Despite the criticism Boris Johnson is doing what any prime minister would do over coronavirus

The scientific advice being offered to the government is not sacrosanct, but it is by far the best guide, writes John Rentoul

Boris Johnson, flanked by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (Getty)

Any prime minister in a crisis is bound to be criticised either for being too draconian or not draconian enough – and probably both, by the same people.

Boris Johnson is clearly acting on advice, which is what you would expect any prime minister to do. It is hard to imagine Jeremy Corbyn adopting a different policy on coronavirus, although perhaps the better comparisons are with Theresa May or Keir Starmer. I could imagine May communicating the policy less well, and Starmer being rather more precise, but the policy itself would be essentially the same.

Those who criticise the prime minister for abruptly changing the government’s line, switching to trying to reduce contact between people nationwide, may be giving too little weight to changing evidence, and the changing scientific advice based on that evidence.