Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield blast Boris Johnson for 'lack of clarity' over lockdown

The This Morning presenters vented their frustration over Boris Johnson's address to the nation yesterday, saying it has "tipped them over the edge" with its "lack of clarity".
Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield vented their frustration over Boris Johnson's new lockdown guidance on This Morning today (May 11). Credit: ITVHolly Willoughby and Philip Schofield vented their frustration over Boris Johnson's new lockdown guidance on This Morning today (May 11). Credit: ITV
Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield vented their frustration over Boris Johnson's new lockdown guidance on This Morning today (May 11). Credit: ITV

The pair criticised the Prime Minister after he announced on Sunday that people who cannot work from home should be "actively encouraged" to return to their jobs, but should avoid public transport if at all possible.

He also granted unlimited exercise and sunbathing in public places as long as social distancing is observed.

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People will also be allowed to meet up in a park with one other person from a different household, but fines for breaching the rules will be increased from £60 to £100.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photo call (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) Copyright: GettyHolly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photo call (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) Copyright: Getty
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photo call (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) Copyright: Getty

Schofield opened the ITV show, saying: "We've got to start this morning in a state of utter confusion after last night's address to the nation by Boris Johnson.

"His speech created more questions than answers."

Willoughby added: "And the answers seem to change every half hour."

She continued: "I think we're just about holding on, we've all done so well. We've all done exactly as we've been told.

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"We were doing so well to keep our spirits up, to keep going, to keep going, to keep going, but when there is this level of confusion, it knocks you back.

"When you feel you are just getting to grips with it, you're just keeping afloat, it just knocks you back again."

Schofield said the changes had made him unclear on the instructions, adding: "That is the trouble this morning, we now lack clarity, I understood until last night at 7 o'clock, I understood where we were going, I understood what was happening.

"Now I don't understand, I don't know what's happening."

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab caused further confusion in an interview with the BBC this morning, suggesting that people can visit parents at the same time as long as they maintain the two-metre rule.

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But Holly Willoughby explained how this advice is in conflict with other guidance issued by the Government, which has also stated that you can only see one parent at a time.

The confusion over the guidance led to a second outburst from Schofield.

He said: "You literally couldn't write this, if this was in a farce on the telly I would go 'That is a bit far-fetched, no government would ask that much.'

"It's utterly astonishing. We have been really level on here, we have been really sensible on here, but this has just tipped us over the edge today.

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"Until maybe somebody, maybe, would come on the show and explain actually what it is you want us to do?

"What are we allowed to do? Are you genuinely saying we can only meet one parent?

"Can you meet one parent in the morning and another parent in the afternoon? Can you go round to their house or does it have to be outside? What do you mean?"

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