Downing Street said there would be fresh ‘engagement’ with leaders in the north east, north west and Yorkshire and the Humber – and refused to rule out going over local mayors’ heads to impose damning new measures

The government is mounting a fresh push to move more areas of England into a Tier 3 lockdown, hours after the system was announced by Boris Johnson.

No10 said there will be fresh ‘engagement’ with areas including the north west and Yorkshire – after furious complaints that local leaders were left out of the loop.

But the spokesman also warned areas that can’t agree could have measures “imposed” against their will.

It comes amid a fresh row over whether the three-tier system goes far enough. SAGE minutes were released last night showing Boris Johnson defied his advisors’ pleas to go much further – including a two-week nationwide lockdown.

The Prime Minister announced the Liverpool City Region would be the first to enter the most serious tier in a new three-stage system.

Pubs will be shut down in the area from tomorrow unless they can operate as a restaurant. Social contact outside people’s household or bubble is banned everywhere except public open spaces, and residents are advised against non-essential travel.