Prime Minister ‘ignored Sage advice weeks ago’

BORIS Johnson is facing mounting criticism for dismissing scientific advice over coronavirus restrictions as Downing Street stressed that economic assessments of lockdowns were also key.

Official papers showed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) suggested a short national lockdown was needed in England three weeks ago. But the Prime Minister instead announced a new three-tier system governing the severity of local restrictions coming into force today. Labour branded the failure to act on the advice as “alarming”, saying measures need to go further, and a senior Tory said a “short, sharp, shock” would have been more effective.

The row came as No 10 warned regional leaders resisting entering the highest level of Mr Johnson’s restrictions that the Government has the power to “impose” the measures. MPs were expected to approve the new local Covid alert levels during voting yesterday so the restrictions could come into force today.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the three-tiered system was needed to prevent more severe restrictions and spiralling deaths as he opened the Commons debate.

“And in addition, then, harder economic measures would inevitably be needed to get it under control and needed for longer,” he said.

His Labour shadow, Jonathan Ashworth, accused the Prime Minister of having stopped “following the science” and said he feared harsher measures would be needed. Mr Ashworth said Mr Johnson was “being advised to take action and has so far refused”, and added: “It’s the same virus, the same delays, the same country and the same Government making the same mistakes again.” Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin earlier said the local advice in his Harwich and North Essex onstituency was that a “short, sharp, shock” would be the best way of tackling the pandemic.