Keir Starmer tears into Boris Johnson as he accuses him of 'flailing around' over schools in PMQs showdown

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Sir Keir Starmer has torn into Boris Johnson in their latest PMQs showdown as he accused him of “flailing around” over schools.

The Labour leader told the Commons plenty of other comparable countries were getting their children back into schools.

But Boris Johnson hit back by telling Sir Keir to get "his friends in the left-wing trade unions" to help get schools ready.

On Tuesday, the Government scrapped the plans to get more primary school children back in class before September.

Sir Keir said the Government’s school arrangements “lie in tatters”, parents had lost confidence in the Government’s approach and millions of children were set to miss six months of schooling.

He said: “We are the outlier on this. It’s no good the Prime Minister flailing around trying to blame others.

“A month ago today he made the announcement about schools without consulting relevant parties, without warning about the dates and without scientific backing for his proposal.

"It’s time he took responsibility for his own failures. This mess was completely avoidable.”

There was also a terse reply from Sir Keir after the Prime Minister suggested they had spoken on the phone about the plan for schools.

Sir Keir replied "let's have this out" and added: "The Prime Minister and I have never discussed our letter in any phone call - he knows it and I know it."

The Prime Minister defended the Government’s schools plan saying they were being “extremely cautious” and hitting out at teachers' unions.

He said: “I think what we’d like to hear from the Right Honourable gentleman is a bit of support for that and a bit of encouragement to pupils and perhaps even encouragement to some of his friends in the left wing trade unions to help get our schools ready.”

Mr Johnson added: “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.”

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