UK COVID-19 death toll may be Europe's highest, says Starmer

Opposition leader Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll has likely surpassed 27,241, suggesting it is one of the highest in Europe.

Starmer's figures, which combine hospital deaths with care home and other non-hospital fatalities across the UK, indicate a potentially underestimated death toll due to reporting lags.

If accurate, the UK's death toll would rank among the worst globally, surpassed only by the United States and possibly Italy.

Foreign minister Dominic Raab countered that it is premature to make international comparisons, emphasizing that methodologies for counting deaths vary between countries and suggesting per capita comparisons would be more appropriate.

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, faces ongoing criticism for its handling of the pandemic, including initial delays in implementing lockdown measures, insufficient testing, and a shortage of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

Despite the rising death toll, the government is reportedly divided on when and how to begin reopening the UK's economy, with a review of social distancing measures scheduled for May 7.