BORIS Johnson has been urged to re-open Britain’s deserted high streets and map a route out of the coronavirus lockdown.
Former Cabinet Ministers David Davis and Iain Duncan Smith has joined new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in warning of the damage to the UK economy if there is no clear exit plan.
Officials are reportedly drawing up a three-stay “traffic light” plan that would see some businesses such as DIY stores and garden centres reopen and some pupils to return to school as early as the week of May 11.
It comes as the Prime Minister could return to lead the country out of lockdown as early as next week.
The UK death toll today reached more than 15,000 with more than 114,000 infections up and down the country.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday former Brexit Secretary Mr Davis said it is “now essential we take the brakes off the economy”.
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith echoed Mr Davis’ comments as he told Ministers to stop “patronising” the public and explain their exit plans plans for the economy and so that “there is life after lockdown”.
Mr Starmer also wrote in the paper: “Now is not the time to lift restrictions. But we do need to have clarity about what is going to happen next.”
SUN readers are today urged to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
Yesterday, we backed a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking readers to sign the petition online at thesun.co.uk/georgecrossfornhs.
A government source claimed to the Daily Mail that one plan is to lift the lockdown in phases.
Under the possible plans, outdoor spaces would be opened first while pubs would be last.
The “best case scenario” could see restrictions eased for non-essential shops from early to mid-May.
The guidelines could again be relaxed by June and July – allowing for pubs and restaurants to reopen by the end of summer.
There has been growing pressure on the government to outline its plan, with economic paralysis wreaking havoc on jobs and businesses.
Dominic Raab this weekend confirmed Britain would remain in lockdown for three more weeks until it passes five key tests.
But he failed to outline the exit strategy – sparking criticisms that ministers have been “treating the public like children”.
Last week, Brits were warned that coronavirus restrictions could remain in place in some form until a vaccine is developed – which could take around 18 months.
More severe restrictions will be gradually phased out but some, such as remote working and isolating if you have symptoms of the virus, will remain in some form next year.
Scientists say the discovery of a vaccine is the only genuine “exit strategy” from the virus, meaning the country will have to adjust to a “new normal”.
Insisting Britain was at “a delicate and dangerous stage” of this pandemic, Mr Raab told the No10 press conference on Thursday: “We need to be patient a while longer. If we rush to relax the measures in place, we would risk wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress we have made.
“We’ve just come too far, we’ve lost too many loved ones, we’ve already sacrificed far too much to ease up now.”
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
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