Boris defends dropping ‘stay at home’ lockdown slogan amid angry backlash

Boris Johnson has had to defend dropping the powerful ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’ slogan.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon damned ditching the mantra that has brought the country to an effective standstill since March 23, prompting the PM to clarify the new exit advice on Twitter, prior to officially revealing the exit plan to the nation at 7pm.

Sturgeon assured the previous guidance would stay in force in Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland have also confirmed they will continue to tell people to stay at home.

Addressing a briefing in Edinburgh after attending Cobra this afternoon, Sturgeon warned ‘people will die unnecessarily’ if progress against the disease is ‘squandered’ by ‘easing up too soon or by sending mixed messages.

Johnson then clarified people are still being urged to ‘stay at home where possible’ and ‘stay alert’ when they do go out.