Boris Johnson has been warned against "ageist and ill thought out" reported plans to avert a second coronavirus wave by shielding older people.
Instead of potentially advising millions of over-50s to stay at home to prevent another full nationwide lockdown, critics are urging the Prime Minister to clampdown on youths.
Critics believe the radical suggestion - just one of many understood to be being considered by the government - fails to recognise the crucial economical contributions made by those in that older age bracket.
While photos showing younger people continuously flouting restrictions over the weekend, should be signalling where the Prime Minister's attention should be lying, they say.
Former Labour government adviser Joan Bakewell said ministers need to get the message across to Britain's youth about the importance of social distancing.
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Baroness Bakewell, 87, told the Daily Mail : "Young people assume it is over and are not distancing themselves as they should. They know they should, they have been told they should, but they cannot be bothered. That is the crux."
Ex-Conservative minister Ros Altmann said: "What we're talking about here is a group in society that is being potentially singled out for different treatment just on the basis of their age."
While Labour peer Lord Foulkes said: "It is both ageist and ill-thought-out. Some under-50s have underlying health conditions, while some over 50s are key to our economy."
It comes as ministers anxious about a coronavirus second wave are reportedly considering giving people aged between 50 and 70 a personalised risk rating advising them whether to shield.
It would mean that people could be forced to shield because of their age in coming months - and vulnerable people identified in March would once again be made to isolate themselves.
It is being weighed up as one of a string of alternatives to reimposing full nationwide lockdown restrictions, as happened in March, it is claimed.
Tory minister Robert Jenrick has, however, insisted the idea was not being "actively considered" and said it was "speculation". No10 sources also called the reports "speculative".
But Mr Jenrick also refused to rule it out in future, saying: "You would expect the government to be considering all of the range of options that might be available to us."
On Saturday, restrictions which told 2.2million vulnerable people to remain at home - 'shield' -during the spring peak of Covid-19 were lifted in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales will follow later in August.
People who were shielding can now no longer receive government-paid food parcels or Statutory Sick Pay.
The end of shielding went ahead in spite of Boris Johnson putting the brakes on further easing of lockdown rules, as new data suggests the number of new Covid-19 cases in England is rising again.
