A bare-chested pensioner took part in his own passionate tribute to Boris Johnson last night as thousands of Britons sent their best wishes to the Prime Minister as he remains in intensive care.
The Conservative voter was seen clanging a pan with a spoon while shouting ‘come on Boris Johnson, you get better’ and urging his neighbours to take part in a video that has gained thousands of likes on Twitter.
‘Come out your doors, come on, let’s clap for Boris Johnson,’ he continued. ‘You’re running the country, you love us, get better soon, come on my son!’
He was joined by Britons up and down the country who took to the streets to ‘Clap for Boris’ at 8pm, with leading the tributes in a heart-felt video with her family on Twitter.
Mr Johnson is ‘stable’ in intensive care today with a slightly lower fever than before. It comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK reached 55,242 with 6,159 deaths.
A Conservative-voting pensioner takes part in an enthusiastic personal tribute to Boris Johnson by banging a pot with a spoon
Britons up and down the country took to the streets to ‘Clap for Boris’ at 8pm, with leading Andrea Leadsom leading the tributes in a heart-felt video with her family on Twitter
The message ‘Pray for Boris’ and ‘Clap for Boris’ was shared across social media last night and appeared on signs outside houses.
Though not as celebrated or widespread as the ‘Clap for carers’ event for NHS workers on Thursday, plenty of well-wishers chose to mark the occasion and send their support to the PM.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries wrote: ‘Heard a noise outside, clock is slow. I opened my front door to the sound of my amazing neighbours whistling, cheering and shouting, “come on Boris”.
‘I’ll admit, I cried. For the boss, and everyone everywhere in hospital battling #COVID19 get better soon.’
Her colleague, Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison, also joined the tributes and wrote: ‘Tiny street, lots of noise. Get well soon Boris.’
Others put posters in their windows while NHS staff on the Nason Ward at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton held up signs reading ‘get well soon Boris’.
Members of the National Health Service applaud outside St Thomas’ Hospital in central London for Boris Johnson after he was moved to intensive care
Leave.EU also sent their best wishes to Mr Johnson, writing: ‘Thank you for all that you’ve been doing’
At Solihull Hospital near Birmingham, staff urged the PM to ‘get well soon’ in a photograph posted to Twitter.
While staff on the ICU at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth held up signs individually in photographs which were later compiled to read ‘get well soon, Boris, you can beat this.’
The Royal Family led the national response yesterday, with the Queen sending a private message to the Johnson family and the Prime Minister’s pregnant girlfriend, Carrie Symonds.
She said she wished the Prime Minister a full and speedy recovery from coronavirus. Prince Charles, who has recovered from a bout of mild ill health after contracting the virus, also sent a message to Mr Johnson.
And Prince William said: ‘Our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family, who like so many in the UK and around the world are affected by coronavirus.’
Donald Trump led the international response, describing the Prime Minister as a ‘very good friend of mine’ and offering potential access to treatments being developed in America.
The PM was said to have had breathing difficulties when he was moved to the unit at 7pm on Monday. Pictured is a woman holding a #PrayforBoris sign
Others put notes in windows to send Mr Johnson their best wishes as he continues to battle the virus
A tribute from the Prime Minister’s dog was also posted on his official Instagram account
The US President added: ‘Americans are all praying for his recovery. He’s been a really good friend. He’s been really something very special – strong, resolute, doesn’t quit, doesn’t give up.’
Russian president Vladimir Putin sent a letter to Downing Street, offering his ‘sincere support’ and wishing the Prime Minister a ‘speedy and complete recovery’. ‘I would like to express my sincere support for you at this difficult time,’ he wrote.
‘I am sure that your energy, optimism and sense of humour will help to defeat the disease.’
Messages poured in from leaders of the UK’s neighbours in Europe, including Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier sent his best wishes, alongside the leaders of Australia, Canada and Japan.
Staff at the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Nuneaton, show their support for the Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he is treated for coronavirus in intensive care
Pictured: Staff at the Acute Medical Unit at Solihull Hospital near Birmingham this afternoon
Those in the intensive care unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth held up individual signs which read ‘get well soon Boris, you can beat this’ when put together
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, invited the country to pray for Mr Johnson and his family, saying his illness ‘deepens our compassion’.
Staff on the intensive care unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth held up signs individually in photographs that were later compiled to read ‘get well soon Boris, you can beat this’.
The Prime Minister, 55, was transferred to the ICU at St Thomas’ Hospital in London on Monday night and given oxygen after his health deteriorated sharply over just two hours, leaving doctors fearing he may need a ventilator.
He was said to have had breathing difficulties when he was moved to the unit at 7pm – forcing him to call upon Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to take the reins of government.
Mr Johnson was said to be is ‘stable’ in hospital today after a second night in intensive care – amid mounting fears about a power vacuum at the heart of government.
The PM’s fever is said to have dipped in a positive sign as he remains under constant observation at St Thomas’ in central London.
However, there are fears that even the best outcome from his coronavirus struggle will see him out of action for weeks, with experts warning he could need a ‘phased return’ to work.
