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Covid UK news: Over 50 Tory MPs rebel as Commons approves tougher tier restrictions for England

 (Reuters TV)
(Reuters TV)

MPs have approved a new toughened system of tiered coronavirus restrictions for England as the second national lockdown ends.

Boris Johnson faced a damaging Tory rebellion, with over 50 of the party’s MPs voting against the measures , which will affect 99 per cent of the country and put some constituencies under tighter controls than before the lockdown.

Labour abstained from the vote, with Sir Keir Starmer saying his party had “serious misgivings” about the plans but added that it would not be in the national interest to vote them down as restrictions were still necessary.

It came as Pfizer and BioNTech asked the European regulator to allow the emergency use of their coronavirus vaccine in Europe, potentially paving the way for jabs over the Christmas period.