An MP has reacted to the Prime Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown with cautious optimism.

Conservative MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson said: “On the face of it I would welcome a, hopefully one-way, roadmap out.”

MPs in the House of Commons celebrated news that young people would return to schools and colleges on March 8 when PM Boris Johnson made the announcement.

It will be his first step of four on the route out of lockdown.

“Schools, that was a big thing, I’m glad we were able to stick to that date” said Mr Jenkinson.

“It’s really important that we get kids back into school, I know it’s taken its toll.”

The MP said that it was an ambition of lawmakers 'on both sides of the House.' "Even Sir Keir has been clear that we need to get kids back into schools," he said. "I think everybody realises the impact of that (time away) and how that takes priority."

Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer welcomed much of Mr Johnson’s plan, agreeing with him that the vaccine rollout has been 'remarkable' but warned it 'has to be the last lockdown'. He wants to see the lifting of restrictions accompanied by economic support.

Mr Jenkinson is part of the Northern Research Group which has previously put pressure on the PM about the economic impact of restrictions.

“I was glad to hear him say that we aren’t going to pull the rug out from under businesses’ feet.

“I am still concerned about businesses of course I am but what I’ve seen now, what we didn’t have weeks ago is light at the end of the tunnel.

“There was a point at which that light wasn’t there, we didn’t know how long restrictions were going to go on.”

However, Mr Jenkinson appealed for caution.

“We need to ensure we don’t throw it away at the last minute for the sake of a week or two.”