MPs back new Coronavirus lockdown for England amidst Tory backbench uproar

MPs have backed a new four-week coronavirus lockdown for England, after Boris Johnson warned of an "existential threat" to the NHS if action is not taken to curb the spread of the disease.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during Prime Minister's Question time (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London on November 4, 2020.

From Thursday, pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will be forced to close their doors once more in England.

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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