Naz Shah wants Boris Johnson to apologise over care comments

Mr Johnson caused outrage earlier this week after suggesting that too many care homes have not followed the correct safety procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.

David Crabtree, who owns a number of care homes across the Bradford district, dubbed Mr Johnson’s comments despicable when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday.

Now Ms Shah has followed suit, tweeting an exchange in Parliament between Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Prime Minister. Mr Johnson denied he blamed care workers when quizzed by Mr Starmer.

She tweeted:

Three times he was asked to apologise.
Three times he refused.
Boris Johnson owes an apology to the hardworking care workers who’ve been taking care of our most vulnerable through #Covid19. pic.twitter.com/dCkEFMgeXH

— Naz Shah MP (@NazShahBfd) July 9, 2020

Mr Johnson's official spokesman was asked during a Westminster briefing what the PM had meant by the remarks.

He said: "Throughout the pandemic, care homes have done a brilliant job under very difficult circumstances.

"The Prime Minister was pointing out that nobody knew what the correct procedures were because the extent of asymptomatic transmission was not known at the time."

Asked if Mr Johnson would like to apologise or retract the comments, the spokesman said: "As I've just set out, the PM thinks that throughout the pandemic care homes have done a brilliant job under very difficult circumstances."