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| Coronavirus: PM to review lockdown restrictions with cabinet | Coronavirus: PM to review lockdown restrictions with cabinet |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of his cabinet later, after suggesting some lockdown rules could be eased from Monday. | Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of his cabinet later, after suggesting some lockdown rules could be eased from Monday. |
| By law the government must review the restrictions every three weeks, and Thursday marks the latest deadline. | By law the government must review the restrictions every three weeks, and Thursday marks the latest deadline. |
| The PM will address the nation on Sunday evening to outline plans for the next stage of the lockdown. | The PM will address the nation on Sunday evening to outline plans for the next stage of the lockdown. |
| Although the lockdown will largely stay in place, the "stay at home" message is expected to be scrapped. | Although the lockdown will largely stay in place, the "stay at home" message is expected to be scrapped. |
| With ministers keen to restart the economy, Mr Johnson has suggested some measures could start being eased on Monday. | With ministers keen to restart the economy, Mr Johnson has suggested some measures could start being eased on Monday. |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said this could include a relaxation of exercise rules, with people allowed to go outside more. | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said this could include a relaxation of exercise rules, with people allowed to go outside more. |
| There could also be some encouragement for people to return to work if they are able to, he added. | There could also be some encouragement for people to return to work if they are able to, he added. |
| Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to diverge from what the government at Westminster decides on the lockdown - and could lift restrictions at a different rate. | Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to diverge from what the government at Westminster decides on the lockdown - and could lift restrictions at a different rate. |
| At her daily briefing on Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the lockdown would continue in Scotland, saying it was too soon to make any meaningful changes without risking a resurgence of the virus. | At her daily briefing on Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the lockdown would continue in Scotland, saying it was too soon to make any meaningful changes without risking a resurgence of the virus. |
| The Scottish government has already set out a number of options for lifting the lockdown, but Ms Sturgeon said she would "not be pressured" into easing measures prematurely. | |
| She said media reports about the prime minister planning to ease the lockdown had not been discussed with the Scottish government but a call with devolved nations was due to take place later. | |
| Earlier SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford urged the prime minister to work with the devolved administrations over any easing of the restrictions, telling BBC Good Morning Scotland neither he nor Scotland's first minister knew what Mr Johnson was going to announce. | Earlier SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford urged the prime minister to work with the devolved administrations over any easing of the restrictions, telling BBC Good Morning Scotland neither he nor Scotland's first minister knew what Mr Johnson was going to announce. |
| On Wednesday, Wales' Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said the Welsh government was "keen to move as closely as we can with England at the moment" but ministers have previously suggested restrictions could be eased at different times to the rest of the UK. | On Wednesday, Wales' Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said the Welsh government was "keen to move as closely as we can with England at the moment" but ministers have previously suggested restrictions could be eased at different times to the rest of the UK. |
| The Northern Ireland Executive will continue discussions on Thursday on how and when to relax any lockdown restrictions and First Minister Arlene Foster previously suggested Northern Ireland's restrictions could be lifted at a different pace to the rest of the UK. | The Northern Ireland Executive will continue discussions on Thursday on how and when to relax any lockdown restrictions and First Minister Arlene Foster previously suggested Northern Ireland's restrictions could be lifted at a different pace to the rest of the UK. |
| Mr Johnson will chair a meeting of his top team to discuss the lockdown restrictions, which were introduced more than six weeks ago on 23 March. | Mr Johnson will chair a meeting of his top team to discuss the lockdown restrictions, which were introduced more than six weeks ago on 23 March. |
| However, major announcements on any changes are not expected until the prime minister makes his statement at the weekend. | However, major announcements on any changes are not expected until the prime minister makes his statement at the weekend. |
| Mr Johnson said the government had to be sure any changes to the restrictions were backed by data, and "that data is coming in continuously over the next few days". | Mr Johnson said the government had to be sure any changes to the restrictions were backed by data, and "that data is coming in continuously over the next few days". |
| No 10 said that "it is not going to be a case of flicking a switch" to lift all measures at once, and instead "people will have to prepare for a different type of normal". | No 10 said that "it is not going to be a case of flicking a switch" to lift all measures at once, and instead "people will have to prepare for a different type of normal". |
| Lockdown will 'largely stay in place' | Lockdown will 'largely stay in place' |
| BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the government's "stay at home" message - which it has pushed since the lockdown began on 23 March - is "on the way out". | BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the government's "stay at home" message - which it has pushed since the lockdown began on 23 March - is "on the way out". |
| Public Health England said it was "reviewing all communications materials in anticipation of moving to the next phase of the government campaign". | Public Health England said it was "reviewing all communications materials in anticipation of moving to the next phase of the government campaign". |
| But despite some tweaks from Monday, our political editor says the lockdown will "largely stay in place". | But despite some tweaks from Monday, our political editor says the lockdown will "largely stay in place". |
| Asked about reports the "stay at home" message could be dropped, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said final decisions were yet to be made and options for easing the lockdown would be discussed at cabinet later. | |
| The Northern Ireland Secretary said the government would be proceeding with caution and avoiding a second peak would be "at the forefront of our minds". | The Northern Ireland Secretary said the government would be proceeding with caution and avoiding a second peak would be "at the forefront of our minds". |
| With good weather forecast for over the Bank Holiday weekend Mr Lewis said people should continue to follow lockdown rules. | With good weather forecast for over the Bank Holiday weekend Mr Lewis said people should continue to follow lockdown rules. |
| "I would really urge caution - the safest thing to do at the moment... is wherever you can stay home." | "I would really urge caution - the safest thing to do at the moment... is wherever you can stay home." |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he expected the government to continue with lockdown measures, and his party would support this. | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he expected the government to continue with lockdown measures, and his party would support this. |
| "Lockdown needs to stay in place until we are sure the infection rate has gone down," he told BBC Good Morning Scotland. | "Lockdown needs to stay in place until we are sure the infection rate has gone down," he told BBC Good Morning Scotland. |
| Acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said if the government's message changed it was important there was an effective plan in place on testing and tracing contacts of those who were found to have the virus. | Acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said if the government's message changed it was important there was an effective plan in place on testing and tracing contacts of those who were found to have the virus. |
| "We don't want to give a false impression that things have changed dramatically and life can go back to normal and it's essential the government gets the balance right," he told BBC Breakfast. | "We don't want to give a false impression that things have changed dramatically and life can go back to normal and it's essential the government gets the balance right," he told BBC Breakfast. |
| It comes as the UK became the first country in Europe to record more than 30,000 people dying with coronavirus. The UK now has the second-highest number of recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, behind the United States. | It comes as the UK became the first country in Europe to record more than 30,000 people dying with coronavirus. The UK now has the second-highest number of recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, behind the United States. |
| However, ministers have argued it is too early to make full international comparisons. | However, ministers have argued it is too early to make full international comparisons. |
| The UK's latest figures also showed deaths in care homes continued to rise, even as hospital deaths had fallen. Mr Johnson said he "bitterly regrets" the crisis in care homes and the government was "working very hard" to tackle it. | The UK's latest figures also showed deaths in care homes continued to rise, even as hospital deaths had fallen. Mr Johnson said he "bitterly regrets" the crisis in care homes and the government was "working very hard" to tackle it. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| How have you been affected by the issues relating to coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How have you been affected by the issues relating to coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
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