Following the Prime Minister’s announcement Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner said: “I know these new restrictions will come as a bitter blow for people who were hoping to see loved ones this Christmas but it is clear that the new variant of covid is spreading rapidly. We know routine operations are being cancelled and need to be vigilant to protect our NHS. Please keep safe everyone.

“Once again the Prime Minister has been too slow. When I, and my Labour colleagues raised this earlier in the week, he laughed us off. He allowed people to pack their suitcases while he dithered. He’s made a bad situation worse again. The PM needs to get a grip.”