Johnson lays out the lockdown exit strategy

Boris Johnson’s statement to the House of Commons this afternoon was a reminder of how much more difficult this second lockdown will be politically for the government. Before he could begin, he had to sit through the Speaker ticking the government off for the fact that news of the lockdown had leaked to the media on Friday night.

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Ross Clark

Britain is living beyond its means

Johnson’s statement was very similar to what he had said at Saturday’s press conference. But at the end, he was clearer about what the government’s exit strategy was. He said that its plan was to use mass testing to stay on top of the virus once this England-wide lockdown has ended. Now, given that test and trace was meant to help prevent a second lockdown, there is understandable scepticism about this plan. But it is clear that mass testing is what the government is relying on to prevent a third lockdown, something that would see the patience of Tory MPs’ snap.