London to move to tier 3 restrictions, Matt Hancock tells MPs

London is to be moved into the  toughest tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions, health secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs from the city.

A number of London MPs told The Independent that the health secretary confirmed the move - which will force the closure of pubs and restaurants, except for takeaway and delivery - during a phone briefing today.

It is understood it will come into effect a minute past midnight on Wednesday morning and also affect parts of neighbouring Essex and Hertfordshire.

Mr Hancock is due to make a statement to MPs at 3.30pm today, before taking questions from the media at a press conference in 10 Downing Street.

Ealing MP Rupa Huq said that the health secretary promised weekly reviews of the restriction level, within the first coming on 23 December.

After lagging behind numbers in the Midlands and north during the autumn, coronavirus cases have increased in every part of London in recent weeks, with hospital admissions in the capital rising to the highest level since April.

The latest data, published on Sunday, shows that coronavirus rates rose across every local authority area in London in the seven days to December 9 compared with the previous week.

Havering has the city’s highest rate, with 1,314 new cases recorded in the seven days to December 9 – the equivalent of 506.3 cases per 100,000 people, up from 321 the week before.

Redbridge had a rate of 398 per 100,000 inhabitants, with Waltham Forest on 385.