeing London as 'totally irresponsible'

Extra police have been deployed at train stations in London today in a desperate attempt to stamp out the 'mutant' strain of coronavirus which led to Christmas effectively being cancelled for around 18 million people.

Masked officers patrolled major stations including King's Cross, St Pancras, Waterloo and Euston as Londoners tried to flee the capital after the PM plunged the city and swathes of the South into a brutal Tier 4 lockdown.

In a round of TV interviews this morning, Matt Hancock hit out at 'totally irresponsible' Londoners who escaped the capital last night and warned that police would stop people from leaving the Tier 4 city.

The Health Secretary told people living in London and parts of the South and East of England living in the toughest tier regime to 'unpack their bags' and 'reduce social contact' as he hinted that Tier 4 restrictions could be in place for months while the Government rolled out its mass vaccination programme.

He said 'of course' police will enforce the new law and will prevent people from leaving Tier 4 areas, as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned extra British Transport Police officers would be deployed at railway stations in the capital to 'ensure that only essential journeys take place'.

The Met Police today warned that the 'most dangerous and flagrant breaches' of Tier 4 regulations now in force will see fines given out, tweeting: 'Don't risk a fine in the lead up to Christmas'.

Mr Hancock told Sky News' Sophy Ridge: 'This was clearly totally irresponsible behaviour, and the Chief Medical Officer was absolutely clear that people should unpack their bags if they have them packed.

'I think that it's relatively small numbers and the vast majority of people in the pandemic have followed the rules and played their part. It is more important than ever that people are responsible, not only stick to the rules but within the rules restrict social contact as much as is possible because this is deadly serious.'

When he was later asked by Andrew Marr on the BBC if police would prevent people from leaving Tier 4 regions, the Health Secretary said: 'Of course, I've spoken to the Home Secretary Priti and the British Transport Police's responsibility is to police the transport system.'

Yesterday the PM slapped new draconian measures in a desperate bid to combat a surge in cases caused by a 'mutant' strain of coronavirus, just days after he said it would be 'inhuman' to cancel Christmas. The extraordinary U-turn has ruined the plans of millions who intended on spending the holiday with families.

Under the new Tier 4 rules non-essential shops – as well as gyms, cinemas, casinos and hairdressers – have to stay shut and people are limited to meeting one other person from another household in an outdoor public space.

Those in Tier 4 were told they should not travel out of the region, while those outside were advised against visiting. In the rest of England, Christmas easing has been severely curtailed, with households allowed to gather for just one day – Christmas Day itself – rather than the five days previously planned.

Wales has also announced it is going into a full lockdown from midnight and will follow suit by slashing bubbles to a single day. Nicola Sturgeon said at her own press conference that a ban on cross-border travel is being upgraded, and the law will be changed to cut bubbles to one day.

The move has caused chaos, with the PM facing accusations of 'inconsistency' after the last minute U-turn, with Tories calling for Cabinet resignations and a review of the data used to create the fourth tier.

Meanwhile the UK's European neighbours, including Italy, Holland, Belgium, Austria and the Czech Republic have banned flights from the UK, with Germany and Ireland also considering limiting passengers.

In other coronavirus news:

Fury at Boris's last-minute Christmas U-turn as Britons say they'll IGNORE the new rules and complain it's 'just in time for everyone to have spent money on presents, food and booze'

Britons have been left furious by Boris Johnson's cancellation of Christmas for millions in London and the South East with just a few days' notice.

The PM held an emergency press conference in which he shifted swathes of the home counties, including London, up to a new 'Tier 4'.

That bracket includes closing non-essential shops and travel restrictions including 'stay at home' order for Christmas Day itself, even though Mr Johnson insisted just days ago that five-day festive 'bubbles' would go ahead.

The extraordinary U-turn has caused outrage among families that have already made plans, booked travel and bought food for reunions, with many taking to social media to vent their fury.

One devastated user said: 'I'm sorry but my family have spent money on food for my family who are all coming in the next few days. I see my family twice a year and I am absolutely devastated like I cannot explain how upsetting and disheartening this is.'

A defiant tweeter said: 'Already made plans and spent money to visit family, not gonna stay home alone for Christmas on 4 days notice.'

Another added: 'If you lock us all over over Christmas - meaning families who have spent hundreds of pounds preparing to see loved ones - then you have proven what an utterly incompetent leader you and your cabinet are. Shame on you.'

A fourth said: 'Strangely just in time for everyone to have spent on presents for their bubbles, food and booze orders.'

A defiant tweeter said: 'Already made plans and spent money to visit family, not gonna stay home alone for Christmas on 4 days notice.'

A fourth said: 'Strangely just in time for everyone to have spent on presents for their bubbles, food and booze orders.'

Another said: 'After job loss, emergency international move, illness, breakdown, and everything else, I just desperately needed something to look forward to. Honeymoon fitted the bill, but was cancelled three times. Christmas was the next best thing. I spent weeks working on menus, precautions.'

Others tried to see the funny side by sharing memes, including one depicting the Prime Minister's latest U-turn and another comparing him going round in circles to Will Ferrell's character in the Christmas film, Elf.

Mr Hancock also warned the new mutant strain of coronavirus is 'out of control' as he suggested draconian Tier 4 restrictions could be in place 'until we have the vaccine rolled out'.

The Health Secretary said people in Tier 4 areas should behave as if they are infected in order to combat the new variant of the disease which spreads quicker than its predecessor.

Mr Hancock said the new strain can be caught 'more easily from a smaller amount of the virus being present' as he confirmed areas subject to the toughest restrictions are likely to be in the top tier for the long haul.

The Cabinet minister said 'we have got a long way to go to sort this' and it will be 'very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out'.

Mr Hancock told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: 'We don't want to do any of this but it is necessary. This has been an awful end to what has been an incredibly difficult year and on Friday when we were presented with that new scientific evidence about the new variant it was our duty to act.

'From being presented on Friday afternoon with the strength of how easy this new variant finds it to transmit from one human to another, we acted very quickly and decisively with the announcements that the Prime Minister set out yesterday.

'I just think everybody watching will feel this sense that we both feel of disappointment and that it is just so difficult ahead of Christmas, which everybody was really looking forward to after all the sacrifices that have been made.

'But unfortunately this virus, the new strain, was out of control. We have got to get it under control and the way that we can do that, the only way you can do that, is by restricting social contact and essentially, especially in Tier 4 areas, everybody needs to behave as if they might well have the virus and that is the way that we can get it under control and keep people safe.'

The Health Secretary said the new variant of the disease was more easily transmitted than its predecessor which left the Government with no choice but to act.

He said: 'We just know that this new variant you can catch it more easily from a smaller amount of the virus being present.'

Mr Hancock said the increased risk posed by the new variant meant existing measures to combat the spread of the disease, like wearing face masks and social distancing, would have to be stepped up.

'All of the different measures that we have in place, we need more of them to control the spread of the new variant than we did to control the spread of the old variant, that is the fundamental problem,' he said.

The roll-out of coronavirus vaccines is now underway across the UK, with the Government hoping to give the jab to millions of vulnerable people by the Spring.

Mr Hancock suggested Tier 4 measures could be in place until the vaccine has been widely distributed, raising the prospect of millions of people being told to stay at home for months.

He said: 'We have really got to get this under control and the cases in the Tier 4 areas… have absolutely rocketed in the last few days, last two weeks or so.

'We have got a long way to go to sort this. Essentially we have got to get that vaccine rolled out to keep people safe.'

He added: 'I think that given how much faster this new variant spreads it is going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out.'

Public Health England warned that the new variant of coronavirus sweeping London and the South East has spread to other parts of the UK - but cases were in much smaller numbers than in the capital, Kent and parts of Essex.

Dr Susan Hopkins told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: 'It has been detected in many other parts of the country. Every region has cases but with very small numbers.

'It has also been detected in Wales, in Scotland, we have not had any detected in Northern Ireland.'

Dr Hopkins also said that she hoped people who had crammed onto trains out of London after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday the capital was one of the areas going into the new Tier 4 would reduce their contacts.

Dr Hopkins said: 'I understand people's wish to get home to their families and loved ones that they may live with on a normal day-to-day basis and wanted to get out of London last night.

'I hope that when they go to wherever they are moving to they reduce their social contacts and don't contact anyone outside their household for the next 10 days, as that will help minimise the risk of transmission to other parts of the country.

'We know it's in other parts of the country in small amounts but what we are trying to do is prevent more spread and rapid increases across the rest of the country.'

Dr Hopkins said that while the new strain had been identified in October from a sample taken in September it was not until Friday that its higher transmissibility was confirmed.

When asked on Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday why Mr Johnson was still insisting on Wednesday that it would be 'inhuman' to cancel Christmas, she said: 'We did not have the modelling evidence to show that the transmissibility was increased or that the R value was increased on Wednesday.'

The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned on Saturday that the new variant was becoming the dominant strain, with a rapid rise in cases in recent days.

But Dr Hopkins said there was no evidence that the new variant of coronavirus was causing a disproportionate number of hospital admissions.

She said: 'We have got no signals, so the first signals we would expect to see is in the South East where this has definitely increased over weeks now.

'But what we know is the more cases we have in the community with this virus the more cases we are seeing in hospital. But we are not seeing a disproportionate number of people being admitted to hospital over the last two weeks and we are not seeing any increases in mortality yet.'

Dr Hopkins said there was evidence that there was evidence of people with the new variant having higher viral loads of the virus.

But she said a higher viral load did not mean people were going to get more ill, adding: 'The illness comes from the immune response and how it reacts in your lungs - that's where we know the illness really starts to be driven from and why people need oxygen.

Italy, Belgium and Holland BAN flights from the UK into the New Year

Several European countries are imposing bans on flights from the UK in an attempt to make sure that a new strain of coronavirus sweeping parts of southern England does not reach their shores.

The Netherlands is banning flights from the UK for at least the rest of the year while Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio also announced curbs were being imposed.

Belgium's prime minister issued a ban for at least 24 hours while the situation was assessed.

The Netherlands ban came into effect on Sunday morning and the government said it was reacting to tougher measures imposed in London and surrounding areas on Saturday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The Netherlands said it will assess 'with other European Union nations the possibilities to contain the import of the virus from the United Kingdom'.

Mr Johnson said a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appears to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England.

'There's no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness,' the Prime Minister stressed, or that vaccines will be less effective against it.

The Dutch government is already strongly advising its citizens not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Britain has alerted the World Health Organisation that the new variant identified this week appears to be accelerating the spread of Covid-19, saying it accounted for some 60% of the capital's cases.

Viruses mutate regularly, and scientists have found thousands different of mutations among samples of the virus causing Covid-19.

But many of these changes have no effect on how easily the virus spreads or how severe symptoms are.

Belgium has also banned flights from the UK and also banned rail connections.

Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo said he was issuing the order for 24 hours starting at midnight 'out of precaution'.

'There are a great many questions about this new mutation and if it is not already on the mainland,' he said.

He hoped to have more clarity as of Tuesday.

Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said his country would also take action.

Mr Di Maio tweeted: 'As the Government we have the duty to protect Italians, for this reason, after having advised the English Government, with the health ministry we are signing the measure to suspend flights with Great Britain.'

Austria and the Czech Republic were also imposing new measures against UK flights.

Meanwhile, Germany is also considering limiting flights from Britain, the dpa news agency reported on Sunday.

A high-ranking German government official told the agency that restrictions on flights from Britain were a 'serious option.'

The German government, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, is in close contact with its European neighbours on the developing situation, dpa reported.

'The higher amount of the virus means that people are likely to be more infectious than they would otherwise be and this means we need to reiterate the social distancing measures.'

Dr Hopkins said that until further studies are carried out there cannot be certainty the vaccine will be effective against the new Covid-19 variant.

She added: 'We won't know for definite until we have further studies.

'The vaccine induces a strong, multiple response, immune response and therefore it is unlikely that this vaccine response is going to be completely gone.'

Wales' health minister Vaughan Gething said today the 'mutant' strain of coronavirus is also a factor in the rapid rise of cases in Wales.

He told BBC News On Sunday that the new variant was 'effectively seeded' across the country. He also said that the decision to place the country immediately into lockdown ahead of Christmas was due to the information that the new strain was leading to faster spread of the virus.

Mr Gething added: 'Unfortunately our rates are around about 600 per 100,000, they are very high across the country with large concentrations in the south of Wales but also north-east Wales has been particularly affected as well.

'This has been a very difficult decision for many people here in Wales, I know people have been frustrated and there are some people who are angry but we are having to make these choices to try to keep people safe.

'We have already moved ahead of the rest of the UK in changing our rules about Christmas mixing when new information about the new variant, and the fact it does appear to be generating a much more rapid growth of the virus, really does mean that we need to act.'

When asked if the new variant was in Wales as well as the London and parts of the south east and east of England, Mr Gething said: 'I'm afraid the new variant is here in Wales as well.

'The undoubtable truth is this new variant is effectively seeded across the country, so acting now takes account of the fact that this new variant is undoubtedly a factor, we can't say how much of a factor, in the rapid growth in cases across south Wales despite the measures we have taken.'

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced on Saturday that an immediate lockdown in Wales was needed to protect people from the new strain.

Wales was due to move into its Level four of restrictions, the highest level available, from December 28, with non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality due to close over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but Mr Drakeford said it would do so at end of trading on Saturday.

Within 90 minutes of the PM's bombshell announcement, Londoners were jumping into cars and taxis and even hiring vehicles to escape the city before Tier 4 came into force, the AA told the Mail on Sunday.

Its president Edmund King called the fleeing a 'mini exodus', adding: 'It is almost like a wall is coming down around London and the South East and some people are scrambling to get away to save their Christmas before midnight.'

Northerners warned against Londoners fleeing the capital after videos and photos appeared on social media which showed long queues in St Pancras Station.

Branding it the 'last train out of Saigon' – a reference to the evacuation of US personnel during the Vietnam War – journalist Harriet Clugston wrote: 'Every person on this train including myself has made what is probably a very silly and irresponsible decision to travel albeit within the law.

'But that's what people were always going to do to be together at Christmas.'

An announcement warned passengers that it would not be possible to maintain social distancing on the train.

Poppy Wood, 25, rushed to King's Cross station to board a 7.30pm train before the restrictions were imposed. She said: 'What a disaster. I'm so angry at the Government – the whole thing has been shockingly handled.'

Miss Wood, who was travelling to her parents' home in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, with her brother and her boyfriend, said the station was 'surprisingly socially distanced but very sombre'. 'Everyone is just looking up at the screens quite longingly,' she added.

'It's not panicked at all – it's very calm. I think the threat has become very real and people are actually quite nervous, which hasn't been the case for a while in London.

'I was meant to be doing all my Christmas shopping today but with everything going on I hadn't got anything done. I have just ransacked every shop in the station to get both my boyfriend and my brother a Christmas present.'

Social media sites were flooded with people voicing their anger at having their Christmas travel arrangements torpedoed.

'I'm beyond furious,' said Londoner Michael Wood, 25, who has had to cancel Christmas with his parents in Norfolk. 'The Government should have provided more forward guidance, rather than cancelling Christmas with four days to go.

'It's easy to say we'll get through it but not when you're on your own in a shoebox apartment.'

Rose Wilford, who also lives on her own in London, has been isolating for the last seven days and was planning on travelling back to her parents in Worcestershire for Christmas.

'Now that the tier 4 has come into place I'm not able to travel and will have to spend Christmas on my own,' she said.

'This year has been particularly hard on my mental health and to find out that I have to spend Christmas on my own is devastating.'

'It just cannot continue like this': Labour shadow foreign secretary is 'angry' about sudden increase in Covid curbs

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said she was 'angry' about the sudden increase in coronavirus restrictions for large parts of the country that were announced on Saturday afternoon.

'I've been watching like everyone else the case rates rising for several weeks and every day this week we have raised with the Government the fact that surely Christmas plans need to be revised?' she said.

'Every day that concern has been dismissed, ridiculed by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on Wednesday, only to find yesterday that people have made plans over the last week that now lie in tatters with very little time to sort that out before Christmas.'

Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday, she added: 'Over and over again we've seen the same pattern, a Prime Minister that rejects the evidence, who ridicules and mocks concerns, who dithers and delays and then ends up having to change his mind at the 11th hour.

'This is how a country that has pioneering scientists and a health care system that is the envy of the world ends up with the worst number of deaths in Europe and the worst recession of any major economy.

'It just cannot continue like this.'

However, shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy rejected suggestions that tougher coronavirus restrictions in the UK were due to 'small acts of selfishness', saying: 'I think the problem is not the people of this country, I think the problem is their Government.

'My sense is that people are trying very hard to follow the rules...and to do the right thing, not just to protect themselves but to protect other people as well,' she said.

'But it has been very, very confusing over the last few months.'

Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, she added: 'We've been in and out of lockdown, the rules have changed and this week was a perfect example of the Prime Minister...making a promise he knew he couldn't keep about Christmas.

'I think we have this ongoing drumbeat of dither from the Government, of making bold statements about world beating systems when they can't even make those systems function.'

London mayor Sadiq Khan called the introduction of Tier 4 restrictions 'devastating' and said the 11th-hour announcement is a 'bitter blow for families who were looking forward to spending time with their families'.

'Our criticism and concern as Londoners, people looking forward to having a decent Christmas after an awful year, is as recently as two days ago the Government was saying that we would still have the rules relaxed,' he told BBC Breakfast.

He also called 2020 the 'worst year since the Second World War'. Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday, he said: 'Many of our sectors - think of culture, hospitality, leisure, tourism, retail - have suffered in ways they've never experienced. And that's why we've been pleading with the Government for a roadmap to recovery, but also for additional support our sectors need.'

Thousands of families were yesterday forced to scrap plans to spend Christmas abroad, while passengers already at Heathrow faced the dilemma of whether they should get on board flights. The airport told passengers it was waiting for government guidance regarding flights and advised them to contact their airline.

Meanwhile, the restrictions raise the prospect of checkpoints being used to prevent families entering or leaving the new tier 4 zone.

Police forces across Britain were last night waiting for the Government to publish regulations on how they are to enforce the new rules.

Martin Hewitt, National Police Chiefs' Council chairman, said: 'We urge everyone to follow the rules in their area, and as throughout the pandemic, we are confident that the majority of people will continue to do their best to adapt and do the right thing.'

Meanwhile, there were questions last night about how the new rules would be enforced on train services travelling between tier 4 areas and the rest of the country.

Yesterday's announcement was another devastating blow for airlines, airports and holiday firms whose businesses have been ravaged by the pandemic.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have revealed they will not be offering refunds to passengers who cancel trips for the end of the year following the new restrictions.

The Virgin Atlantic Twitter account posted: 'Refunds are only permitted for cancelled flights. If you have booked with us directly, you have the option to rebook for a new travel date up until 31 December 2022.

'If you have booked with a third party, please contact them directly for your options.'

British Airways customer Lisa Hunter tweeted at the airline saying: 'Just been moved into Tier 4 yet just been told on phone we cannot have a refund for flights booked for over xmas as ''the flight isn't cancelled''.

'It's now illegal to travel out of Tier 4 areas so surely this cannot be the case? Heathrow is in Tier 4!'

BA replied: 'Hi Lisa, flights are continuing to operate, as essential travel is still permitted. We're afraid a full refund is only permitted if your flight is cancelled.'

What are the new Tier 4 rules?

The Tier 4 rules will be essentially the same as the blanket lockdown that England was under in November.

Non-essential retail must close, as well as leisure facilities, and personal care such as hairdressers.

However, places of worship can stay open.

People in other Tiers will be advised not to go into the highest bracket areas, while residents of Tier 4 must not stay overnight in lower infection spots.

'Where a customer is unable to travel for any reason, we offer as much choice and flexibility as possible to help them change or amend their plans, with a name change and two date change fees waived for a new travel date up until 31 December 2022.

'Where a flight is cancelled, customers are of course entitled to a full cash refund.'

Rival airline EasyJet said that it would be offering refunds for those who were staying home.

A spokesperson said: 'EasyJet plans to fly its current schedule over the coming days, however, following the UK Government's announcement implementing Tier 4 restrictions which includes advice against travelling abroad, we understand some customers may now need to change their flights.

'Impacted customers in Tier 4 areas have the option of transferring to an alternative flight free of charge, receiving a voucher or receiving a refund. This policy applies to any flights up until 30 December.

'All other customers can make changes to their booking without incurring a change fee up to 14 days before departure online via Manage Bookings at easyJet.com.'

There are also fears that countries could close their borders to British travellers in a desperate bid to prevent the mutant strain from spreading around the world.

Aviation expert Alex Macheras said that restrictions imposed by one country could precipitate a domino effect, resulting in the UK becoming cut off from the world in the same way that the area around Wuhan in China was at the beginning of the pandemic.

People under Tier 4 have been banned from international travel, with Heathrow Airport tweeting that it was awaiting further guidance from the UK Government. People under Tier 3 restrictions are also being discouraged from travelling without a reasonable excuse.

'If you are in Tier 4, you should not be travelling abroad unless it is permitted. In addition, you should consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting,' updated Government advice said on gov.uk.

Airlines warned that it would be down to Border Force to determine whether or not passengers' international travel is deemed 'essential'. Airports experienced their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Last night a spokesman for Heathrow Airport said: 'While we support steps to contain this new strain, the decision to restrict international travel again will further damage the national economy and jeopardise jobs.'

Mr Hancock also told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme that Tier 4 curbs may have to remain for 'the next couple of months'.

'What is really important is that people not only follow them (the new rules) but everybody in a Tier 4 area acts as if you have the virus to stop spreading it to other people,' Mr Hancock said.

Scientists say UK should impose Scotland-style 'harsh lockdown' to 'really crunch' coronavirus

Professor Devi Sridhar said the rest of the UK should follow Scotland in using a 'harsh lockdown' to 'really crunch' and eliminate the virus to the lowest level possible.

She told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: 'If we look at Scotland, Scotland was already running a lower infection rate but to go into quite a harsh lockdown over the holiday period, to extend the school holidays, to really try to get those numbers low, I think, I would hope the rest of the UK would follow that model, which is we have got to really crunch this.

'We have got to eliminate as much as possible to the lowest level of this virus because that is how we will reopen our economy.'

She added that this was the lesson from East Asia, Pacific countries and Norway and Finland which have kept numbers low through public health guidance and measures.

Scientists on the Government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group have concluded the VUI 202012/01 mutant strain, identified by the Public Health England laboratories at Porton Down, is spreading more quickly.

The PM was advised of the group's conclusions at a meeting with ministers on the Covid O Committee on Friday evening, and the new regulations were signed off by Cabinet before Saturday's announcement scuppered many people's plans to see family for Christmas.

'We know with this new variant you can catch it more easily from a small amount of the virus being present,' Mr Hancock said.

'All of the different measures we have in place, we need more of them to control the spread of the new variant than we did to control the spread of the old variant. That is the fundamental problem.

'We know that because we know that in November that in the areas where this new variant started, in Kent, the cases carried on rising whereas in the rest of the country the November lockdown worked very effectively.

'It is an enormous challenge, until we can get the vaccine rolled out to protect people. This is what we face over the next couple of months.'

Mr Hancock said he hopes 500,000 people in the UK will have received the first of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of the weekend.

Addressing the nation yesterday during a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said people should 'lift a glass to those who aren't there', knowing that celebrating Christmas apart this year meant there would be 'a better chance that they'll be there next year'.

Mr Johnson said he was taking the actions with a 'heavy heart', but the scientific evidence – suggesting the new strain was up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original variant – had left him with no other option.

The crackdown reignited Conservative fury as Sir Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, told The Sunday Telegraph: 'Given that the Prime Minister is not going to resign, perhaps it is time for Matt Hancock to consider his position.'

Meanwhile, Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, said the Government must develop an approach which avoids repeated lockdowns.

He said: 'Lockdowns and increasingly severe tiered restrictions have failed in their goal of slowing the transmission of Covid. And now the Government is expecting people to sacrifice the chance to share Christmas with family, friends and loved ones, just a few days after promising the opposite.

'If the Government wants the support of the public and Parliament, it must publish a clear exit strategy from this nightmarish, cycle of damaging lockdowns and restrictions.

People standing with suitcases in King's Cross Station in London waiting for trains as London is plunged into Tier 4

People standing with suitcases in Euston Station in London waiting for trains as London is plunged into Tier 4

Christmas travellers at a busy Heathrow airport as many people have made preparations to leave prior to the Government's announcement on Tier 4 restrictions

Christmas travellers waiting in line beside a large illuminated Christmas tree at Heathrow airport as many people have made preparations to leave prior to the Government's Tier 4 announcement

Christmas travellers at a busy Heathrow airport as many people have made preparations to leave prior to the Government's announcement on Tier 4 restrictions

Boris Johnson yesterday effectively cancelled Christmas for 16 million people in England as he announced tough new curbs to slow the spread of coronavirus

'As we deliver the vaccine to the most at risk groups around the country, the public needs to see how this will translate into a return to normal life, with restrictions being lifted at every stage, and a clear roadmap to all our freedoms being restored as soon as this work is done.

'More immediately, given the 3 tier system and the initial Christmas household rules were expressly authorised by the House of Commons, these changes must also be put to a vote in the Commons at the earliest opportunity, even if that means a recall of the House.'

Where will be in the new Tier 4 from midnight?

Kent

Buckinghamshire

Berkshire

Surrey (excluding Waverley)

The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings

All 32 London boroughs and the city of London.

Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough

Hertfordshire

Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).

Mr Hancock said this morning that Parliament will not be recalled to vote on the measures but MPs will be given a say on them in January.

Responding to yesterday's shock announcement, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour supports the latest coronavirus restrictions but he accused Boris Johnson of 'gross negligence' in failing to act earlier.

'Yet again, the Prime Minister waited until the 11th hour to take this decision,' the Labour leader told an online press conference.

'It was blatantly obvious last week that the Prime Minister's plan for a free-for-all over Christmas was a risk too far.

'And yet, rather listening to concerns and taking them seriously, the Prime Minister did what he always does: dismissed the challenge, ruffled his hair and made a flippant comment.

'We have known about rising infections and the NHS reaching capacity in many parts of the country for weeks.

'The alarms bells have been ringing for weeks, but the Prime Minister chose to ignore them. It is an act of gross negligence by a Prime Minister who, once again, has been caught behind the curve.'

He also called on Mr Johnson to apologise to the public for the way the latest coronavirus restrictions had been handled: 'I think the Prime Minister should apologise. This is not just one mistake when he has otherwise got things right. It is the same mistake over and over again.

'At the heart of the problem here is a Prime Minister who simply doesn't want to be unpopular and therefore won't take the tough decisions that are necessary, until he is forced into them at the 11th hour.

'We can't go on like that. I think that it is very important that the Prime Minister does apologise to people for his handling of this episode of the pandemic.'

A clearly uncomfortable Mr Johnson told the nation last night that he had 'no alternative' but to act after being presented will compelling evidence only yesterday about the devastating spread of the new strain.

Although it does not appear to be any more deadly, it is believed to be much more contagious, accounting for an incredible 60 per cent of new cases in London over the past week. Mr Johnson said it could increase the crucial R rate by 0.4 and be 70 per cent more transmissible than previous versions.

'We must act now,' he said, appealing for the public to 'stay local' and 'raise a glass for people who are not there'. 'We cannot continue with Christmas as planned...

Don't meet at Xmas 'just to have a party', Nicola Sturgeon's national clinical director warns Scots ahead of holiday

People should not be meeting at Christmas 'just to have a party', Scotland's national clinical director has said.

Jason Leitch told BBC Breakfast that Christmas bubbles should be used to 'help with social isolation and caring' but not 'just for Christmas, just for a party, just so they can see people who they've missed'.

'I will not be seeing my 80-year-old parents on Christmas Day for the first time in my whole life,' he said.

'But I want to have another 15 Christmases with them, that's why.

'So it's important people make that choice for themselves.'

He said 'Scotland's numbers are lower' but preventative action against the new strain of coronavirus was still necessary.

Severe lockdown restrictions have been announced north of the border for December and January.

Indoor mixing will only be allowed on Christmas Day and most of Scotland will be put into the highest level of lockdown from Boxing Day.

A 'strict travel ban' has been maintained between Scotland and the rest of the UK over the festive period - including Christmas Day.

Mr Leitch said he is 'pretty confident' the Covid-19 vaccine will work on the new variant of the virus.

The vaccine and treatments will work against the strain, he said, but the rate at which it transmits is worrying.

He said: 'We are pretty confident from first principles, looking at it down a microscope for lack of a better description, that the vaccine will work but we need to prove that.'

The new variant of the virus will have to be grown at the Porton Down laboratory in Wiltshire, he said, and then be attacked by antibodies to see if it can be killed.

He said virologists are pretty confident that what has been seen so far 'doesn't worry them'.

Mr Leitch added that the R number, the reproduction rate, of the new strain is higher.

He said: 'We don't know this for sure but we think the R number for this version is 0.4 more than the R number for the other one if you just let it run wild.

'So imagine you have an R number right now of 0.9 - you think you are doing well, numbers are falling, everybody is transmitting to fewer than one other person, you are on the right path, then you get this dominant strain and your R number overnight goes to 1.3 and you get exponential growth and you are in big trouble.'

'I know how much emotion people invest in this time of year and how important it is for grandparents to see their grandchildren and families to be together.

'So I know how disappointing this will be. But I have said throughout this pandemic that we must and will be guided by the science.'

He added: 'As your Prime Minister, I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me. Without action, the evidence suggests infections would soar, hospitals would become overwhelmed and many thousands more would lose their lives.'

Chief science officer Patrick Vallance said there was no sign so far that the mutation would be able to nullify vaccines - reassuring news for around 350,000 people Mr Johnson revealed have now received their first dose.

'This virus spreads more easily and therefore more measures are needed to keep it under control,' he said.

He added: 'Assume you might be infectious.'

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said that danger was that people moving around the country would 'seed' the variant. 'This is a bad moment,' he said.

The new Tier 4 - dubbed the 'stay at home alert level' - will be imposed on all existing Tier 3 areas in the South East, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.

It will also apply in London, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, and Essex - excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring.

The rules will be essentially the same as the blanket lockdown that England was under in November. Non-essential retail must close, as well as leisure facilities, and personal care such as hairdressers. However, places of worship can stay open.

People in other Tiers will be advised not to go into the highest bracket areas, while residents of Tier 4 must not stay overnight in lower infection spots.

The rules will apply for at least two weeks, with the situation due to be considered at the next review point on December 30. Schools will not be affected immediately as they have broken up for Christmas - but it is not clear what will happen if the Tier 4 restrictions need to be maintained into January.

No10 has indicated that the measures will come into effect without a vote in Parliament because of the 'incredibly fast moving' events, and there are 'no plans' to recall MPs.

But the announcement infuriated many Tories who are sceptical about the effectiveness of lockdowns.

Mark Harper, who leads the Covid Recovery Group of MPs, said the public must be given a 'roadmap' to restoring freedoms.

'Given the 3 tier system and the initial Christmas household rules were expressly authorised by the House of Commons, these changes must also be put to a vote in the Commons at the earliest opportunity, even if that means a recall of the House,' he said.

Former minister Sir Robert Syms added: 'It is right and proper the Government recall Parliament lay before Parliament the evidence and allow a vote on tier 4.'

Labour leader Keir Starmer said people would feel 'very upset and heartbroken'. 'The PM was saying three days ago ''have a merry little Christmas'',' Sir Keir said. 'Just when we need leadership we've got inconsistency and confusion.'

The Cabinet had crisis talks on how to contain the mutant strain, which is so far thought to have been confined largely to the South East. Michael Gove also held talks with the devolved administrations.

As Mr Johnson spoke, it emerged that UK coronavirus cases were up 25 per cent on last Saturday at 27,052.

It means the total number of infections has topped two million.

Another 534 people have died - 14 more than last Saturday and 45 more than yesterday.

Speculation had already been mounting that England will have to follow Wales and Northern Ireland in announcing a draconian crackdown for after Christmas.

The Welsh government previously broke ranks with the rest of the UK by scaling back Christmas bubbles, in effect from December 23 to 27, from three to two households.

And last night First Minister Mark Drakeford said its Level 4 lockdown will come into effect from midnight, rather than waiting until December 28.

Sadiq Khan calls 2020 is 'the worst year since Second World War'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the capital had experienced 'the worst year we've had since the Second World War'.

Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday, he said: 'Many of our sectors - think of culture, hospitality, leisure, tourism, retail - have suffered in ways they've never experienced.

'And that's why we've been pleading with the Government for a roadmap to recovery, but also for additional support our sectors need.'

He also said the decision to move the capital into Tier 4 throughout the Christmas period was a 'big blow' to families and businesses.

He said: 'This eleventh-hour decision by the Prime Minister is a big blow to Londoners who were looking forward to spending time with their families, and businesses looking forward to having a decent couple of weeks in the lead-up to Christmas and the New Year, and are now forced to close.

'I'm really angry at the response given by the Prime Minister and the raised expectations over the relaxation of rules at Christmas.

'I think it's the right thing to do having these restrictions, I think it's right and proper to act early - but a decision should have been made far, far sooner than Saturday.'

Mr Khan said the likelihood this year's festive season would not be normal was foreseeable 'months ago', and argued that people had wanted clarity in order to make decisions about whether or not to visit family.

He said: 'As recently as last week on Tuesday I was pleading with the Government not to relax the rules for those days over Christmas because we could see that the virus was spreading, particularly with those who have no symptoms of the virus. And I made the point that it was daft for us to move from lockdown into Tier 2 and then Tier 3, and then to Tier 0, and then back to Tier 3 again.

'The Government accused us of trying to cancel Christmas. Now all this was conceivable. What people want is clarity - instead what we got was stop-start change, marching us up a hill, then marching us down, marching us back up the hill, then marching us down again.'

'The latest evidence suggests this new strain is present throughout Wales,' Mr Drakeford said. 'The situation is incredibly serious. I cannot overstate this.

'We have therefore reached the difficult decision to bring forward the alert level four restrictions for Wales, in line with the action being taken in London and the South East of England.

'These new restrictions will come into effect from midnight tonight instead of during the Christmas period.

'This will mean non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality will close at the end of trading today. Stay-at-home restrictions will also come into effect from midnight.'

Pushed on why he had resisted calls to drop the Christmas bubbles for so long before finally changing course, Mr Johnson admitted that he had been 'very puzzled' by the fact that infections kept rising in Kent and some other places during the blanket lockdown.

'Clearly there was something going on,' he said.

But he also pointed out that many other countries were being forced to overhaul their restrictions. 'I want to stress we are not alone in this fight – many of our European friends and neighbours are being forced to take similar action,' Mr Johnson said.

'We are working closely with the devolved administrations to protect people in every part of the UK.'

Trying to strike a more optimistic note despite the turmoil, Mr Johnson said: 'Of course there is now hope – real hope – that we will soon be rid of this virus.

'That prospect is growing with every day that passes and every vaccine dose administered.'

Mr Johnson said that Christmas this year would be a chance to 'lift a glass to those that aren't there' in the hope that increased restrictions would allow families to meet again in the new year.

He said that bubbles for elderly and lonely people would provide 'consolation' for cancelled festive plans.

'I would say to those who are now having a much reduced Christmas, of course we bitterly regret that this is necessary this year,' he said.

'I know how much love and care and thought goes into preparations for Christmas.

'The message is that this is the year to lift a glass to those who aren't there in the knowledge that it's precisely because they're not there to celebrate Christmas with you this year, that we all have a better chance that they'll be there next year.'

Asked if had been was 'reckless to promise five days of Christmas against scientific advice', Mr Johnson said: 'We've always taken account of scientific advice, always tried to follow it and that is what we're doing today.

'Because the science is clearly changing and has changed in the sense that our understanding of this new virus, its transmissibility, has been radically shifted just in the last 24 hours.'

Mr Johnson added: 'We simply can't ignore that and that's why we're taking these extra steps today to protect the country.'

Sir Patrick said: 'I think one way to think about it is assume you could be infectious.

'It's not somebody else's issue, it's your own issue, you might be infectious and that's the way that we have to behave at this moment. Assume you might be infectious.'

Mr Johnson said it 'can't be stressed too often' that a lot of coronavirus transmission was by people who do not have symptoms at the time.

The Prime Minister added: 'I don't think people still now fully get that, in a way that perhaps they need to, it's absolutely vital I think. I think one in three infections are transmitted asymptomatically still and people really need to realise that.'

'The worst moment of the pandemic': New 'Super-Covid' strain is 70% MORE infectious

The mutant strain of coronavirus is 70 per cent more infectious and makes up 60 per cent of London's new cases, it was revealed today.

Speaking at an emergency press conference, Boris Johnson warned the strain - which has caused a spike in cases in the south - could increase the crucial R rate by 0.4.

But England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty earlier stressed there is nothing to suggest that new strain 'VUI – 202012/01' is more deadly or resistant to a vaccine.

The variant has caused the PM to dramatically cancel Christmas for millions of people in a shock announcement.

A third of England - including London and swathes of the home counties - will be shifted up to a brutal new 'Tier 4' from midnight.

The draconian bracket will see non-essential shops shut and travel restrictions including a 'stay at home' order for Christmas Day itself - even though Mr Johnson insisted just days ago that it would be 'inhuman' to axe five-day festive 'bubbles'.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said Mr Johnson's move was a 'bitter blow' and the public was 'paying the price' for 'irresponsible promises' that Christmas would be fine.

'London faces its toughest Christmas since the war and the whole city will need to pull together to see us through this terrible period,' he said.

'Implementing restrictions is not enough – it is imperative that the Government vastly increase mass testing as a matter of urgency.

'Providing greater financial support to businesses and the self-employed, currently woefully insufficient, is crucial.

'The Government needs to put in place a compensation scheme for all lost income for the festive period, as well as a package of full pay for those who are required to self-isolate.

'Face coverings should be made mandatory in all busy outdoor public places.

'London and the country are paying the price for the Government's continued failure to get a handle on the pandemic. This continued chaos and confusion could all have been avoided had the Government not made irresponsible promises to the public and raised expectations about the Christmas period.

'I urge Londoners to follow the new restrictions very closely, so that we can protect our NHS and prevent more tragic deaths. 'It would be such a tragedy to lose even more people to this disease when the vaccine is now being rolled out across our city and those lives could be saved.'

NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said trust chiefs had wanted tough restrictions to curb infection rates.

'These changes were inevitable given how rapid the infection rates have been rising in London, South East and parts of the East of England due to the new variant,' he said.

'Trust leaders have consistently called for the restrictions to be as tough as needed to cut infection rates.

'It is therefore right that the Government has acted quickly to avert significant extra deaths and levels of harm.'

British Chambers of Commerce director general Adam Marshall said: 'Christmas was already cancelled for many businesses, but even more will now suffer as a result of this last-minute decision.

'While Government must act on public health concerns, it must also address the economic consequences of its actions. Will there be more help for firms being forced to shut their doors – and for those who have paid for stock they now can't sell? What support will there be for companies whose cash flow projections have once again been thrown into chaos?

'The introduction of an additional tier without warning or additional help is a huge blow to businesspeople who wanted nothing more than to be able to trade safely through the holiday season and beyond.'

The British Retail Consortium said that the Government's 'stop-start' approach to regulations was 'deeply unhelpful'.

Pictured: People shopping on Oxford Street in central London on the last Saturday shopping day before Christmas. Boris Johnson has cancelled Christmas for millions of people across London and south-east England after scientists said that a new coronavirus variant is spreading more rapidly

Pictured: Shoppers queue outside a shop in Oxford Street on Saturday night ahead of the introduction of Tier 4, announced by Boris Johnson on Saturday evening in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus

Pictured: Long queues of cars were seen waiting to get to Bluewater shopping centre in Kent ahead of the Tier 4 introduction

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference on Saturday during which he announced Tier 4 for London and the South East of England, throwing Christmas plans for millions into chaos

'We're not going to be knocking on people's doors on Christmas Day': Police officers say new Tier 4 restrictions 'don't make sense' as thousands vow to IGNORE the rules

Police 'won't be knocking on people's doors on Christmas Day' a federation chief for the UK's largest force declared last night as London was thrown into Tier 4 rules.

Police forces around the south of England revealed they would be increasing patrols to punish anyone found breaking Number 10's latest set of restrictions.

At an emergency press conference, Boris Johnson announced a third of England, including London and swathes of the home counties, will be shifted up to the brutal new tier from midnight.

Mr Marsh told MailOnline the new rules - which close non-essential retail and ban overnight stays in infection spots - meant little, because Mr Johnson has 'lost the good will of the people' over the festive period.

He said: 'It doesn't make sense. It's going to be no different now from how it was.

'We're not going to be knocking on people doors on Christmas Day. We have no power of entry.

'It's just a shame because I don't think people are going to take much notice. You've lost the goodwill of the public. They're so frustrated.'

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: 'We recognise that the Government has difficult decisions to make and the situation with the pandemic is very fast moving, but this is hugely regrettable news.

'Retailers have invested hundreds of millions of pounds making stores Covid-secure for customers and staff.

'The consequences of this decision will be severe.

'For businesses, the government's stop-start approach is deeply unhelpful – this decision comes only two weeks after the end of the last national lockdown and right in the middle of peak trading which so many are depending on to power their recovery.

'Faced with this news – and the prospect of losing £2 billion per week in sales for the third time this year – many businesses will be in serious difficulty and many thousands of jobs could be at risk.'

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson is facing the prospect of a huge revolt from Tory MPs after Parliament was sent into recess on Thursday - and No10 indicated it will not be recalled to approve the new Tier.

Mr Harper, who leads the Covid Recovery Group of lockdown-sceptic Tories, demanded the Commons be brought back for a debate and vote on the changes.

'This is a very sad day. Lockdowns and increasingly severe tiered restrictions have failed in their goal of slowing the transmission of Covid,' the former chief whip said.

'And now the Government is expecting people to sacrifice the chance to share Christmas with family, friends and loved ones, just a few days after promising the opposite.

'If the Government wants the support of the public and Parliament, it must publish a clear exit strategy from this nightmarish, cycle of damaging lockdowns and restrictions.

'More immediately, given the three-tier system and the initial Christmas household rules were expressly authorised by the House of Commons, these changes must also be put to a vote in the Commons at the earliest opportunity, even if that means a recall of the House.'

The latest estimates of the R number - the average number of others infected by each person with the disease - from SAGE yesterday was between 1.1 and 1.2 in the UK.

It is the first time the reproductive number has definitely been above the crucial mark since the first week of the national lockdown last month.

In England, the rate stands even higher at between 1.1 and 1.3, while experts warned it might be as high as 1.4 in the East, and 1.3 in both London and the South East.

Last week, Britain's R number - which doesn't represent Friday's outbreak - was between 0.9 and 1.

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