Boris Johnson hints London could face lockdown and says: ‘We will rule nothing out’

BORIS Johnson tonight hinted London could face a coronavirus lockdown - with extra travel restrictions for Brits in the capital.

Sources close to City Hall said today that the Government is preparing fresh legislation to give them the power to stop gatherings, and keep Londoners inside.

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It could include measures to stop Londoners leaving their homes except to go to the supermarket or pharmacy, The Sun has been told.

Downing Street said today that ministers could use existing laws to keep individuals "in isolation for their own safety".

And the emergency powers could come as early as Friday, though sources stressed the plans were not imminent.

Boris Johnson said this evening when directly asked about a London lockdown and whether people's restriction could be limited: "We've always said that we are going to do the right measures at the right time.

He told the country this evening: "We live in a land of liberty, we don’t tend to impose those sort of restriction.

"But I have to tell you: we will rule nothing out. We will bring forward further and faster measures where necessary."

Measures like this are being considered because London is the worst affected area in the country - with 621 cases and 25 deaths.

In the country as a whole there are now 2,626 cases - up by more than 600 in 24 hours.

The PM said earlier this week that the virus was spreading faster in London than other parts of the country - and people in the capital should take extra note of the new rules.

No10 today did not deny that extra measures were coming specifically for London.

A spokesperson said: "We have set out the steps necessary at this point in time. But we will be guided by the scientific and medical advice to make sure we take the right steps at the right time.

"We will do whatever it is required to keep the public safe."

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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier that London may have to take "more stringent measures" because of its outbreak curve.

She said: "It will not be the case that all parts of the UK are at the same place on the curve at the same time.

";We know London is ahead of the rest of us so we may see more stringent measures than even those that we have announced so far, being taken but they will not necessarily be taken in all parts of the country at the same time."

Earlier this week Boris announced strict new measures - telling everyone to work from home if they can, and to stop going out and socialising with friends and family.

But insiders said the Government were alarmed that Londoners were ignoring calls to avoid pubs and restaurants, and further action needed to be taken to stop the spread.

Legislation could allow the Government to shut down premises too.

New figures from Transport for London show a drop of 20 per cent on the tubes and buses at the start of March already.

And today it was announced that schools in Wales and Scotland would shut on Friday.

England's announcement is set to come later today.

Boris told PMQs in the Commons: "The House should expect decisions to be taken imminently on schools."