Expert warns the UK is ‘potentially one of the last countries’ to end lockdown

Roger Jones, head of equities at London & Capital, warned the UK initially looked as though it would come out of lockdown first.

But there are concerns for the UK economy, which could put the nation into lockdown longer, meaning we could be one of the last in Europe to return.

Jones said, “A lot of the domestic weakness is around concerns over the UK economy being locked down for longer.

“The UK previously looked like one of the first countries to come out of the lockdown situation in Europe, and they now look to be potentially one of the last countries.”

The UK entered into social distancing measures and the lockdown on 23 March, on Thursday it is expected that Dominic Raab will announce a further three-week extension.

Raab has previously said it is “far too early” to relax measures, but gave a glimmer of hope, he said the latest data suggested the UK was “starting to win this struggle.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) said restrictions should be lifted slowly and not “all at once” to avoid a second wave of coronavirus.

But the UK’s Health Minister Nadine Dorries said the UK will remain in a “full lockdown” until a vaccine has been made, which could be up to 18 months away.

In a very unusual break away from Downing Streets official line, Dorries has placed the government into chaos as the lockdown will not be lifted until the end of 2021.

Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan said this is “astonishing” and he described it as a remarkable break from previous government statements.