Coronavirus: Keir Starmer says Boris Johnson lost control 'long ago’ and is losing public confidence

Suggested prime minister was “several steps behind the curve" of the disease

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of losing control of the spread of coronavirus in England “long ago” as the prime minister set out a new three-tier plan for local lockdowns.

From Wednesday all bars, pubs, gyms, casinos and betting shops in Merseyside will have to close.

But other areas with high infection rates, including Newcastle, Manchester, Nottingham and parts of Yorkshire will not yet face extra restrictions, as the government faced accusations of its consultations with local leaders had been  shambolic.

Sir Keir said he was  "sceptical" about the government’s latest announcement.

"Nobody should be under any illusion about where this is heading, or of the need for decisive action,” the Labour leader said.

But he suggested that the public was losing confidence in the government’s approach.   

"The question today is whether the restrictions announced by the prime minister can bring the country back from the brink, whether they can regain control of the virus and provide the support and confidence that local businesses and communities need. That is how high the stakes now are.”

Sir Keir said the prime minister appeared to be increasingly “several steps behind the curve" and had lost control of the spread of the virus “long ago”.

He urged Mr Johnson to accept that the government’s contact tracing programme should be handed over to local authorities and that the package announced by the chancellor last week, to pay part of the wages of those whose employers are legally required to close, was inadequate. 

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey accused the prime minister of “squandering” the sacrifices made by millions of people earlier this year.

He also attacked the government’s communications on its plans, amid accusations millions were kept in the dark over the impending restrictions.