‘Gross irresponsibility’: Keir Starmer criticises anonymous briefings on new Covid restrictions

Newspapers were leaked the plans before a formal announcement

Keir Starmer has hit out at the government’s decision to announce new coronavirus restrictions by leaking their details out on an anonymous basis to select newspapers.

The Labour leader branded the government’s approach to communicating the changes “gross irresponsibility” and said the new rules would affect the lives of millions of people.

Boris Johnson is expected to make a statement to MPs on Monday about the new rules, which could see restrictions tightened and simplified across large parts of the country.

But on Thursday some friendly media outlets carried unconfirmed details of what the plans might involve, apparently sourced from the government before a formal announcement.

“It was an act of gross irresponsibility for anonymous Government sources to tell newspapers on Thursday about plans to impose further restrictions on millions of people,” Sir Keir said on Saturday.

“They did so without any detail, without any consultation and without any statement from the Prime Minister.”

At the start of the pandemic the government was widely criticised for leaking details of its lockdown and shielding plans to individual journalists before formally announcing them. 

The criticism saw Mr Johnson bounced into holding daily coronavirus press conferences where major announcements were made on live television for the public. The government eventually stopped the briefings after the peak of the pandemic. 

Next week the prime minister is expected to announce the introduction of a “three-tier” system, under which every part of the country will be given a rating depending on its severity.

Different ratings will require different levels of restriction, with the most serious rating expected to again involve the closure of hospitality businesses like pubs and restaurants.

It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Friday spelled out new help for businesses forced to close in the worst-hit areas.

The government will cover two thirds of workers' wages in firms whose premises are shut down by law.