Boris Johnson has spoken to Donald Trump and will have a telephone audience with the Queen this week, even though No 10 continues to insist he is not doing any government work while he recovers from coronavirus at Chequers.
The prime minister spoke to the US president on Tuesday afternoon to “thank Trump for his good wishes while he was unwell”, but also took the opportunity to talk about the G7’s efforts to combat the virus and reaffirm his desire for a UK-US trade agreement. A Downing Street spokesman said: “The leaders agreed on the importance of a coordinated international response to coronavirus, including through the G7 – which the US currently chairs. They also discussed continued UK-US cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. The leaders committed to continue working together to strengthen our bilateral relationship, including by signing a free trade agreement as soon as possible.” The White House said the prime minister “shared that he is feeling better and on the road to recovery”. Johnson will also have a telephone audience with the Queen later this week, probably on Wednesday or Thursday, after missing several weeks because of his illness. The prime minister has also been making calls to government ministers as he seeks updates on the response to the virus, amid continuing criticism of the effort to get personal protective equipment to the NHS and care homes as well as the failure to ramp up testing to promised levels. His spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “The prime minister is continuing his recovery at Chequers and isn’t formally doing government work. “He has been receiving updates from No 10 on the coronavirus response and has spoken with the first secretary of state and senior members of his team. “Yesterday he sent a message of condolence to Justin Trudeau after the very sad loss of life in the shooting in Canada. “Later today, at around about 2pm, he will be speaking with President Trump.” Johnson went to Chequers to recuperate after spending a week in hospital, including three days in intensive care, when his breathing deteriorated. He has been off work for just over two weeks, with Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, deputising for him in the meantime.
During his absence, there have been complaints of a power vacuum and criticism over key issues such as how the UK will eventually try to ease the lockdown.