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Boris Johnson sparks row with Scots and Welsh who refuse to loosen lockdown and use new ‘Stay Alert’ logo
BORIS Johnson tonight faced an angry revolt from Britain’s regions over his coronavirus message change.
To mark the PM’s new call for a return to work, Downing Street today unveiled a nuanced new public health slogan that swapped ‘stay at home’ for ‘stay alert’.
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Speaking tonight, the Prime Minister said: "Though the UK will be changed by this experience, I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before.
"More resilient, more innovative, more economically dynamic, but also more generous and more sharing.
"But for now we must stay alert, control the virus and save lives."
But bosses in Scotland, Wales and some English regions refused to implement it, and complained bitterly about not being consulted.
In a video message tonight the PM:
- Urged Brits to get back to work if they can't from home
- Revealed Brits would be allowed to sunbathe in parks and play unlimited sport from Wednesday - and can go on day trips
- Said anyone coming into the country by air would be forced to quarantine
- Schools will start going back from June - but only if the infection level is low enough
- But he warned that pubs, cinemas and mass gatherings would be off the cards for months to come
In a bid to calm tensions before his TV address last night, the PM chaired a COBRA meeting yesterday afternoon and invited all the four nation’s leaders.
Issuing the PM with a ferocious tongue lashing, Scots First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told her nation: “My ask of you is to continue to stay at home.
“We must solidify our progress, not squander it or send mixed messages.
“We should not be reading of each other’s plans for the first time in newspapers.”
Ms Sturgeon also told No10 not to run any of its new messaging in adverts or social media campaigns north of the border, insisting Scotland’s R rate was higher than in England.
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford also revolted, tweeting: “My message to the people of Wales hasn’t changed. Staying at home is the best way you can protect yourself and others”.
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And the Welsh Government warned people in England are not allowed to travel to Wales for exercise - after the PM announced day trips in cars could start again.
Counsel General and Assembly Member Jeremy Miles said that those who cross the border could face police fines.
Speaking to BBC Wales, he said: "I want to be really clear about this. The position in Wales is very different from the position in England in relation to that.
“Our regulations do not permit people to get in their cars and drive to destinations in Wales and this includes people getting in their cars in England. We are not permitting that in Wales.”
The PM’s new approach was also blasted by the Northern Irish First Minister Arlene Foster.
She said: "On the whole, the message is to stay at home.
“We will say we are not deviating from the message at this time."
And Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham said the message switch “feels to me like a mistake”.
And Labour attacked No10 for confusing people.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “I hope we can get clarity from the government today on what exactly this new message means. I’m not entirely sure.
“When you ask the public to adjust their behaviour, you need that clarity in public health messaging”.
Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer said tonight's announcement would leave a lot of people "scratching their heads".
He told Sky News:"I'm afraid stay alert just isn't easy to understand.
"Not just the slogan, it's also some of the underlining details."
STAY ALERT MESSAGE
In a bid to clarify the new ‘stay alert’ message, the PM tweeted a checklist of what it meant for everyone.
The five point list instructed: “Stay at home as much as possible, work from home if you can, limit contact with other people, keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible), wash your hands regularly”.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick argued: "Staying at home is still a very important part of our message.
“It means stay alert by staying home as much as possible, but stay alert when you do go out”.
Mr Jenrick added: “Our strong preference is we move as one as the whole of the United Kingdom”.
The slogan is also believed to have enraged the PM's own cabinet.
Senior ministers are said to be furious that parts of Mr Johnson's speech were pre-recorded before the full Cabinet and Cobra had even talked about the issues today.
Academics also questioned the new message.
Prof Simon Wessely, Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King’s College London and Director of the Health Protection Research Unit in Emergency Preparedness and Response, said: “It’s hard to be clear what that means, as opposed to “stay inside”.
“Research in similar situations shows that what the public most want is specific guidance on what to do and what not to do. I am not sure how this answers that.
“Almost half the population are already experiencing significant anxiety so they need no reminding. When the time comes to move gradually out of lockdown, and I accept we are not there yet, the biggest task is going to be how to reduce vigilance.”
People will be allowed to leave home more often but must stay alert to stop the spread of the virus.
The new phrase came amid fears the “stay at home” message had been too effective and had made many families terrified to venture out.
It was dreamed up by Aussie strategist Isaac Levido, a former brains of the Vote Leave campaign, Ben Guerin, a 25-year-old Kiwi who advised the Tories on their 2019 election strategy.
More details around the lockdown changes are set to be revealed tomorrow and into this week.
MOST READ
Brits were tonight told they would be able to head out to parks and beaches - as long as they continued to follow social distancing rules.
As long as individuals stay within their own households, they will also be able to play sports in parks.
Families will also be able to head out on car trips.
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