PM’S measures setting England at odds with the rest of the UK

Boris Johnson’s “conditional plan” for easing lockdown restrictions has put England at odds with the rest of the UK.

The leaders of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have rejected Mr Johnson’s Stay Alert messaging, opting instead to stick with the previous slogan of Stay At Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives.

All three nations have powers over their own lockdown restrictions.

Wales announced a slight easing of restrictions on Friday to allow people to exercise more than once a day, garden centres to reopen with social distancing guidelines, and local authorities to start planning on how to safely open libraries and recycling centres.

Northern Ireland’s road map, which is expected to only have “nuanced” changes, will be announced this week.

Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola

“

It would be catastrophic for me to drop the stay at home message, which is why I’m not prepared to do it.

NICOLA STURGEON

Sturgeon said on Sunday that Scotland’s cap on daily exercise had been scrapped, but she warned that that is not an excuse to meet up in groups at parks or beaches, to sunbathe or have picnics and barbecues.

At her daily briefing in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said the situation is “fragile” and people should still stay close to home while maintaining a twometre distance from anyone not part of their household.

Officials will look to see whether further changes can be made to the lockdown guidance, including increasing the number of activities people can undertake outside.

Further updates could be made next weekend but Ms Sturgeon does not expect schools in Scotland to return as early as next month.

“For Scotland right now, given the fragility of the progress we’ve made, given the critical point that we are at, it would be catastrophic for me to drop the stay at home message, which is why I’m not prepared to do it,” she said.

Picture: PA Video/pa Wire. England’s chief medical officer Chris Witty with the new slogan which has been frowned on in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.