Boris Johnson to face Keir Starmer at PMQs as UK coronavirus deaths reach highest in Europe

Sir Keir Starmer's statement on new lockdown measures will be aired on BBC One and BBC Radio 4. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor - Credit: Archant

Boris Johnson will finally return to the House of Commons for scrutiny over his coronavirus response he faces Sir Keir Starmer for the first time during Prime Minister’s Questions.

It will be the first time Johnson has taken questions in parliament since returning to Downing Street after his admission to hospital with Covid-19, and comes a day after the UK’s official death toll became the highest in Europe.

Johnson has not taken questions in the Commons since March 25 before parliament broke early for Easter as MPs struggled to keep their distance in the Palace of Westminster.

He returned to Downing Street last week after recovering from Covid-19, but foreign secretary Dominic Raab deputised for him in PMQs as Johnson welcomed the birth of his new son.

The Labour leader is expected to question Johnson on the government’s response to the crisis and also pressure him to set out a detailed plan on easing the lockdown.


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Though more than 32,000 have died in the UK during the pandemic, the rate has been slowing and the PM is expected to unveil his ‘roadmap’ of future steps later this week.

Sir Keir, who took over as Labour leader last month, has called for Johnson to form a ‘national consensus’ on easing restrictions while protecting public health.