Prime Minister Boris Johnson urges people to take up vaccine when offered so country can 'take step on road back to normality'

Addressing the country from Downing Street tonight, the Prime Minister appealed directly to social care workers, who he said “we all rely on to look after our relatives, our parents and grandparents” to take up the vaccination offer.

And he said although one in four adults in England had now had their first dose, he said in the top four priority groups “that still leaves nearly two million people – a population roughly twice the size of Birmingham – that we still hope to reach”.

He said: “And there are people across the country who for one reason or another haven’t yet taken up their offer, so now is the moment to do it, wherever you are – you won’t be more than about 10 miles away from a vaccination centre - so, go online, or get someone to help you or simply pick up the phone and call 119.”

Mr Johnson said if vaccine supplies were maintained, it was hoped the first nine cohorts for the rollout would be reached by the end of April.

But although the programme for getting jabs into people’s arms was celebrated, the PM faced yet another backbench rebellion in the Commons over the coronavirus restrictions which remain in place across the country.

Some 24 Tory MPs, including Yorkshire's David Davis and Philip Davies, rebelled in a retrospective vote to oppose regulations which increased fines for people caught at house parties and allowed police extra powers to access Test and Trace data.

Meanwhile Health Secretary Matt Hancock has come under fierce criticism from a senior Tory who said plans to impose 10-year prison sentences on travellers who try to evade coronavirus quarantine rules are “utterly ridiculous”.

Sir Charles Walker, the vice chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, told Mr Johnson to rein in Cabinet ministers “very, very quickly”, as he also accused the Government of “robbing people of hope”.

He told Sky News: “Are we really going to lock people up for 10 years for being dishonest about the fact that they’ve been to Portugal?

“What a stupid thing to say, I mean a really stupid thing to say, that demeans his office and his position around the Cabinet table.”

Mr Hancock announced on Tuesday that people returning to England from 33 “red list” destinations would have to pay £1,750 to quarantine for 10 days in Government-designated hotels.

Those caught lying about their movements could be fined £10,000 or jailed for 10 years under existing anti-forgery legislation.