A Merseyside care worker has said Boris Johnson’s comments on care homes are a “slap in the face” to key workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic.

The Prime Minister has been heavily criticised across the care sector for saying “too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures”.

David Calland, 34, a care worker in Wirral, said: “It is most disgusting what Johnson has said regarding the care sector.

“It’s definitely about covering up the government’s incompetence and abject failures, we have the worst death toll in Europe and one of the worst in the world.”

David said he has worked throughout the lockdown, without anything to look forward to after shifts with restaurants and pubs being closed until July 4.

He said that being criticised so carelessly by the PM after this huge sacrifice was a big “slap in the face”.

In his first speech as Prime Minister in July last year, Boris Johnson vowed to fix the “crisis” in social care.

David said he thought Mr Johnson’s recent comments showed his true colours.

He said: “We’ve had the Clap For Carers and that was really nice, but when this pandemic is over it wouldn’t surprise me if the NHS and the care sector were at the forefront of austerity once again.”

Downing Street said Mr Johnson had been pointing out that not enough was known about the virus in the early stages of the outbreak.

The PM’s official spokesperson said care homes had “done a brilliant job under very difficult circumstances” and the government had “put in place rigorous testing and additional funding”.

But Wirral Unison, who represent care workers in the borough, slammed the PM’s comments and sought to stick up for carers.

The union pointed out that care workers, many of whom are paid the minimum wage, have put the health of themselves and their families on the line during this crisis.

David Jones, Wirral Unison’s branch secretary, said: “Unison represents thousands of care workers and we will not standby whilst Boris Johnson tries to absolve himself of responsibility for these thousands of tragic and unnecessary deaths; it is an insult to our members.

“We do not always agree with the owners of care homes, but on this occasion we know the fault lies with the government.

“We call upon the Prime Minister to take ownership of his failures, and deliver his promise to reform social care. Give care workers the respect – and pay they deserve.”