Sir Keir Starmer has accused the government of “winging it” over how it is managing the coronavirus pandemic.
The Labour Party leader told Boris Johnson he has to “restore public confidence” in how the crisis is being dealt with.
Sir Keir attacked the prime minister’s record ahead of the first PMQ’s since news emerged of Dominic Cummings’ controversial journeys during the lockdown over Covid-19.
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In an interview with The Guardian, Labour’s 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 No10.”
He said: “We want to see society reopen, we want to see more children back at school, obviously people want to see their families and we want to see businesses open.
“But like many people across the country, 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.”
He claimed the Cummings affair and concerns over the test and trace system were reasons why public trust has been threatened.
“Our focus is on helping the country recover safely from coronavirus and restoring the livelihoods of millions of people across the country,” a No10 spokesperson said. “Now is the time to look to the future and not the past, as we continue to fight this virus while taking cautious steps to ease restrictions.”
They added: “The PM looks forward to hearing any concrete proposals Labour has to offer.”
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Mr Johnson has started relaxing England’s lockdown over coronavirus, which has included letting people meet outside in groups of six and the phased return of primary school students from this week.
Sir Keir and Mr Johnson came face to face in the House of Commons on Wednesday in a testy exchange over the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, as the UK coronavirus death toll reached 50,000.
Meanwhile, new quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving in the UK will be set out by Priti Patel, the home secretary, including requiring the majority of visitors to the UK to self-isolate for 14 days.
Foreign travellers who do not follow the forthcoming quarantine rules could be deported, according to the new restrictions laid out by ministers.
The plans – due to be set out by the home secretary on Wednesday – will see people arriving in the UK from 8 June told to isolate for two weeks to prevent coronavirus cases being introduced from overseas.
The Home Office said removal from the country would be considered “as a last resort” for foreign nationals who refuse to comply with the order to stay at a single residence.
The quarantine plan has been condemned by businesses in the travel sector and there have been calls from senior Tories for the plan to be scrapped in favour of the so-called air bridge solution.
The prime minister’s official spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the government is still looking at the prospect of air bridges between the UK and other countries, creating specific exemptions from the quarantine rules.
Additional reporting by Press Association
