ITV Good Morning Britain (GMB) host Piers Morgan clashed with Housing Minister Robert Jenrick after Boris Johnson said construction workers can still go to work after he put the UK on a police-enforced lockdown. Mr Jenrick was torn apart when he said the move was to keep the “economy moving forward” during the coronavirus pandemic. 

It comes after Mr Johnson changed his advice to workers, saying it is not only key workers but those that cannot work from home who can travel to work during the COVD-19 pandemic.

That means builders on sites – who cannot work from home – are still allowed to work if they practice social distancing.

Speaking of this decision, Mr Jenrick said: “We have to keep essential services and the economy moving forward.

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“We need to ensure that services are delivered and the critical infrastructure of the country is maintained.”

But Piers hit back, shouting: “You’re putting money above lives, aren’t you?

“How are you going to feel with a policy that is opposite against country like France if the UK death rate explodes because you didn’t lock down the country properly?”

But Mr Jenrick said: “In construction a number of employers have decided they can’t follow the Public Health England guidance and choosing and shut down their sites.

“That is the right thing to do.”

Speaking on GMB, Mr Jenrick said the Government was asking people to stay at home to “relieve pressure on the NHS and save people lives”.

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But Piers butted in and pointed out: “So why did the government advice go from go to work if you’re a key worker to go to work but work from home if possible?”

But Mr Jenrick said: “No there’s not been a change there.

“We issued guidance on who are key workers for the purpose of the closures of schools and their transition in to essentially childcare setting and for that we said here are people who are key workers and these are the workers whose children should remain in school along with certain other vulnerable people.

“More widely we have said that you can continue to go to work – if you can work from home you must do so.

“If it’s impossible to work from home you can go to work. You and your employers should follow Public Health England’s guidance.”

The fiery clash comes after the Prime Minister announced the UK was on lockdown during a dramatic address from Downing Street.

Mr Johnson said essential journeys should be made by key workers and people working if “absolutely necessary”.

The Prime Minister warned travelling to and from work is only allowed for listed key workers and those who cannot work from home by any means.

The list of key workers includes doctors, nurses, delivery drivers and teachers.

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