Government blasted over refusal to clarify coronavirus lockdown exit strategy

MPs are calling for 'strategic clarity' from the Government

The Government has been urged to stop "underestimating" the public and to disclose strategies for ending the coronavirus lockdown.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab extended the nation-wide lockdown for another three weeks last week and set out what needed to happen before the Government will consider lifting the measures.

But the Government is facing increasing pressure from MPs across the political spectrum who wish to see more detail for the plans.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis told the PA news agency: “Other countries have been very open about what they’ve done.

“There’s really no reason, there’s no argument for not debating and discussing with all the facts available.

“There are lots and lots of benefits of being open about this. The argument that was put, that we don’t want to confuse the message, I think is just wrong. It underestimates the public. The public understand that there are phases to this.”

Mr Davis also said the data underlining the strategy should be put in the public domain.

European countries including the Czech Republic and Denmark, have already started to lift some of their lockdown measures.

Austria has rolled out a voluntary contact tracing app while France's central government has promised to make general-use masks available for each citizen from May 11 as part of its exit strategy.

Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures

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Germany plans to let small shops reopen as early as next week after a month-long lockdown.

The European Commission has warned its 27 nations to move cautiously as they return to normal life and base their actions on scientific evidence.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Government should stop treating people “like children” by refusing to discuss exit strategies.

He told The Times: “The Government is going to have to accept and admit we are coming out of lockdown.

“We need to trust the British people and not treat them like children. We must respect their common sense. They need to know that the sun is rising at some point, in an economic sense.”​

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested the Government is not being more forthcoming about an exit strategy because Boris Johnson is absent, continuing his recovery at Chequers.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said that claim was “just wrong”. Sir Keir has spoke of the need for a "light at the end of the tunnel" for those in lockdown.

The news comes after Health Secretary Nadine Dorries was forced to clarify her comments in which she said the "full lockdown" can only be lifted once a coronavirus vaccine has been developed.

Ms Dorries made the comments after suggesting journalists should stop asking questions about the Government's exit strategy.

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, suggested a "general road map" of how restrictions would be lifted could be useful.

He told PA: “Command and control at any time, but particularly during a crisis, is invaluable in keeping the hearts and minds and support in place.

“You want people rallying behind government, working with government, not acting against it.

“The best way to do that is to ensure that they are as best informed as to what’s coming round the corner, and therefore fewer surprises, or guessing what might happen next, or speculating, which can be more dangerous.”

He said spelling out the conditions – without putting a timetable on them – would be “well received” by the nation.

Asked if Mr Johnson’s absence due to being ill with Covid-19 is a factor in ministers’ reluctance to talk about what they plan to do next, Mr Ellwood said it has been “a real setback”, adding that the PM is the best communicator in Government.

He added: “I think you’ll see a step change in communication when he does return, but ultimately his health must come first, and that’s recognised.”

“What we need is strategic clarity as to what happens next, and that’s what I’m calling for."

Mr Ellwood said maintaining public support is “absolutely critical”, adding: “My concern has been that there has been a clarion call for an exit strategy when the Government must make clear there is no exit from this until a vaccine is procured and delivered to a sizeable proportion of the population, therefore the longevity of this needs to be managed.

“Letting the nation know what is coming round the corner helps keep minds focused and people on board.

“So I fully understand the concern of diluting that central message during the lockdown, but I see three phases to this.”

Mr Ellwood has already posted on Twitter about the three phases: a continuation of the lockdown; a post-lockdown pre-vaccine period in which there is a phased easing of restrictions in some sectors and reopening of schools; and a vaccine rollout.

Meanwhile the UK's death toll is nearing 15,000 after four weeks of lockdown. As of 5pm on Thursday, the death toll had risen by 847 to a total of 14,576.

The Department of Health and Social Care also said, as of 9am on Friday, 341,551 people have been tested for Covid-19, of which 108,692 tested positive.

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