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Sir Keir Starmer has called for a two to three week “circuit breaker” lockdown in England, as he accused the government of having “lost control” of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Labor leader urged the prime minister to “act now” and “break the cycle” of COVID-19 infections, as he warned that the country could soon “sleepwalk into a long, bleak winter.”
He said a “temporary set of clear and effective restrictions” could be introduced to coincide with the October semester in order to “minimize disruptions.”
Sir Keir conceded that a short shutdown “would require significant sacrifices across the country” and would mean that people in England would only be able to take essential trips and work from home if they can.
He also called for people to be banned from mingling with other households, in addition to those that have formed a bubble of support, and the closure of all bars, pubs and restaurants.
But the Labor leader said that would not mean closing schools.
Pedestrians and shoppers, some wearing face masks as a precaution against the transmission of the novel coronavirus, walk down West London’s main street on October 11, 2020. – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to describe the new regime in M
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, in response to Boris Johnson’s announcement of a new three level system for located coronavirus restrictions, Sir Keir said “there was no time to give the prime minister the benefit of the doubt.”
“The government’s plan is simply not working, another course is needed,” he added.
A brief shutdown “would provide an opportunity to reestablish and rectify some of the mistakes that the government has made,” Sir Keir said, while demanding that ministers “control the evidence and hand over track and trace to local authorities.”
He urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to accompany the blocking of a circuit breaker with “broad support for jobs, businesses and our local economies.”
Sir Keir accused the Johnson government of “not having a credible plan to curb infections, has lost control of the virus and is no longer following scientific advice.”
He highlighted how documents released Monday night revealed that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) had recommended a “breaker” lockout three weeks ago.
Minutes from a September 21 SAGE meeting showed that a short blackout period was at the top of a list of measures that would be considered for “immediate introduction.”
Among those attending the meeting, held at Zoom, were the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, and Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer.
The minutes of the meeting were released shortly after the prime minister faced questions at a Downing Street press conference on Monday about his new three-tiered strategy for localized restrictions.
In a direct message to Mr. Johnson, Sir Keir said at his own press conference on Tuesday: “You know science supports this approach.
“You know that the restrictions that you are introducing will not be enough. You know that now a circuit interruption is needed to get this virus under control.
“You can’t keep delaying this and go back to the House of Commons every few weeks with another plan that won’t work.
“So act now, break the cycle. If you do, you will have the votes in the House of Commons, I can assure you.
“It is not necessary to balance the needs of your party with the national interest.”
On Monday, the prime minister announced that the Liverpool city region would be the first part of England to enter the new Level 3 of localized restrictions.
Going into effect Wednesday, this will shut down pubs and bars unless they can function as restaurants, and people will be banned from socializing with other households both indoors and in private gardens.
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Indoor gyms, dance and fitness studios, sports facilities, leisure centers, gambling shops, adult gaming centers and casinos will close along with pubs and bars in the region.
Wedding receptions will not be allowed and people are urged to avoid spending the night in another part of the UK.
Last week, pubs and restaurants in Scotland’s central belt were closed for at least two weeks, as part of Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s own increased restrictions.
Northern Ireland could become the first entire UK region to impose a ‘circuit breaker’ lockout to try to stem the second wave of COVID-19, Sky News reported Monday.
Analysis: The biggest danger for the prime minister is having to follow Sir Keir’s recommendation
By Sam Coates, Deputy Political Editor
Sir Keir Starmer has made his biggest gamble with his leadership to date, making Labor the party of the run today.
After days of discussions about what to do in the face of the increase in coronavirus cases, with several Labor MPs and mayors arguing to relax certain restrictions, Sir Keir has spoken today on the side of the additional restrictions.
He wants the prime minister to implement a two- or three-week “circuit break”. His plan would resemble the original April national shutdown, but with no closed schools and would only apply to England.
The political attractions are clear. This allows Sir Keir to present himself as listening to scientists, after it emerged that the SAGE government advisory group recommended such a move three weeks ago.
He’s also likely on the side of public opinion, after a YouGov poll last night found that a plurality of the public believed Boris Johnson didn’t go far enough.
He has also met the demands of those in his own party who were concerned that Sir Keir was not creating enough dividing lines with the prime minister.
And he could be shown to be right, too: If even medical director Chris Whitty doesn’t think the measures announced yesterday are enough, it seems likely that something similar to the model outlined by the Labor leader will be imposed on the nation in weeks.
Three weeks ago, when Johnson announced the “rule of six” in response to SAGE’s original, not a single MP from the Commons, including Sir Keir, urged him to go further.
This is because the most heated discussions among MPs were mainly among those who believe that the government is going too far.
The center of gravity among the MPs did not seem to be in favor of going further, not even to match Nicola Sturgeon’s ban on mixing at home.
The SAGE leak changed Sir Keir’s focus. Labor argue that they never had the scientific advice to back a call for a stricter lockdown and now they do.
However, this does not change the fundamentals of the debate. The reason Johnson hasn’t opted for a total lockdown so far is because of the consequences on the economy of pushing again to stop millions of businesses and jobs.
Sir Keir couldn’t put a price on his promise to make up everyone who loses, but it would be high. You may answer that the cost of inaction may be higher, but that is not an argument currently being believed in the Treasury. However, Downing Street can resist this argument for a limited time if the number of cases increases more and more.
The greatest danger for Johnson will come if he has to follow Sir Keir’s recommendation.
