By Raab says No 10 will not be held to ‘arbitrary target’ for lifting lockdown after calls to end all restrictions by end of April.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says the plan is to “ease the lockdown” with the return of schools and non-essential retail.
The government will not be setting an “arbitrary target” for when lockdown can end despite pressure from some MPs to lift all restrictions by May.
Boris Johnson has admitted he is “optimistic” about easing England’s lockdown restrictions, and hinted at which sectors may reopen first.
The prime minister will formally unveil his “road map” for reducing coronavirus restrictions on February 22, with schools being prioritised as the first to open on March 8.
He hinted non-essential retail will reopen next, with hospitality to open after that.
Getty image
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the leaders of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) said the “tremendous pace” of the vaccination rollout meant restrictions in England should begin easing from early March.
They said ministers must produce a cost-benefit analysis to justify any controls that remain in place after that date, with a “road-map” stating when they would be removed.
The CRG said the government’s national priority of reopening schools in England by 8 March must be achieved.
