BORIS JOHNSON tonight confirmed his roadmap was “still on track” for the end of lockdown on June 21.
But he resisted calls to bring forward “Independence Day” – despite zero deaths being recorded in England today.
At a Downing Street press briefing this evening the PM said the Government’s four tests to ease restrictions next Monday had been met.
It means groups of six will be able to meet indoors, while 30 will be able to gather outside.
Hugging close friends and family will also be allowed as Mr Johnson urged “common sense and caution”.
The PM said: “This unlocking amounts to a very considerable step on the road back to normality and I’m confident we will be able to go further.
“Subject to the impact of Step 3 on the data we remain on track to move to step 4 on June 21.”
He added that ministers would flesh out “what the world after June 21 would look like” soon, including social distancing and vaccine passports.
But despite his optimism, Mr Johnson shut down speculation he could accelerate the roadmap.
He said: “I think it’s very importantly we should proceed cautiously but irreversibly.
“The secret to the success of what we’ve had so far is that we’ve been guided by the data and we’ve had time to see the effect of each successive stage on the roadmap.”
His reluctance to bring forward the end of measures jars with the strategy in Scotland, where Nicola Sturgeon has accelerated her blueprint.
It also puts him at odds with hawkish Tory MPs agitating for him to move faster.
