Boris Johnson today faced down his own MPs and a restless public by insisting the UK's coronavirus lockdown must go on. The Prime Minister said the nation is starting to "wrestle" Covid-19 "to the floor" adding: "We are beginning to turn the tide".
But he shot down claims he would spell out a partial exit plan as early as this week. Mr Johnson said social distancing must go on - otherwise it would risk a second peak in the disease.
And he said this would bring "not only a new wave of death and disease - also an economic disaster". It would mean the UK must "slam on the brakes" with a second lockdown all over again.
He added: "I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and risk a second major outbreak and