What Boris Johnson said during his lockdown roadmap speech – and what he really meant

Our chief political commentator, John Rentoul, reads between the lines of the prime minister’s statement on easing coronavirus restrictions

Boris Johnson leaves No 10 to deliver his statement on gradually ending the lockdown (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

What Boris Johnson said: Mr Speaker, with permission, I will make a statement on the roadmap that will guide us – cautiously but irreversibly – towards reclaiming our freedoms while doing all we can to protect our people against Covid.

What he really meant: Normally I would burble on about Scylla and Charybdis, but this is a tricky operation so I’ll keep it plain as I navigate between the freedom-loving libertarians behind me and the great British public who want the lockdown toughened up and extended for ever.

What he said: Today’s measures will apply in England, but we are working closely with the devolved administrations who are setting out similar plans.