BORIS Johnson has said any divergence on lockdown measures across the UK should only be for a short period of time.

The prime minister, facing questions from MPs in the Commons, acknowledged that a “flexible response” to Covid-19 is needed for the home nations.

But he insisted that defeating the virus and taking on the challenge of recovery must be faced “together”.

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It comes after the UK Government outlined its new “stay alert” message, while the first ministers of Wales and Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, urged the public to stick with the “stay at home” message.

Mr Johnson told the Commons on Monday: “The government is today submitting to the House a plan which is conditional and dependent, as always, on the common sense and observance of the British people and on continual reassessment of the data.

“That picture varies across the regions and home nations of the United Kingdom, requiring a flexible response.

“Different parts of the UK may need to stay in full lockdown longer but any divergence should only be short-term because, as prime minister of the UK, I am in no doubt that we must defeat this threat and face the challenge of recovery together.”