Johnson: UK has 'turned the tide' in pandemic

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday traded barbs with the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer as he appeared in parliament to face questions from MPs for the first time since July.

Johnson began by sidestepping calls to reveal when he knew there was a problem with the exam algorithm for grades in England.

Last month the Conservative government scrapped a controversial algorithm-based system to award grades for cancelled high school exams that had resulted in thousands of students missing out on university places.

Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, accused the government of notching up "twelve U-turns and rising."

"The only conclusion is serial incompetence," he said.

British lawmakers returned to Parliament on Tuesday after a six-week summer break, with Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic setting the stage for a turbulent fall.

Johnson said Britain had "succeeded in turning the tide of this pandemic."