By Ben Kerrigan-
The prime minister is considering a dramatic U turn in establishing a new national lockdown restrictions, which could be imposed in England as early as next week.
Whitehall sources have confirmed that Boris Johnson met his most senior cabinet colleagues on Friday to discuss the possible toughening of restrictions in light of worsening coronavirus infection rates and hospital admission data.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove were all understood to be present at the discussion of what measures could be taken.
Downing Street had insisted the tiered regional framework is the right measure, even though France and Germany have both imposed a national lockdown in response to rising figures.
Earlier Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had said “we are confident we’ve got the right measures in place – which is not to have a blanket approach”. Number 10 has yet to issue a response to the reports that the prime minister could hold a press conference on Monday, or that further restrictions are imminent.
The restrictions could be introduced on Wednesday, November 4, and remain in place until December 1, according to a report in The Uk Times’ . No final decisions are believed to have been made, but increasing pressure is being put on the government to impose a national lockdown. Another major U turn will not go down well with large sections of the British public, but their are also those who think a lockdown is necessary.
senior government source quoted in The Times newspaper said no final decision had been made but added: “The data is really bad.