BREAKING: Boris Johnson To Return To Work On Monday

Boris Johnson is planning to return to work on Monday to take control of the response to the coronavirus crisis.

The Prime Minister has been recovering at his countryside retreat in Chequers after being discharged from hospital earlier this month.

Mr Johnson – who spent three days in the ICU – has told his aides to set up meetings with cabinet ministers next week to get him up to speed, as reported by The Telegraph.

A source told the newspaper: ‘He’s not the sort of person who is very good at doing nothing. In truth he has been working pretty much full time for the past week.

‘The fact that he had a telephone audience with the Queen on Wednesday night shows you that he considers himself to be fit for duty.’

Boris Johnson was well enough to hold his regular audience with the Queen last night, Downing Street confirmed today.

And the Prime Minister has been getting regular updates from his aides while recuperating.

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State has been in charge of the Government since Mr Johnson was admitted to hospital at the start of the month.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters last night: ‘The Prime minister spoke with the First Secretary of State yesterday and he had an audience with Her Majesty the Queen by telephone last night.

Pressed on the PM’s condition, he added: ‘He has spoken with No 10 staff and with the First Secretary of State and he has had a call with the US president and with Her Majesty the Queen.

‘He is being sent regular updates on government business but it is still the case that he is not doing government work.’

Donald Trump last night revealed some of the details of his call with Boris Johnson on Tuesday, saying he sounded ‘sharp and energetic’.

At a press briefing on COVID-19 the US President said:  ‘He [Boris] called me a few days ago. I will tell you he sounded incredible,’ Mr Trump said.

‘I was actually surprised. I thought he’d be like ‘Oh Donald, how are you?’. He was ready to go. I’m very surprised to tell you. It’s like the old Boris, tremendous energy, tremendous drive.

‘I was very surprised because he called me, almost you know, pretty close to when he got out of the hospital.

‘I think he’s doing great, I think he’s doing great. He was so sharp and energetic, pretty incredible, he’s an incredible guy.

‘He’s a friend of ours and a friend of mine. He loves our country, he loves his country a lot, but he loves our country, he respects our country and they’re lucky to have him over there.’

Despite indications Mr Johnson is getting better a picture of him participating in the Clap for Carers at 8 pm on Thursday was not released.