Boris Johnson has rejected calls from MPs for a significantly more localised tier system, saying it would simply lead to rates rising in rural areas.
Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, this morning promised that some areas could move down a tier before Christmas as the government tries to head off a mounting rebellion from backbench Tory MPs.
He pledged to review the data on a more local basis after anger that entire counties such as Kent and Warwickshire have been put into the toughest Tier 3 despite very low infection rates in some parts.
Mr Johnson, however, suggested this would not lead to a change in approach. “The difficulty is that if you did it any other way, first of all you’d divide the country
