KEIR Starmer has accused the UK Government of "winging it" in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and urged Boris Johnson to "get a grip".
In a clear change of tone, the Labour leader warned him directly that any rise in the infection rate, leading to local lockdowns would be down to his “mismanagement” of the outbreak.
Sir Keir stepped up his criticism of Mr Johnson’s record as he prepared to face him at Prime Minister's Questions for the first time since news emerged of the controversial lockdown trip made by Dominic Cummings.
Commons exchanges between the two party leaders have got tetchier as the weeks have passed.
All eyes will be on the Commons chamber at midday to see how the PM performs opposite the Labour leader with Mr Johnson likely to be grilled over his support for his senior adviser over his decision to take his family 260 miles away to Durham in March to self-isolate.
The leaders will come face to face on the day the UK coronavirus death toll could reach 50,000, having passed 49,800 yesterday.
Meanwhile, new quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving in the UK will be set out by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, this afternoon, including a requirement that the majority of visitors to Britain to self-isolate for 14 days.
In an interview with the Guardian, Sir Keir said Mr Johnson had “got to get a grip" and expressed concerns that the Government was now "winging it".
The Labour leader said: "I am putting the Prime Minister on notice that he has got to get a grip and restore public confidence in the Government's handling of the epidemic.
"If we see a sharp rise in the R rate, the infection rate, or a swathe of local lockdowns, responsibility for that falls squarely at the door of No 10. We all know the public have made huge sacrifices. This mismanagement of the last few weeks is the responsibility of the Government."
Sir Keir added: "My[worry] is that after a week or more of mismanagement, I'm deeply concerned the Government has made a difficult situation 10 times worse. There is a growing concern the Government is now winging it.
"At precisely the time when there should have been maximum trust in the Government, confidence has collapsed."
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