BORIS Johnson has been urged to “work harder” to communicate the UK Government’s “divergent” approach to tackling the coronavirus outbreak with the public and to share information with the opposition parties.
The call from Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, came after what was viewed by opposition parties as a less-than-satisfactory briefing by Whitehall officials on Friday.
The Highland MP stressed how there were "genuine questions" about the UK's different approach to tackling the spread of the outbreak compared with countries across the European continent.
Following the Whitehall briefing, Labour's Jonathan Ashworth called on the Government to move into an "explain stage" and to be transparent about the data that lay behind its decisions to maintain public confidence.
The UK Government’s approach to the Covid-19 crisis has been markedly different to several countries, which have closed schools and public buildings, banned large gatherings and, in the case of Italy, effectively locked down the whole country.
Mr Blackford told The Herald: “There is a willingness among all of the parties in the House of Commons when faced with a crisis such as this to work together in their national interests.
“I would say to the Government that they have to work harder, given the concerns among the public, to share information with other parties and communicate effectively with the general public.”
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber added: “There are genuine questions to be asked about why the measures of the UK are divergent from other European nations.”
Mr Ashworth, the Shadow Health Secretary, stressed: "The Government do need to be clearer with the British public as to why their strategy is correct and the strategy in Ireland or Spain is incorrect.
"That's why say if the Government can publish more of the science, if they can publish the modelling they are basing their decisions on, if they can explain the assumptions and judgements they are making about human behaviour and allow scientists, other experts in the field, to stress-test it, to peer-review it, that will help maintain public confidence," he added.
The view follows Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, openly questioning the Government’s approach, saying it was “surprising and concerning”, pointing in particular to its decision not to cancel large gatherings.
But No 10 repeatedly insists the Government is following medical and scientific advice, which suggests banning large gatherings would have a “minor effect”.
Asked if the Government was going to put out any more information to show why it thought its approach was the right one, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser were very transparent yesterday in setting out in detail what the Government is seeking to do to delay the spread of the virus and protect lives.”
He explained: “Our aim is to delay and reduce the peak of the outbreak, so the NHS will be in a stronger state as the weather improves and fewer people suffer from respiratory diseases and more beds are available as we have more time for medical research.”
The spokesman pointed out: “One of the reasons why we are behind[other countries] in terms of the spread of this virus is we took an effective approach to containment.”
Meanwhile, there was a divergent view as to how Northern Ireland should approach tackling the outbreak.
The Democratic Unionists insisted this was not the right time to emulate the Republic’s action and close local schools. But Sinn Fein argued that schools, universities and colleges should be closed in the province as people were concerned and the difference with the Republic's approach was causing confusion.
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