This Sunday, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that some lockdown measures will be lifted, which generated confusion amongst members of the public, writes João Freire.

In a pre-recorded address to the nation, Boris Johnson said he is taking “the first careful steps” towards easing lockdown restrictions – even though the UK has the highest death toll in Europe – but bigger fines will be given to those who break these measures:

“Work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.

“When you do go to work, if possible do so by car, or even better by walking or bicycle.

“We want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.

“To enforce those rules, we will increase the fines, for the small minority who break them.”

The new “Stay alert” message was not well perceived by Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon who believes “the risk is still too great” to start easing on the lockdown measures so soon and urges people to “stay at home”:

“The objective now for all of us must be to consolidate and solidify that progress , we mustn’t squander our progress by easing up too soon or by sending mixed messages that result in people thinking that it is okay to ease up now.”

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer said in his own address to the nation the next day that “if we’re to complete the journey safely a road map needs clear directions”

“How can we be sure our workplaces are now safe to return to?

“How can we get to work safely if we need public transport to do so?

“How can millions of people go back to work while balancing childcare and caring responsibilities?

“How to have police enforce these rules?

“And why are different parts of the United Kingdom now in a different path than others?

The leader of the Labour party, vows to keep demanding answers to these questions.