MPs in Westminster have voted tonight (Wednesday) to accept the national lockdown in England.
There was a majority of 508 in the vote, as members approved the new regulations by 524 votes to 16.
The lockdown came into effect on Wednesday at midnight, but the legislation has now been approved retrospectively.
It comes as the UK death toll for today reached levels not seen since the spring peak.
Strict curbs on daily life will be enforced through a new law called the Health Protection ( Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 3) and (All Tiers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.
Labour backed the vote, but Boris Johnson did face rebellion within the Conservative party as the Prime Minister's own MPs outlined their concerns before the vote.
Former minister Sir Desmond Swayne branded lockdowns a “complete failure” while Sir Robert Syms said the measures, which are in place until March 31, were “essentially a blank cheque for three months to Public Health England to do what they wish”.
The division list showed 12 Conservative MPs voted against the regulations enabling a third national lockdown in England.
They were joined by four DUP MPs opposing the regulations.
The Prime Minister, told the Commons earlier that the March deadline was “not because we expect the full national lockdown to continue until then but to allow a steady, controlled and evidence-led move down through the tiers on a regional basis”.
He added: “Our emergence from the lockdown cocoon will not be a big bang but a gradual unwrapping.”
The Government said a further 1,041 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday – the highest daily reported total since April 21.
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital in England has, meanwhile, reached a record 27,727 as of 8am on January 6, according to the latest figures from NHS England.
The figure is up 22% on a week ago.
