THE new tougher tier system was put in place yesterday after being passed by MPs in the House of Commons.

The measures were supported by 291 votes to 78.

Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale abstained from voting on the motion stating more needed to be done to protect jobs and livelihoods.

Mr Farron said: “We cannot let this virus get out of control, and so I believe restrictions are still necessary.

“But there must be a better way than the one that the Government has chaotically thrown together, and I cannot in all conscience vote for their plans as they currently stand.

“We need a system that protects jobs and livelihoods and that puts decision making in the hands of local authorities and local public health teams who know their communities far better than people sat behind desks in Whitehall.”

Fifty-five Conservatives rebelled over the measures, with 52 voting against the Government, a further two acting as tellers for the noes and one formally abstaining.

But the measures passed with Labour ordering its MPs to abstain after party leader Sir Keir Starmer warned the plans pose a "significant" health risk.

A Government spokesman welcomed the Commons' backing, which the House of Lords later approved, in order to "help to safeguard the gains made during the past month and keep the virus under control".

But he said that ministers will "continue to work with MPs who have expressed concerns in recent days".

Those in Tier 2, which will cover 57 per cent of England's population, will only be able to serve alcohol alongside a "substantial meal" and must obey rules restricting household mixing indoors.

In Tier 3, pubs and restaurants will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery services.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, said: "A one-off payment of £1,000 for pubs forced to close does not even count as a token gesture."

The tiers will be reviewed every fortnight and Mr Johnson promised MPs a fresh vote on whether to keep the system before February 2.

Tory backbenchers were outraged that the Government's impact assessments on the three-tiered system did not include a detailed breakdown of the economic effects of the measures.