The return of the tier system will be "hard to justify" if coronavirus infection rates continue to drop prior to the end of England's lockdown next week, according to an expert.
Boris Johnson has warned the updated system is going to be "very tough" with the majority of the country facing bans on indoor socialising, while pubs will be shut unless serving meals.
The Prime Minister has been accused of pushing through essentially another nationwide lockdown in all but name by many of his own MPs.
Most areas - bar more isolated rural parts of the country - are set to be thrust into Tiers 2 and 3 from December 2. But Oxford University epidemiologist Professor Carl Heneghan said if cases continue to fall at the same rate in the coming days "it