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Johnson introduced a three-tier Covid alert level system in England this week. But it has faced calls to go further with a dozen restrictions across the country in a bid to stop the escalation of coronavirus cases out of control. Labor Party leader Sir Keir last night urged Johnson for a two to three week “circuit breaker” lockout as he said Johnson’s attempt to fight the virus was not working.
He added that a temporary national lockdown was needed during the October semester to avoid “sleepwalking in a long and gloomy winter.”
He said: “There is no time to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt.
“The government’s plan is simply not working. Another path is needed.”
Sir Keir added that schools should remain open, but all pubs, bars and restaurants should be closed during the circuit breaker.
He said: “If we don’t, we could sleepwalk into a long, bleak winter. That decision now must be made by the Prime Minister. I urge you to do so.”
His words came after an article by members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) estimated that more than 7,000 lives could be saved if schools closed and people stayed home from October 24 for two weeks.
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12.24pm update: Boris asked if there will be government funding for people in need of shelter during the COVID pandemic
Labor MP Neil Coyle asked if the prime minister could direct government funds to anyone in need of shelter during the pandemic.
Johnson said he will “continue to support people across the country.”
Update at 12.18pm: Ian Blackford, the Westminster leader of the SNP, warns that a “tsunami of unemployment” could follow No10’s plans to eliminate the leave scheme.
He asked the prime minister if he would risk an increase in job losses.
Johnson said that Chancellor Rishi Sunak was planning support schemes for those affected by the virus even after the licensing plan ended.
Blackford said: “We are heading into a conservative winter of mass unemployment.”
He added, citing a controversial announcement published by the government this week: “The prime minister’s next job could be that of the deputies, but he still doesn’t realize it.”
12:15 pm update: Boris Johnson continues to huddle over Sir Keir, accusing him of a U-turn block
Sir Keir said a circuit breaker was in the national interest as he had previously supported the government “and received criticism for it.”
He asked if the prime minister was considering a shutdown during the upcoming mid-term holidays, adding: “Is this correct? If so, why not do it now and save lives?”
Johnson responded by accusing Labor of politicizing the crisis.
He said: “I do not rule out anything in the fight against the virus, but we will do it with a local, regional approach, which can end the virus if it is implemented correctly.”
12.12pm update: ‘We want the regional focus’
Johnson advised Sir Keir to operate with the government.
But Sir Keir added yes, before warning that “time is running out.”
Update from 12.11 p. M .: Opportunisim is the “name of the game for the opposition”
Johnson accused the Labor Party of changing the coronavirus measures.
He said, “Let’s try to avoid the misery of another national shutdown and work together to keep children in school, whom I would now take out, to keep our economy going, and to keep jobs and sustained livelihoods in this country.”
“Let’s take the common, sensible, regional approach, and he would be kind enough to explain to his colleagues that that’s the best way forward.”
12.08pm today: Boris Johnson said that the NHS test and trace was testing more people than in Europe and said this is why the UK knows where the disease is increasing.
He attacked Sir Keir and said: “He wants to shut down pubs, bars and businesses across the country in areas where the virus is low. And yet he voted to do nothing last night in areas where incidents are highest.”
“He says one thing at 5 o’clock, but when it comes to voting on the measures, he didn’t show up!”
12.06pm update: Johnson vowed to introduce the “stricter measures needed” in areas where cases are increasing.
He asked Sir Keir to ask his Labor colleagues to work with the Government.
Sir Keir accused the prime minister of being “behind the curve again.”
He said Labor leaders supported a circuit break above Level 3.
“Carry on, Prime Minister!” he said, before saying that the current measures were not working.
Update at 12.05pm: Sir Keir says the cost of refusing advice is increasing infections and deaths.
He asks Boris Johnson why the numbers are going in the wrong direction.
The prime minister said that the difference between this stage of the pandemic and the case of March is that the peaks are more localized.
12:02 pm update: Keir Starmer takes the stand to grill Mr. Johnson
Sir Keir Starmer accuses Boris Johnson of ignoring scientific advice on a total lockdown.
He said, “Why did the prime minister reject that advice and abandon science?”
Boris Johnson responded, highlighting the fact that all of SAGE’s suggestions have associated costs and consequences.
He said the UK can “end the virus” with the current system.
Sir Keir said that the current approach does not go far enough.
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