... as blame game erupts over closing borders too slowly

MINISTERS were accused of ‘unforgivable incompetence’ last night as a blame game erupted over the arrival of the Brazilian strain in the UK.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Government has not ‘secured our borders in the way we should have done’.

And a former head of the UK Border Force claimed the organisation did not have the powers to keep the country safe from health threats.

Boris Johnson insisted the UK had ‘moved as fast as we could’ – while Health Secretary Matt Hancock denied the delay in setting up quarantine hotels had put the nation’s health at risk. But critics highlighted the length of time between the Government becoming aware of the P1 variant in Brazil and the introduction of the quarantine regime to keep it out.

It was only implemented on February 15, around a month after concerns about the variant became widespread.

Critics also question why British nationals or residents continue to be allowed to arrive from Brazil using indirect fights. The Prime Minister said: ‘We have got one of the toughest border regimes anywhere in the world for stopping people coming in who may have variants of concern.’

But Nick Thomas Symonds, the shadow home secretary, said: ‘ This is unforgivable incompetence from the UK government.’

Tony Smith, former head of the Border Force, told the BBC’s

World at One: ‘There’s been a lack of a comprehensive border strategy in dealing with the health threats facing us.’ ÷Passengers told how they had to queue for six hours at Heathrow Airport passport control with no social distancing. It is believed ten flights arrived in quick succession at terminal two on Sunday night.

It was claimed there were just two Border Force staff on duty – a claim denied by the Home Office.

Passenger Camilla Tetley, 26, was flying back from Dusseldorf having spent Christmas with her parents who live there. ‘The staff were not enforcing social distancing rules,’ she said. ‘People were very close together.’