Boris Johnson is under pressure from senior colleagues to start easing the coronavirus lockdown soon.
The government introduced the measures, which prevent most people from leaving their house unless they are exercising or buying essential items, on March 23 and extended them last week until at least May 7. But several of his Cabinet colleagues are said to believe that the economic risks of prolonging the lockdown for much longer outweigh the health risks of maintaining it.that they had serious concerns the lockdown could not be sustained for much longer.
Ministers who are thought to favor lifting lockdown restrictions sooner rather than later include Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister. Geoffrey Clifton Brown, treasurer of the 1922 committee, said the government needed to tell firms when they might be able to resume business.