UK PM calls for wartime spirit to beat virus in VE Day letter to vets

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday examined Britain's fight with coronavirus to the country's fight against Nazism in World War II, in a letter to veterans to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Johnson, who was hospitalised last month with COVID-19, said veterans they were "quite simply the greatest generation of Britons who ever lived" and that they would never be forgotten.

He said, "On this anniversary, we are involved in a new struggle against the coronavirus which demands the same spirit of national endeavour that you exemplified 75 years ago."

"We cannot pay our tribute with the parades and street celebrations we enjoyed in the past; your loved ones may be unable to visit in person."

"But please allow us, your proud citizens, to be the first to offer our gratitude, our heartfelt thanks and our solemn pledge: you will always be remembered."

The UK government changed its early May public holiday normally held on the first Monday of the month to Friday to allow people to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1945 Victory in Europe celebrations.

But a nationwide lockdown introduced in late March to control the coronavirus pandemic and which remains in place scuppered plans for street parties and veterans parades.

With more than 30,000 dead, more people in Britain have lost their lives as a result of the outbreak than any other country in Europe and Johnson on Thursday told ministers the government must relax restrictions with "maximum caution".

He is supposed to address the nation on Sunday evening to set out a roadmap for lifting the lockdown over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Britons have been urged to join a national singalong from their doorsteps of Vera Lynn's wartime classic "We'll Meet Again" and to hold 1940s-style tea parties at home to mark VE Day.

Queen Elizabeth II will make a televised address to the nation later on Friday to mark the day the Nazis surrendered, bringing an end to World War II in Europe.