
Audio By Carbonatix
A second lockdown is needed to "contain the surge", Boris Johnson has told MPs, before they vote on implementing restrictions in England.
The PM is likely to win the Commons vote on the measures later, with Labour's help - but around 20 Tory MPs could vote against them.
A four-week lockdown which includes the closure of pubs, gyms non-essential shops is due to start at midnight.
Mr Johnson said another lockdown was "not something any of us wanted to do".
Opening the debate, he added: "I am not prepared to take the risk with the lives of British people".
LIVE: MPs debate and vote on second England lockdown #coronavirus https://t.co/HcIoyczX2R
— Cheshire Live - Crewe (@CheshireLiveCrw) November 4, 2020
The restrictions will replace the three-tiers of regional restrictions across England.
One Tory rebel, former chief whip, Mark Harper said: "We have acted too soon because we are starting to see the tier system working."
Mr Johnson said he was "wrong" and the data showed hospitalisations mounting steadily, adding: "The curve is already unmistakeable."
Earlier at Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Johnson of "ignoring" the advice of government scientists who called for a brief "circuit breaker" lockdown in September.
"Does the prime minister understand the human cost of his delay in acting?," he asked the PM.
Mr Johnson said it was "always right to pursue a local and a regional approach as our scientific advisers," adding that it was "showing signs of working".
Latest Stories
-
CSIR-PGRRI saving seeds, while Ghana’s biodiversity disappearing
14 minutes -
Public Sector Pay Policy to be ready by October – Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
17 minutes -
Nima Police question truck driver after crash leaves many injured
21 minutes -
Queiroz hails Benjamin Asare’s exploits against England
25 minutes -
Mahama to cut sod for Phase 2 of Sentuo Oil Refinery Project today
29 minutes -
England’s James and Rice to have fitness assessed
1 hour -
Mexico maintain 100% winning record as Czech Repbublic go home
1 hour -
Oil markets start to signal near-term oversupply as tankers exit Strait of Hormuz
1 hour -
Trump seeks more than $1.4bn in Ebola funding from Congress
2 hours -
Ebola cases in Congo reach highest first-month total of any outbreak, WHO says
2 hours -
IMF completes reviews with Ivory Coast, unlocks $832.8m of funding
2 hours -
Scotland’s World Cup hopes on brink after 3-0 defeat by Brazil
2 hours -
Brent settles at lowest since before start of Iran war as more tankers exit Hormuz
2 hours -
Morocco beat Haiti to progress as runners-up
2 hours -
Trump accuses big oil firms of price-gouging drivers
5 hours