UK coronavirus LIVE: 'Circuit-breaker' lockdown pressure grows as Boris Johnson insists new Covid Tier restrictions will 'drive down virus'

Boris Johnson has insisted that England's new three-tiered coronavirus system will "drive down the virus" as he faces mounting pressure to impose a half-term “circuit-breaker”.

He defended a regional approach to restrictions at today's session of PMQs after Sage advisers stressed that a two-week shutdown could save thousands of lives by the end of the year.

During this lunchtime's Commons clash, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer repeated calls for a short and sudden lockdown, arguing that drastic short-term measures were both "in the national interest" and "unavoidable".

Meanwhile Northern Ireland has become the first devolved nation to enforce a circuit-breaker, with the country's pubs and restaurants set to close for four weeks from Friday. It comes as London and other areas are set to move into higher risk categories “within days” as Covid-19 cases continue to surge across the country.

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