Boris Johnson will unveil new ‘take the next step safely’ slogan to replace ‘stay at home’ order in first appearance at Downing Street’s new £2.6m press briefing room on Monday
- Boris Johnson will make his debut appearance in Downing Street briefing room
- PM will use the new press room in Number Nine Downing Street on Monday
- Meanwhile, the PM is said to be preparing to announce new coronavirus slogan
Boris Johnson will make his debut appearance in Downing Street’s newly-completed White House-style press briefing room next week as the PM prepares to unveil a new Government coronavirus slogan.
Downing Street has confirmed the work on its £2.6million media room in Number Nine has now been completed.
Mr Johnson will use the room for the first time on Monday as he hosts a press conference to update the nation on his lockdown exit roadmap.
The new Number Nine Downing Street press briefing room will be used for the first time next week
Mr Johnson will use the room for the first time on Monday as he hosts a press conference to update the nation on his lockdown roadmap
The new briefing room in Number Nine Downing Street has drawn comparisons with the daily press briefing room in the White House
The room will then be used to host all future Government coronavirus press briefings.
News of Mr Johnson’s debut in the room came amid reports that he is planning to ditch the ‘Stay Alert, Control The Virus, Save Lives’ slogan.
Ministers have signed off on a new ‘let’s take this next step safely’ slogan which will appear on Government adverts when the stay at home order is dropped from March 29, according to The Sun.
Labour previously branded the hi-tech refurbishment in Number Nine Downing Street a ‘vanity project’.
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman told reporters at lunchtime: ‘Work on the briefing room in Number Nine Downing Street is now complete, so going forward all future coronavirus press conferences will take place over in Number Nine.
‘They will begin on Monday when the Prime Minister does a press conference in there.’
Mr Johnson’s press secretary Allegra Stratton said the Government still planned to go ahead with daily televised briefings – the concept that was the main driver behind creating the new media space.
The launch of the televised briefings had been anticipated as early as the autumn, but in January Number 10 said they were being delayed as ministers planned to hold regular press conferences during the lockdown.
Lobby correspondents, the political reporters based in Parliament, currently have daily briefings with the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman, or his deputy – both civil servants.
But under proposals set out in July last year, an afternoon session will be broadcast live from Number Nine Downing Street, led by Ms Stratton.
As a politically appointed special adviser, rather than an impartial civil servant, she will be able to take aim at opponents as well as defend the Government’s actions.
Ms Stratton said: ‘Yes, we are (intending to go ahead with the televised briefings) but we just don’t know yet when. It is all about hitting milestones in the roadmap.’