England returns to tiered Covid restrictions as second national lockdown ends

Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving Downing Street on Tuesday to vote on the new coronavirus restrictions (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A strengthened tiered system of coronavirus restrictions has replaced England’s second national lockdown after Boris Johnson suffered the largest Tory rebellion of the current UK parliament.

Despite the bruising revolt, the Commons backed the British Prime Minister’s new measures meaning 99% of the nation entered the toughest Tier 2 and 3 restrictions on Wednesday.