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Boris Johnson is “raring to go” ahead of his return to Downing Street – Telegraph

The UK's prime minister, Boris Johnson, has told aides that he is "raring to go" ahead of his return to Downing Street on Monday. 

Lead paragraphs

Boris Johnson has told aides that he is "raring to go" ahead of his return to Downing Street on Monday, as he cited Cicero to insist that the health of the nation should be "supreme" when considering any changes to the lockdown.

Government sources said the Prime Minister was now "back in the driving seat" having been given the green light by doctors to resume work.

This week, Mr Johnson is expected to make a series of key decisions on lifting some restrictions imposed as part of the nationwide lockdown last month.

In a three-hour summit on Friday afternoon with Dominic Raab and Rishi Sunak at Chequers, where he has been recovering from coronavirus, Mr Johnson stressed that his biggest concern was the danger of a "second peak". That could lead to another lockdown to slow down the transmission of the disease, he warned...."

The prime minister spent a week at St. Thomas’ Hospital, including three nights in intensive care, where he was given oxygen and watched around the clock by doctors. Johnson was released on April 12 and has been resting at the Chequers since.

Market implications

GBP has been resilient despite Boris Johnson's absence but is return, while positive for UK politics, will likely bring back the hard-Brexit fears over the coming weeks, a weight for GBP already suffering the consequences of a prolonged economic shutdown. 

GBP/USD Forecast:  How long can it hold on? UK lockdowns and gloomy US data may bring it down


 

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Ross J Burland

Ross J Burland, born in England, UK, is a sportsman at heart. He played Rugby and Judo for his county, Kent and the South East of England Rugby team.

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