I am long banned from Twitter, but now Gareth has been given a 12-hour ban for posting an article in the Daily Express that wasn’t banned – little boys in short trousers playing their silly playground games and we are told to take them seriously and be intimidated?? Ha, Ha – JOKE

Tier 4 restrictions had to be introduced across London and southeast England as coronavirus infection rates spiralled out of control. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was confronted about the length of time the rules will remain in place, with Sky News host Sophy Ridge suggesting people in Tier 4 “will not be coming out anytime soon.” Mr Hancock appeared to suggest the end of the restrictions will depend on the speed at which the COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out.

Ms Ridge said: “Just to prepare ourselves is it likely if you are in a Tier 4 area to you will be in a Tier 4 area until the vaccine is rolled out?”

The Health Secretary replied: “Given how much faster this new variant spreads it’s going to be very difficult to keep it under control until the vaccine’s rolled out.

“We’re really got to get this under control and the cases in the Tier 4 areas, as you’ve seen from the graphs that have been presented, have absolutely rocketed in the last few days.

“We’ve got a long way to go to sort this. Essentially, we’ve got to get that vaccine rolled out to get people safe.”