Boris Johnson set for criticism after UK's Covid-19 death toll becomes highest in Europe

The PM will return to the Commons for Westminster's set-piece event todaay, a day after the UK's official death toll became the highest in Europe.

Labour leader Mr Starmer is expected to question Mr Johnson on the Government's response to the crisis and also pressure him to set out a detailed plan on easing the lockdown.

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It will be the first time Mr Johnson has taken questions in Parliament since returning to Downing Street after his admission to hospital with Covid-19.

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Though more than 32,000 have died in the UK during the pandemic, the rate has been slowing and the PM is expected to unveil his ‘roadmap’ of future steps later this week.

Sir Keir, who took over as Labour leader last month, has called for Mr Johnson to form a ‘national consensus’ on easing restrictions while protecting public health.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who deputised for Mr Johnson when he was ill, warned yesterday that the ‘next stage won't be easy’ but he said ministers want to ensure it is ‘more comfortable, is more sustainable and prevents lasting damage to jobs and livelihoods’.

Among measures being considering in Scotland is the possibility of joining a social ‘bubble’ containing small groups of friends and family from different households for gatherings, even if that was only possible outdoors.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman confirmed the possibility of easing restrictions outdoors was also under consideration in Westminster, pointing towards evidence showing ‘there is less likelihood of transmission of this disease outdoors than indoors’.

The prospect of the UK edging towards life after lockdown came as figures showed a total of 32,375 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered across the UK.

In Italy, the European country which first suffered an outbreak on a horrific scale, that figure stood at 29,315 as of 5pm on Tuesday.