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Sir Keir Starmer has told mealy-mouthed ministers to start treating lockdown Brits like grown-ups.

The Labour leader says the nation deserves to be told how the Government intends to get Britain moving again.

Sir Keir, who has offered a series of proposals, says in a blistering letter to PM Boris Johnson ahead of his return to work tomorrow: “The public have made great sacrifices to make the lockdown work.

“They deserve to be part of an adult conversation about what comes next.

"Simply acting as if this discussion is not happening is not credible.”

(Image: Getty)

It came as the UK death toll rose 813 to 20,319 – a “tragic and terrible milestone”, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced yesterday afternoon.

As the nation endures a fifth week of lockdown, Sir Keir’s proposals focus on ramping up testing and identifying newly infected victims.

(Image: Getty)

He told the PM: “If we want to take people with us and secure their consent, this is necessary now.

“The UK Government is behind the curve on this. I fear we are falling behind the rest of the world.”

Mr Johnson, who received the letter at his Chequers country retreat after two weeks of convalescence, has told aides he is “raring to go” after recovering from Covid-19. Doctors gave Mr Johnson the green light to return to No10 shortly before he held a three-hour strategy meeting with Cabinet ministers.

(Image: Getty)

Sir Keir says the PM must reopen town halls and libraries so they can be used as centres to boost testing.

And he says everyone needing a test must be able to get one in no more than 20 minutes travel from home. The Labour leader warned he will hold Health Secretary Matt Hancock to his promise to deliver 100,000 tests a day by Thursday.

And he demanded assurances that will rise to 250,000 a day.

Sir Keir wants talks about ending lockdown to begin now with teachers, unions, businesses and local authorities so the economy can be saved while public health is protected.

And as people begin to use public transport again to return to work, Sir Keir said preparations must be made “to ensure an accessible stockpile of face masks for the population”.

(Image: Getty)

He urged the PM to use the 750,000 NHS volunteers to help trace new victims so they can be isolated. For the most at risk who will need to continue shielding, Sir Keir said there must be a plan in place to get them food supplies.

He added: “The Government cannot fall short in its preparation for what happens when the time is right for lockdown measures to be gradually lifted. Other nations in the UK and countries across the world are publishing exit strategies and having honest conversations with the public about what new arrangements might look like.

(Image: LNP)

“We need to see a significant step-change in the Government’s response to this pandemic. Decisions need to be taken quicker and communication with the public needs to be clearer.

“We have already seen the consequences of poor planning and preparation. That cannot happen again.

“It is in that spirit and in order to arrive at better outcomes that I offer these proposals. I do believe mistakes have been made in the Government’s initial response to this pandemic.

“We were too slow to enter the lockdown, to increase the uptake of testing and get personal protective equipment to frontline NHS and care staff.”

Even those who had succeeded in getting a test booked on Friday were turned away from the overwhelmed regional centre in Portsmouth, a former Brexit lorry park, and told to book again.

Testing is essential to find out who is fit to return to work and who needs to isolate. It also enables those they have been in contact with to be traced and tested.

Friday’s Chequers summit was attended by First Secretary Dominic Raab, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, adviser Dominic Cummings and comms chief Lee Cain. Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, policy chief Munira Mirza, senior adviser Eddie Lister, Political Secretary Ben Gascoigne and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance joined by video call.

During the week the PM held Zoom calls at 3pm each day to be briefed by key figures on latest developments.

A No10 insider said: “The PM has told the team he will be back at his desk on Monday morning. It’s given everyone a huge lift.”

Starmer's demands

■ Reopen town halls and libraries to use as more

test centres.

■ Centres to be no more than 20 minutes travel from home.

■ Talks with teachers, unions, businesses and local authorities now on how to end lockdown.

■ Access to face masks for those going back to work.

■ Using 750,000 NHS volunteers to trace new victims.

■ Food supply plan for those still shielding at home.

■ Testing is essential to find out who is fit to return to work and who needs isolating. It also enables those they have been in contact with to be traced and tested.