BORIS Johnson has been urged to boost Britain’s morale with a TV address as he returns to lead the fight against Covid-19.
He heads back to No10 on Monday and has told aides: “I’m raring to go.”
The PM was given the green light by doctors two weeks after his release from hospital following his life-or-death battle with the virus.
No10 said his swift comeback had given everyone a “huge lift” and last night top Tories called on him to raise the nation’s spirits, too.
With worrying signs that the lockdown is starting to fracture, they want him to deliver a personal message that the war is being won.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “Everyone will be glad he’s back for personal as well as public reasons. He is the only one who has clear executive control and his return will be incredibly welcome.
“When he gets back I hope he will address the nation directly and explain how well the British public have done so far and that his government will plan for the time when we can start to move out of lockdown.
The important thing for the Prime Minister is that he trusted the public because they have trusted him.”
RETURN’S TO THE DRIVING SEAT
Mr Johnson’s return to the driving seat — as revealed exclusively in HOAR on Sunday last week — comes with the backing of doctors monitoring his progress since he left St Thomas’ Hospital, London, after a seven-day stay, including three in intensive care.
The PM broke the news to close aides on Friday after a three-hour Covid-19 summit at Chequers, where he has been recovering.
One senior adviser said: “The Prime Minister has been doing all the right things and following his doctor’s advice to come back to work — and he is raring to go.
“He has told the team he will be back at his desk on Monday morning. It’s given everyone a huge lift.”
The moment he walks through the famous black door the PM will immerse himself in briefings with his team and set out his priorities for the week ahead.
Cabinet ministers will give one-to-one updates and he will grill them on their departments’ battles with the virus.
It comes as:
- UK coronavirus deaths today passed the government’s 20,000 benchmark for a ‘good result’
- Brits could meet pals under relaxed lockdown rules
- Premier League football could be back on TV within weeks with games behind closed doors
- New parents could receive full maternity pay despite being furloughed
- Workers could go back to “coronavirus-secure” offices from mid-May
- B&Q and Homebase shoppers today flocked to reopened stores as Brits started to venture out
At Friday’s summit, the PM was updated on progress and the next phase of the strategy.
Also there were Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been Mr Johnson’s stand-in during his three-week absence, plus closest adviser Dominic Cummings and trusted communications chief Lee Cain.
Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and other key advisers joined via video conference.
