Labour accused by PM of 'sitting on the sidelines' while Government is 'taking the tough decisions'

The Prime Minister defended his Government’s handling of coronavirus during Prime Minister’s Questions today amid accusations the NHS Test and Trace programme had a “glaring hole” in its ability to turn around test results.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “The infection rate is rising, this is the very point we need a functioning testing regime. But far from the world-beating system we were promised, the Government can’t even get the basics right.

“The Government is lurching from crisis to crisis, it still lacks even basic incompetence… it lacks competence. This is what is holding Britain back, so my final question is this, when is this problem with test, trace and isolate going to be fixed?”

But Mr Johnson said: “I think he was on the money when he said this Government lacks incompetence. If I can just say to him that we are working flat-out to address all the issues confronting us today, including trying to get the infection rate down.”

He added: “When it comes, by the way, to sticking up for our UK internal market and for delivering on the will of the British people, one of the most important issues facing us today, he is totally silent on this Bill that obsesses the rest of his backbenchers, he’s been totally silent.

“The great ox once again has stood on his tongue, he has nothing at all to say about that subject today because he doesn’t want to offend the huge number of his backbenchers who want to overturn the verdict of the people and take us back into the EU, which is of course what he wants to do himself.”

Mr Johnon accused Sir Keir of attacking the NHS and admitted there was an issue with people accessing coronavirus tests.

He said: “It is obviously a function of the growing demand and the growing public confidence in NHS Test and Trace that we have to supply more and more tests and that is what we’ve been doing.”

He added: “It is hard work, it is hard work, it is a big job, and they’re doing a fantastic job. And I really think what they would like to hear is some praise and encouragement and support from (Sir Keir).”

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there has been a surge in people seeking “inappropriate” coronavirus tests.

Mr Hancock said there had been an increase in people seeking tests when they have not got symptoms of Covid-19.

One school sent a whole year group for tests, which is “not appropriate”, he added.

Mr Hancock also described how some people who were going on holiday had sought to get tests, which is “not what the testing system is here for”.

People seeking unnecessary tests meant that it was harder for those who needed them to be tested, he added.

Many people who tried to access a test this morning were met with the error message: “This service is currently very busy. More tests should be available later. If you cannot book a test now, or the location or time are not convenient, try again in a few hours. Warning: Do not call the helplines – you will not be able to get a test this way.”

The free tests are available to people with symptoms of coronavirus – a fever, new and continuous cough or a loss or change in sense of taste or smell – and for some others such as those who have been instructed to do so by a doctor or local council and some essential workers.

When asked whether the test system is failing, Mr Hancock told Sky News: “I completely reject that accusation. In fact, quite the contrary. Firstly, we have the biggest testing system per head of population of all the major countries in Europe and we built it essentially from scratch.

“Right now, we have the highest capacity for testing that we’ve ever had – increased compared to last week.

“And that testing means that we can find these cases, and therefore help keep the virus under control with the contact tracing system as well.

“However, in the last couple of weeks we have seen an increase in demand, including an increase in demand for people who are not eligible for tests, and people who don’t have symptoms.

“You’re eligible for a test if you have symptoms of coronavirus, or if you have a very specific reason otherwise.

“And we have seen an increase of about 25% of people who are coming forward that don’t have symptoms and aren’t eligible. (They) don’t have a reason for it.

“At the moment, the system is really very straightforward because we wanted it to be easy for people with symptoms to get a test.

“But the message is also clear that if you’re not eligible for a test – if you don’t have symptoms or you haven’t been asked to get a test, specifically by clinician or by local authority – then you shouldn’t be coming forward to get a test, because it makes it harder for people who really need them to get those tests.

He said that in some high-risk circumstances, such as in care homes, there are tests for asymptomatic people.

“But if you’re otherwise asymptomatic then there is no reason to get a test,” the minister added.