Twitter users mourned the cancellation of Christmas last night after Boris Johnson plunged London, the South East and East of England into a strict new Tier 4 lockdown.
The announcement of tough new Tier 4 curbs spells festive chaos for many as plans were cancelled with five days to spare while others attempted to flee the capital before midnight.
Social media users shared memes comparing the Prime Minister with the Grinch as the collective Christmas spirit dipped.
Boris is the next grinch pic.twitter.com/rfqI3vadB1
— Sahaii_x ?? (@spencer_sahaii) December 20, 2020
Some joked that their advent calendar was now mocking them with a countdown to Christmas day while others speculated how the Queen would begin her speech this year.
However, the blame was mostly directed at Boris Johnson as Twitter users hit out at the Prime Minister's 11th hour change to Christmas bubble restrictions.
He faced fury last night as he dramatically cancelled Christmas for 16.4million people living in London, the South East and East of England.
The new restrictions ruin Christmas plans for millions who have already booked travel and bought food for reunions.
Twitter user Mark Stanford, shared a photo-shopped image of the popular Christmas movie, writing: 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas Featuring Boris Johnson As The Grinch'.
Another posted a side-by-side comparison images of the Grinch and Boris Johnson, saying: 'Look the same to me #tier4'.
Yesterday the PM announced surprise new draconian measures on London, the South East and East of England in a desperate bid to combat a surge in cases caused by a 'mutant' strain of coronavirus.
Tried to turn Boris into the Grinch but it just looks like professor Chris whitty ? pic.twitter.com/ala0qRVq6G
— ori (@WhoriHearsAWho) December 19, 2020
Under Tier 4 restrictions, a 'stay at home' order will remain in place for Christmas Day as families are told not mix with anyone outside their own household at Christmas, though support bubbles will remain in place for those at particular risk of loneliness or isolation.
The rest of England will not escape unscathed, with up to three households now only allowed to mix on Christmas Day rather than between December 23 and 27.
The dramatic change to Christmas rules was announced at a press conference yesterday afternoon, even though Mr Johnson insisted just days ago that it would be 'inhuman' to axe five-day festive 'bubbles'.
Feeling very sorry for Boris right now. This must have been an extremely difficult decision. I don’t envy him having to deliver the news that Christmas is cancelled like a real life Grinch. #lockdown #tier4 #christmas #thegrinch #grinch #borisjohnson #boris #borisjohnsonmemes pic.twitter.com/R7WXudO5hP
— Marc Wakefield: Augmented Reality Design Studio (@mrm_design) December 19, 2020
With this year's Christmas celebrations effectively cancelled, one Twitter user shared a teary-eyed meme of Emma Thompson from the film Love, Actually with the words: 'Only 370 sleeps till Christmas'.
Another posted an image of a man throwing a Christmas tree out the window, and others joked about the mass exodus of people leaving London before lockdown, with people sharing memes of crowded minions in King's Cross.
This morning Matt Hancock slammed the thousands of desperate Londoners who fled the city last night as 'irresponsible.'
The Health Secretary sighed and shook his head as Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme showed him social-media images of large crowds queueing on a packed platform at St Pancras Station.
He called Covid-19 a 'deadly disease', pointing to a rising number of hospitalisations in Sussex and Kent and coronavirus-related deaths. Yesterday the UK recorded 534 deaths and 27,052 new cases.
'This was clearly totally irresponsible behaviour, and the Chief Medical Officer [Chris Whitty] was absolutely clear that people should unpack their bags if they have them packed,' Mr Hancock said.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
