MPs voting against second lockdown included Cornwall's Derek Thomas

West Cornwall's Derek Thomas, MP for the St Ives constituency that also covers Helston and the Lizard Peninsula, broke rank to vote against the latest Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 bill that went before parliament this afternoon.

While the vote was passed by 512 votes to 37, receiving cross-party support, a small group of 32 Conservative MPs, which included Mr Thomas, voted against the introduction of a second lockdown.

Mr Thomas has now spoken of the reasons behind his decision: Cornwall MP explains why he voted against a second lockdown

West Cornwall's MP Derek Thomas

Also voting against it were four Democratic Unionist Party members and one Independent member, for New Forest East.

A further 97 MPs - including 19 Conservatives, nine Labour Party members, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the House of Commons and all of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party - recorded no vote.

Cornwall's five other MPs voted in favour of the bill.

It means that as of tomorrow (Thursday, November 5) full lockdown restrictions come into place again, including only specific reasons why you are allowed to leave your house.

A full reminder of the rules can be read here: How a second national lockdown will affect you: all the new rules confirmed

They include all non-essential businesses having to close and be no mixing of people inside homes, except for childcare and other forms of support.

The vote came on the same day as the NHS in England announced it placing itself on the highest alert level.

It means that staff can be moved around the country, while patients may be sent to other regions for treatment if Covid threatens to overwhelm local services.

Health bosses said they were "seriously concerned", adding the NHS was facing a "very difficult winter".

But they said they hoped the four-week lockdown, starting tomorrow, would help avoid major disruption.