Ministers urge PM to embrace major back-to-work campaign

BORIS JOHNSON is under pressure to ease lockdown restrictions, with most of the Cabinet understood to support a major back-to-work drive.

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, is said to be among ministers expressing concerns over the long-term damage to the economy caused by coronavirus.

Provided there is no unexpected increase in the rate of infections over the next 10 days, senior figures want Mr Johnson to allow as many businesses as possible to reopen.

But there is no end in sight for pubs and restaurants as sources said there had been no discussions over two-metre social distancing, which makes it unviable for them to reopen.

Conservative peers also said that sensible risk-taking had to replace the “draconian” restrictions because, one said, “lockdown means poverty”.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce the next phase of lockdown in a press conference within days of the next legally required review date of

May 28. He is thought likely to confirm that primary schools can partially reopen, but may also allow some non-essential retailers to open their doors where distancing can be maintained.

Cabinet sources said most ministers wanted measures to be lifted as soon as scientific advice permitted. However, the Prime Minister, the Health Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster remained cautious.

One Cabinet minister said: “People will realise their long-time well-being depends on their employment.”

A Cabinet colleague said: “In other countries there don’t seem to have been second peaks when they have come out of lockdown.”

One minister said the Chancellor was “worried furlough might turn into redundancy” for many and that “some employees might not have businesses to come back to”.

A senior Tory said: “There is growing evidence that the most important things are social distancing and handwashing, rather than staying at home, which means much greater scope for opening up the economy.”