Hancock defends last-minute coronavirus lockdown in north of England
by Josh Halliday and Nazia Parveen from on (#56BZR)
Health secretary's late-night announcement provokes ire across political spectrum
Matt Hancock has defended the imposition of new lockdown regulations on more than 4 million people in northern England with only two hours' notice, amid criticism from Conservative MPs and confusion about the rules.
The health secretary announced on Twitter on Thursday night that from midnight people from different households in Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Leicester would not be able to meet each other indoors or in their gardens.
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