PMQs LIVE: 'Ignorance of the FACTS' Boris slams Starmer as huge care homes row erupts
BORIS JOHNSON has hit back at Sir Keir Starmer after the Labour leader questioned the Government's strategy to protect care homes from coronavirus.
PMQs: Johnson confirms NHS and social care worker death toll
Sir Keir quizzed the Prime Minister on whether the Government should have prioritised care homes from the start following claims made by the head of Care England this week. Mr Starmer said the evidence suggested a "very serious issue" that requires an answer. He also said the Chief Executive did not know when all care homes would be given tests for residence, despite the Government promising the facility for them by June 6.
The Labour leader said: “Yesterday it was flatly contradicted by the head of Care England.
"He was giving evidence to the Health Select Committee and he said we should have been focusing on care homes from the start.
“Despite what is being said, there are cases of people who either didn't have a COVID status or were symptomatic who were discharged into our care homes.”
Hitting back at the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister called his counterpart "ignorant of the facts".
He said that despite what Sir Keir said, 118,000 care home workers had already been tested and that capacity was being ramped up.
Mr Johnson added: “As I said to him last week, which he doesn't seem to have remembered, actually, the number of patients discharged from hospitals into care homes was 14 percent down on January.
“The guidance was changed to reflect the epidemic and that guidance was available to care homes and of course since the care homes action plan began, we have seen a sharp reduction in the number of deaths including care homes.”
The latest figures for the Department for Health has revealed the coronavirus death toll in the UK has increased to 35,341 – and remains the second highest in the world.
Meanwhile data compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has the number of COVID-19 fatalities above 44,000.
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12.48pm update: PM says NHS staff may receive a medal
Tory MP Tom Randall asked the Prime Minister if the Government would consider the idea of a medal for NHS workers.
During PMQs, Mr Johnson replied: "We are indeed looking at the excellent suggestion made by my honourable friend's constituent, Elizabeth.
"We are thinking how to recognise the work of health care staff, of carers, of many others and we're engaging with staff and employers at the present time."
12.40pm update: Boris asked to ‘condemn or condone’ Scotland Secretary over lockdown breach
The SNP's Allan Dorans has asked Boris Johnson "condemn or condone" his Scottish Secretary after the MP broke the lockdown rules imposed by Nicola Sturgeon to travel to Westminster for work.
Mr Dorrans added: "Condemn or condone, Prime Minister?"
Mr Johnson replied: "All I can say is no. I won't. I think the Secretary of State for Scotland does an admirable job."
12.35pm update: Boris shuts down possibility of Brexit extension
Boris Johnson has shut down calls for a Brexit extension from Northern Ireland and reassured the House he has held positive talks with Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
Colum Eastwood MP, the leader of Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party, has demanded the Prime Minister request a Brexit extension to the transition period.
He said the "petty" Brexit policy to leave at the end of the year come-what-may, risked jeopardising the COVID-19 response.
He warned a no deal exit would risk no data-sharing agreement between Northern Ireland and the Republic, something Mr Eastwood argued was needed to help with track-and-tracing of coronavirus.
However, Mr Johnson said he "respectfully disagreed" with the MP and said he had held a very good conversation with Ireland's Leo Varadkar just a few says ago and the two leaders saw "eye-to-eye".
12.30pm update: PM hits back at SNP over immigration plans
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has accused Mr Johnson of being "hell-bent on implementing a wholly ideological immigration policy with no basis in fairness of economics".
However, the Prime Minister said he would take not take lecturers from the SNP on borders.
Attacking the party's independence plans he said Nicola Sturgeon wanted to create a border at Berwick between England and Scotland.
12.24pm update: Blackford challenges PM over immigration bill
Leader of the SNP in the Commons, Ian Blackford has attacked Boris Johnson for the Government's Immigration Bill.
He said the Bill labelled many overseas employees in the NHS as "low-skilled workers".
He asked the Prime Minister if he was "embarrassed" by the Government's treatment of immigrants.
Responding, Mr Johnson said he "values immensely the work of everybody in our health service".
He added the Immigration Bill was not anti-immigrants but simply returned control of migration to Westminster.
12.20pm update: Speakers rages at Health Secretary Matt Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has enraged the Speaker of the House of Commons.
In a sparky outburst, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told Mr Hancock to be quiet while the Leader of the Opposition was asking a question.
After the Tory MP answered back, the Speaker furiously told the Health Secretary to do as he is told or leave the Commons.
He said: “Sorry, do you want to leave the Chamber?
“We’re on maximum numbers, so if you want to give way to somebody else I’m more than happy!”
PMQs: Johnson and Starmer clash over care home strategy
12.18pm update: Boris says UK doing more testing than Europe
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Commons the UK is now testing more "than virtually any country in Europe".
He said: "Already 125,000 care home staff have been tested, perhaps he didn't know that."
He added: "We are absolutely confident that we will be able to increase our testing not just in care homes but across the whole of the community.
"And thanks to the hard work of my right honourable friend and his teams we will get up to 200,000 tests in the country by the end of this month.
"Perhaps it is one of the statistics in international comparisons he hesitates to make but actually this country is now testing more than virtually any other country in Europe."
12.12pm update: PM confirms care home deaths down 31 percent from last week
Boris Johnson said: “Since I last spoke in this House, the number of deaths including care homes has come down by 31 percent.
“I think he should pay tribute to all of those who have helped to fight that epidemic across the NHS and across our health services.”
12.08pm update Starmer questions Boris over coronavirus track and trace
Sir Keir Starmer has asked Mr Johnson why track and trace for coronavirus testing was dropped in March.
Boris Johnson confirmed the service would be made available with 25,000 trackers by June 1.
He said: “What I can tell him is today I’m confident we will have test & trace operation available that will enable us to make progress.
“By June 1 we’ll have 25,000 trackers.”
12.05pm: Boris defends care home strategy
Boris Johnson has defended the Government’s strategy on care homes after Sir Keir challenged the Prime Minister over claims “a protective ring” was placed around them.
Mr Johnson said: "Of course he is right to draw attention to what has happened in care homes and we mourn the loss of every victim but no one was discharged into a care home this year without the express authorisation of a clinician.
"And as I said to him last week, which he doesn't seem to have remembered, actually, the number of patients discharged from hospitals into care homes was 14 percent down on January.
"The guidance was changed to reflect the epidemic and that guidance was available to care homes and of course since the care homes action plan began, we have seen a sharp reduction in the number of deaths including care homes."
12.03pm update: Starmer demands answers over care home advice
Sir Keir asked: “There are cases of people who either didn't have a COVID status or were symptomatic who were discharged into our care homes
“The Government advice from the May 2 -15 was that, and I quote: 'negative tests are not required prior to transmissions into care homes.' What's protective about that?”
12.00pm update: Boris confirms NHS and social care COVID-19 deathsBoris Johnson has confirmed 181 NHS workers and 131 social care workers have now tragically died from coronavirus.
Mr Johnson told the Commons: "I know the thoughts of the whole House are with their families and friends."