18:40Matt Hancock has told MPs that the lockdown measures they are voting to approve tonight are not expected to be in force at the end of March - even though the legislation allows them to last until then. Several MPs asked for an assurance that they would get a further vote on the lockdown measures before March. But there was very little outright opposition to them, and even MPs who near the end of last year were alarmed about the possibility of a third national lockdown today seemed reconciled to the need for action now in the light of the rising number of cases and deaths. MPs are due to vote at 7pm, but the measures are expected to be passed very easily. I’m finished for the day, but a colleague will top up the blog after 7pm with the result of the vote.

Source: The Guardian January 06, 2021 09:22 UTC