By Julia Penhaligon

Camborne and Redruth MP George Eustice has warned that a third Covid-19 national lockdown is possible in January.

Mr Eustice, the Environment Secretary, told Sky News this morning (Monday) that the Coronavirus still presented a “rapidly developing situation.”

Asked about the chances of another national lockdown he warned that “you can’t rule anything out….it could be avoided if we maintain the tiered approach for as long as necessary” and that “we can see a way out of this early next summer.”

Mr Eustice also admitted that up to 100 Tory MPs have “got concerns” about the government’s preferred 3-Tier approach.

“The chief whip, obviously, will be talking to those MPs who have got concerns. I’ve seen suggestions that there could be up to 100 or so people that have got concerns.

“I think there is great frustration with the emergency measures that we have had to take to deal with this pandemic.

"We haven’t taken them lightly. We have had to take these to get the virus under control.

“What we need to show to those MPs and to the country at large is that we have got a clear route towards fixing this problem and turning the corner.”

juliapenhaligon@cornwallreports.co.uk