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Boris Johnson Says He Wants Lockdown Easing To Start On Monday

Boris Johnson Says He Wants Lockdown Easing To Start On Monday

Johnson was facing Labour leader Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions for the first time

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he wants to see some easing of the country's lockdown come into force starting from next Monday.

When asked by Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer if Johnson would be present at Parliament on Monday 11 May to present his plan for exiting the lockdown, Johnson confirmed that there will be a statement from the government on Sunday.

The PM said that he wanted to 'get going with some of the lockdown easing measures on Monday'.

He did not say who would deliver that statement.

Johnson at today's PMQs.
PA

Johnson went on to say the announcement would be made on Sunday rather than the proposed date of Thursday because 'we have to be sure the data is going to support our ability to do this'.

He added: "But that data is coming in continuously over the next few days."

The PM, facing his Labour counterpart at the despatch box for the first time at PMQs, said that it would be helpful 'if people have an idea of what is coming the following day' after his Sunday address to the nation.

Yesterday, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed some of the options that are being considered with regards to the country emerging from the lockdown, which came into effect on March 24.

She said that the 'severity of restrictions we are living under' could not go on forever, and said that whilst the process would be gradual, and not like 'flipping a switch'.

The measures under consideration include 'meeting up with small defined groups' of people, even if that only takes place outdoors to begin with.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
PA

There could also be a return to schools for children at transitional points of education, or those with exams coming up.

More exercise could be allowed, and certain NHS and community services could be allowed to resume.

However, home working will still be insisted upon where possible in the near future, but some businesses could be allowed to open up again gradually.

It is thought that ministers will take advice from their scientific committee, SAGE, when deciding upon a road map out of the lockdown.

However, many of the lockdown rules are expected to remain in place for at least another three weeks.

They've also repeatedly stressed that some measures could be tightened, or brought back, if the data changes.

In his first press conference back last week, Johnson said: "We will be setting out comprehensive plans next week to explain how we can get our economy moving, how we can get our children back to school, back into childcare, and how we can travel to work and make life in the workplace safe."

On Sunday, we'll start to find out what that looks like.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Politics