PM repeatedly refuses to apologise after blaming care homes for COVID-19 deaths

The Prime Minister's refusal to apologise for comments he made blaming care homes for not following 'procedures' during the pandemic, has rubbed "salt into the wounds" of every care worker, according to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

In Prime Minister’s Questions, the Prime Minister refused several times to apologise despite requests from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to backtrack on his criticism of the social care sector saying this "rubs salt into the wounds" of every care worker "you clapped for."

’Will the Prime Minister apologise to care workers?’

This confrontation came after the Prime Minister said: “We discovered too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures in the way that they could have, but we’re learning lessons the whole time.”

The Labour leader said his comments had “caused huge offence to frontline care workers".

He added: “Will the Prime Minister apologise to care workers?”

In reply, Mr Johnson 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, throughout this crisis, looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our country and doing an outstanding job."

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

"That is not an apology." Sir Keir said: “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 frontline know that wasn’t the case.”

’We won't take this lying down’

Shadow Home Secretary and Welsh Labour MP for Torfaen tweeted: “The Prime Minister’s refusal to apologise to care workers after blaming them for the spread of coronavirus is awful, as @Keir_Starmer says. Johnson seems to have no idea of the offence & hurt he caused with his comments and should take responsibility for his own failings.”

Sara Livedeas, chief executive of The Fremantle Trust, which runs 11 care homes, said: “I hope the fierce reaction to Boris Johnson's clumsy attempt to pass blame on to care homes for coronavirus deaths will serve as a warning. We won't take this lying down.”

Labour MP for Luton North, Rachel Owen also tweeted her anger, saying: “No apology from Boris Johnson to the care workers he has insulted. Absolute state of a prime minister, who blames care homes and takes no responsibility his government’s neglect to provide adequate PPE, testing and guidance when it was needed to protect patients and carers.”

Nearly 20,000 residents in care homes have died during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Office of National Statistics.

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