Boris Johnson pauses rest to telephone Donald Trump to thank him for messages of support

In a sign that the prime minister is preparing to return to work, he will talk to the US president on to discuss the G7 response to the coronavirus.

Johnson is also expected to thank Trump for his messages of support while he was unwell.

Later this week, the PM will have a telephone audience with the Queen for the first time in three weeks.

However, Number 10 stressed that Johnson is not ‘formally’ doing government work and first secretary of state Dominic Raab is continuing to deputise in his absence.

Have your say
Send your letters for publication to The New European by emailing letters@theneweuropean.co.uk and pick up an edition each Thursday for more comment and analysis. Find your nearest stockist here or subscribe to a print or digital edition for just £13. You can also join our readers' Facebook group to keep the discussion and debate going with thousands of fellow pro-Europeans.

Raab will take Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons on Wednesday and will chair a meeting of cabinet on Thursday.

The PM’s spokesman told a Westminster briefing: ‘(Johnson) is continuing his recovery at Chequers and isn’t formally doing government work.

‘As we discussed yesterday, he has been receiving updates from Number 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.’

He added: ‘Later this week, the prime minister is expected to have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen and that will be the first for, I believe, three weeks.’