Coronavirus: PM's plans to get more pupils back to school 'lie in tatters', Starmer says
The Labour leader tells Boris Johnson that parents have "lost confidence in the government's approach".
Wednesday 10 June 2020 15:42, UK
Government plans to get more pupils back to school in England during the coronavirus pandemic "lie in tatters", Sir Keir Starmer has said, as he told the prime minister the UK's number of COVID-19 deaths should "haunt us".
The Labour leader and Boris Johnson clashed in the Commons at PMQs.
It was the first time they faced each other since it was confirmed ministers have dropped plans for all primary school pupils to return before the summer holidays during the coronavirus outbreak.
A phased reopening got under way on 1 June for pupils in nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 as the COVID-19 lockdown continues to be eased.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has promised to "work with the sector" and said the government would like to see schools who "have the capacity" to bring back more pupils before the end of the summer term where possible.
Critics have said a full return for primary schools was impossible because of capacity issues, staff shortages and social distancing.
Raising the issue in the Commons, Sir Keir called on Mr Johnson to back his calls for a national taskforce to be set up to look at bringing more pupils back to school.
"We all want as many children back into school as soon as it's possible and as soon as it's safe," the Labour leader said.
"What was required for that to happen was a robust national plan, consensus among all key stakeholders and strong leadership from the top - all three are missing.
"The current arrangements lie in tatters, parents have lost confidence in the government's approach, millions of children will miss six months' worth of schooling and inequality will now go up.
"Several weeks ago I suggested setting up a national taskforce so everyone could put their shoulder to the wheel. It's not too late, will the prime minister take me up on this?"
Mr Johnson accused his opposite number of mixed messages on the subject, telling MPs: "Last week he was telling the House that it was not yet safe for kids to go back to school, this week he's saying that not enough kids are going back to school. I really think he needs to make up his mind."
He told Sir Keir to encourage "his friends in the left-wing trade unions" to help get schools ready.
And the PM defended his government's "extremely cautious approach" on the matter, adding: "97% of schools that have submitted data are now seeing kids come back to school."
Mr Johnson suggested he had already spoken with the Labour leader about his schools plan, prompting Sir Keir to reply "let's have this out".
The Opposition leader continued: "The prime minister and I have never discussed our letter in any phone call - he knows it and I know it.
"The taskforce has never been the subject of a conversation between him and me one-to-one or in any other circumstance on the telephone. He knows it so please drop that."
Sir Keir described the UK as an "outlier" when it comes to reopening schools, accusing Mr Johnson of "flailing around" and "trying to blame others".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on , , ,
"It's time he took responsibility for his own failings," the Labour leader demanded.
"This mess was completely avoidable. The consequences are stark."
Sir Keir said the government risked "further inequality" in England if it did not extend the national voucher scheme to ensure vulnerable children got free meals over the summer.
Mr Johnson told the Commons that ministers were aware of the "particular difficulties faced by vulnerable families".
He continued: "That's why we're announcing a further £63m of local welfare assistance to be used by local authorities at their discretion to help the most vulnerable families."
The PM claimed his government has "put its arms around the people of this country" throughout the pandemic.
Sir Keir and Mr Johnson also clashed over the UK's number of coronavirus-related deaths, which now stands at more than 40,000.
The Labour leader said the figure should "haunt us", adding that the Office for National Statistics has recorded 63,000 excess deaths since the pandemic began.
He noted that last week the PM said he was proud of the government's response to the virus, telling Mr Johnson there can be "no pride" in those figures.
"On the death figures for this country, we mourn every one and we grieve for them and for their relatives and their friends," the PM said in response.
He added: "The best scientific evidence and advice is that we must wait until the epidemic has been through its whole cycle in order to draw the relevant international conclusions."
Mr Johnson also highlighted the "astonishing" achievement of the NHS Nightingale hospitals being built, as well as the way "this country came together to drive down, to follow the social distancing rules in spite of all the doubt that was cast on the advice".