Keir Starmer warns UK’s united front on coronavirus is crumbling due to government’s refusal to publish an ‘exit strategy’ – as Dominic Raab says nothing will be announced on easing curbs for another WEEK
- Dominic Raab stood in for Boris Johnson at PMQs again after partner had baby
- Sir Keir Starmer urged more details about exit plan saying public need to know
- Mr Raab insisted nothing will be announced until SAGE evidence next week
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Dominic Raab was warned that the government’s failure to set out a coronavirus ‘exit strategy’ is splintering the UK’s response today – as he insisted no announcements will be made on lockdown for at least another week.
Standing in for Boris Johnson at PMQs, the First Secretary was berated by Labour’s Keir Starmer for refusing to trust the public with information about possible ways of easing curbs.
Sir Keir said the British people ‘need to know what is going to happen in the next phase’, pointing out that both Scotland and Wales had gone further than the Westminster government.
But Mr Raab said scientific advisers had told ministers earlier this month that the restrictions should not be lifted, and they were not due to update the guidance for ‘another week or so’.
Facing off against Mr Raab for the second week running after Mr Johnson’s fiancee gave birth, Sir Keir said England could fall behind other countries including Scotland and Wales if the UK Government does not publish an exit strategy soon.
Standing in for Boris Johnson at PMQs, First Secretary Dominic Raab was berated by Labour’s Keir Starmer for refusing to trust the public with an exit strategy
He said: ‘France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland and Wales have all published exit plans of one sort or another. ..
‘If you look at those plans, as he’s done and I’ve done, it’s clear that there are common issues such as schools reopening, business sectors reopening.’
He added: ‘Delay risks not only falling behind other countries, but also the successful four-nation approach so far.’
Sir Keir said he was not calling for an immediate end to lockdown or even a timeframe, but added that the government needs to be ‘open with people’.
‘The public need to know what’s going to happen in the next phase,’ the Labour leader said.
But Mr Raab responded that the government ‘can’t give it until we have the evidence’.
‘He’s asked for a time frame and a date, we can’t give it until we have the Sage evidence,’ he said.
‘If he thinks there’s things that we could be announcing, whether it’s workplace which he referred to, schools, or otherwise, feel free to propose those things.’
Despite Downing Street insisting that curbs remain in place until at least May 7 there are signs that the rules are already being relaxed in the face of growing Tory alarm over the economic impact.
Boris Johnson (pictured leading the nation’s silence for frontline victims of coronavirus yesterday) has promised to be ‘transparent’ about a blueprint to loosen the coronavirus lockdown after returning to work
Research by YouGov for the Times found 28 per cent want the lockdown to stay in full even if the conditions set for starting to return to normal life are met
New guidance is being issued to councils on refuse and recycling sites, while Michael Gove gave a strong hint that garden centres and other shops where social distancing can be most enforced could follow soon.
Some construction sites, DIY stores and fast food chains have also stepped up their operations over recent days.
Speculation was fuelled last night as the wording of the government’s ‘five tests’ for easing restrictions was subtly changed.
Slides displayed at the daily No10 briefing held by Matt Hancock showed that it is now saying there must be no second peak ‘that overwhelms the NHS’.
That is potentially more achievable than avoiding a second peak altogether – although Downing Street insisted there had been no adjustment.
The problem faced by ministers when they do decide the shackles can be loosened have been underlined by signs that the public support for the curbs is entrenched.
Research by YouGov found 28 per cent want the lockdown to stay in full even if the conditions set for starting to return to normal life are met.
Some 22 per cent would like to see more shops open, 11 per cent schools up and running, and a tenth say regions should be released at different times.
Just 4 per cent want the lockdown lifted entirely, according to the survey for the Times.