Boris Johnson: 'We cannot continue with Christmas as planned' - what the PM said

The Prime Minister has confirmed a tightening of restrictions in England amid concerns over the rapid spread of a new variant of coronavirus.

In an urgent press conference following talks with cabinet ministers, Boris Johnson  announced that from Sunday areas in the South East of England which are currently in Tier 3 will be moved into a new Tier 4 – effectively returning to the lockdown rules of November.

In addition, the rest of England will see the Christmas “bubble” policy – allowing up to three household to meet up over the holiday period – severely curtailed, applying on Christmas Day only.

"We cannot continue with Christmas as planned," Mr Johnson said.

Defending the changes, Mr Johnson said: “We, of course, bitterly regret the changes that are necessary but, alas, when the facts change you have to change your approach.

“The briefing that I had yesterday about this mutation of the virus, particularly about the speed of transmission, was not possible to ignore.”

The Prime Minister added: “We are sacrificing the chance to see our loved ones this Christmas so we have a better chance of protecting their lives so that we can see them at future Christmases”.

Shadow minister for mental health Dr Rosena Alin-Khan said: “Christmas plans are ruined for families up and down the country because of Government neglect, incompetence and an inability to get on top of this virus.

“Dither and delay has cost lives with more to come. The mental health implications of this will be tragic."

What are the restrictions under Tier 4?

Tier 4 will look similar to the England-wide lockdown rules of November.

The new Tier 4 restrictions will apply in all 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 (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England – Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire and Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).

Non-essential shops, gyms, cinemas, hairdressers and bowling alleys will be forced to close for two weeks.

People will be restricted to meeting one other person from another household in an outdoor public space.