WELSH First Minister Mark Drakeford’s office has written to the Westminster press lobby to remind them Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement will apply to England only.

In an “unprecedented” move, the FM’s senior press officer stressed to reporters that power to ease or toughen lockdown restrictions in Wales lie with the Welsh Government, not Westminster.

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The officer wrote: “We would ask that it is made very clear in reporting that any decisions the UK Government take and subsequently announce relate to England only.

“I’ve attached a document explaining the legal and constitutional position in Wales – hope that helps.

“We would be very grateful if you could circulate this to the lobby. We would be more than happy to answer any questions they have.”

The letter comes after frustrations over how the UK media has reported on lockdown measures in the devolved nations.

Some news outlets had written that the UK Government would decide when schools return but failed to mention that education was devolved, and therefore Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland would each determine when pupils go back into classrooms.

The letter also clarified that the UK-wide lockdown decision made on March 23 was taken by each devolved nation based on advice from Sage.

Johnson has indicated that some lockdown easing measures may begin as soon as Monday, but Nicola Sturgeon has said now is the most critical time in the fight against coronavirus and extended the lockdown in Scotland for another three weeks.