UK Cabinet 'split over decision to extend lockdown'

The current social-distancing restrictions were put in place for a period of three weeks on March 23, with the last day due on Monday, said the Metro newspaper in a report on Sunday.

However, the government has already stated that these measures will continue past the deadline.

The report quoted a Cabinet source as saying that Ministers were now split between wanting to save lives and wanting to protect the economy, as some fear current action to keep the public safe could create bigger problems for the UK in the future.

According to The Sun newspaper, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel want the current lockdown to be extended by three weeks, while Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove have said that the UK needed more time than that.

They were reportedly pushing for a six-week extension, meaning the measures will be lifted on May 25.

Johnson is currently recovering from coronavirus, after he was admitted to hospital on April 5 with ‘persistent symptoms'.

He was then moved to intensive care on the next evening, but returned to a general ward later in the week.

The Prime Minister was discharged on Sunday but would not return to work immediately.

The Cabinet source said there has been a "power vacuum" without Johnson in charge.