A Hampshire MP has threatened to vote against the "madness" of a new national lockdown.

Sir Desmond Swayne, Tory MP for New Forest West, could rebel against the government when the Commons votes on the second shutdown on Wednesday.

Speaking on the BBC he said: "I'm in despair - I think it's a disaster."

Asked about warnings that Covid could kill 4,000 people a day if the government failed to take action he said: "I don't believe it for a moment - we've had this predicted before.

"The last lockdown had pretty little effect other than prevent the growth of natural herd immunity.

"It will take a great deal to persuade me to vote for this madness."