Michael Gove insisted the government's 'rigorous' new tier system is necessary to prevent another national lockdown before the roll out of Covid vaccines. 'It's really important we don't lose that discipline we have now,' Gove said.

In an interview with Sky News' Kay Burley, the Cabinet Office minister added that customers would not need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to go to pubs, restaurants, theatres or sports events.