Starmer says UK government 'slow' on travel measures

UK opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer on Friday criticised the British government's speed in introducing tighter restrictions on entry into the UK.

Britian moved on Friday to toughen up its entry requirements by scrapping travel corridors in the face of new coronavirus variants, arguing that the measures were needed to ensure Britain's fast-moving vaccination program isn't derailed.

British Prime Minister Prime Minister Boris Johnson said remaining travel corridors will end on Monday and that everyone flying into the U.K. will have to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before departure.

Under the travel corridor arrangements, anyone arriving in the U.K. from countries deemed safe was exempt from a period of quarantine.

Once in Britain, travelers will have to self-isolate for ten days unless they can show evidence of a further negative test at least five days after arrival.

Starmer said he supported the decision to end the travel corriodors but questioned why the government had been "slow" to implement the measures.

"I think a lot of the British public will say, look, we're really worried about the virus in other countries, other countries have taken measures," he said.

"We were slow to it, and they will be wondering why this didn't happen sooner or why the delay now till Monday."