Boris Johnson insists he takes responsibility for coronavirus response but refuses to apologise for care home comments

Boris Johnson has refused to apologise for comments he made in which he appeared to blame care homes for not following coronavirus protection procedures.

On a visit to Yorkshire on Monday, the Prime Minister said that “too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures in the way that they could have” during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sector leaders have since said the remarks were “totally inappropriate” and “hugely insulting”.

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But at Prime Minister’s Questions today Mr Johnson refused to apologise and instead said he took full responsibility.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PAPrime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PA

He said: “The last thing I wanted to do is to blame care workers for what has happened or for any of them to think that I was blaming them because they’ve worked hard, incredibly hard, throughout this crisis, looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our country and doing an outstanding job.”

“And as [Sir Keir Starmer] knows, tragically, 257 of them have lost their lives.

“And when it comes to taking blame, I take full responsibility for what has happened.”

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But Labour leader Sir Keir said Mr Johnson’s answer was “not an apology and it just won’t wash”.

Sir Keir said: “The Prime Minister said, his words, too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures in the way that they could have. It was clear what he was saying.

“And the Prime Minister must understand just how raw this is for many people on the front line and for those who have lost loved ones.”

Mr Johnson replied: “He keeps saying that I blamed or try to blame care workers and that is simply not the case. The reality is that we now know things about the way coronavirus is passed from person to person without symptoms that we just didn’t know.”

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He added: “Perhaps captain hindsight would like to tell us whether he knew that it was being transmitted asymptomatically.”

Sir Keir added: “By refusing to apologise the Prime Minister rubs salt into the wounds of the very people that he stood at his front door and clapped.

“The Prime Minister and the Health Secretary must be the only people left in the country who think they put a protective ring around care homes. Those on the front line know that wasn’t the case.”

After Sir Keir quoted a frustrated care home manager, Mr Johnson told the Commons that the Government “appreciates the incredible work” of care home workers before pledging to reform the sector.

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The Prime Minister said he hoped it would be on a “cross-party” basis to which Sir Keir agreed, although noted: “His Government has been in power for 10 years with no plan no White Paper. Of course we’ll join in plans for reforming social care but 10 years wasted.”