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Coronavirus: Key workers 'overlooked and underpaid', says Starmer Coronavirus: Key workers 'overlooked and underpaid', says Starmer
(about 2 hours later)
Key workers have been "overlooked and underpaid" and there will have to be a "reckoning" after the coronavirus crisis, the new Labour leader has said.Key workers have been "overlooked and underpaid" and there will have to be a "reckoning" after the coronavirus crisis, the new Labour leader has said.
Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "They were last and now they've got to be first."Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "They were last and now they've got to be first."
He said another decade of austerity would be a mistake, saying it was "inevitable" that the wealthy would have to pay more.He said another decade of austerity would be a mistake, saying it was "inevitable" that the wealthy would have to pay more.
The 57-year-old won the contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday.The 57-year-old won the contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday.
He defeated Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey in a ballot of party members and other supporters.He defeated Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey in a ballot of party members and other supporters.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir is expected to announce members of his shadow cabinet, saying that it will be "balanced across the party, across the country" and will be diverse.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Sir Keir said: "What we can't do is go back to business as usual we now know who the key workers are, they have very often been overlooked, underpaid and there has got to be a change."Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Sir Keir said: "What we can't do is go back to business as usual we now know who the key workers are, they have very often been overlooked, underpaid and there has got to be a change."
He said funding of the NHS had to be looked at and "we have to think about how we reimagine the economy going forward".He said funding of the NHS had to be looked at and "we have to think about how we reimagine the economy going forward".
"I think it is inevitable that we have to ask those that have more to pay more," he said."I think it is inevitable that we have to ask those that have more to pay more," he said.
"When we are through [the coronavirus crisis] there is going to have to be a reckoning, we are going to have to do things differently.""When we are through [the coronavirus crisis] there is going to have to be a reckoning, we are going to have to do things differently."
Elsewhere, writing in an article in the Sunday Times, Sir Keir said failure to provide enough protective equipment for frontline workers and delays over testing have been "serious mistakes" in tackling coronavirus. His comments come as Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned that exercise outside the home could be banned if people ignore the lockdown rules on staying at home and social distance.
Sir Keir said Labour would support the government if it decides to take the step of further restrictions, including on exercising outside the home.
He was it was "particularly difficult" for those who do not have gardens or live in overcrowded homes, but he said: "We have got to get through this. Every time people break the guidance from the government, they put other people at risk".
But, he said, the government had to plan an exit strategy to end the lockdown, including a national vaccination programme, and this should be published.
Asked about the deadline for a post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal and whether the government can meet it, Sir Keir said the December 2020 deadline was "unlikely" but, he said, the focus had to be on dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
He added that the "very, very tight" deadline should be extended "if necessary".
Sir Keir also said he spent time after the leadership election result "reaching out" to members of the Jewish community, after he apologised for the "stain" of anti-Semitism that has tainted Labour in recent years.
He said his success will be judged on whether Jewish members return to Labour.
Elsewhere, writing in an article in the Sunday Times, Sir Keir said failure to provide enough protective equipment for frontline workers and delays over testing had been "serious mistakes" in tackling coronavirus.
He said that ministers took too long to explain why they were "so far behind" on testing.He said that ministers took too long to explain why they were "so far behind" on testing.
He also called for a "national vaccine programme" against the virus and he said ministers should publish an "exit strategy" to end the lockdown.
Writing in the paper, Sir Keir said: "The Labour Party I lead will do our bit to offer solutions.Writing in the paper, Sir Keir said: "The Labour Party I lead will do our bit to offer solutions.
"But we will also speak for those who have been ignored; and where we see mistakes we are under a duty to expose them to ensure that they are rectified as soon as possible.""But we will also speak for those who have been ignored; and where we see mistakes we are under a duty to expose them to ensure that they are rectified as soon as possible."
With the government having promised it will dramatically increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 a day by the end of the month, Sir Keir said its "greater clarity" over testing "should have come sooner".With the government having promised it will dramatically increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 a day by the end of the month, Sir Keir said its "greater clarity" over testing "should have come sooner".
"Now the focus must be on making sure the promise of 100,000 tests is delivered and that these tests reach those who need them most, including our frontline NHS staff," he added."Now the focus must be on making sure the promise of 100,000 tests is delivered and that these tests reach those who need them most, including our frontline NHS staff," he added.
He also said the UK now needed to be ready to "protect the entire population" from coronavirus as soon as a vaccine becomes available.He also said the UK now needed to be ready to "protect the entire population" from coronavirus as soon as a vaccine becomes available.
"That means building vaccination centres in towns and cities across the country, working with world leaders to guarantee global supply and ensuring key workers and the most vulnerable are at the front of the queue," he said."That means building vaccination centres in towns and cities across the country, working with world leaders to guarantee global supply and ensuring key workers and the most vulnerable are at the front of the queue," he said.
The government must listen to frontline NHS and care workers about the lack of personal protective equipment, he continued.The government must listen to frontline NHS and care workers about the lack of personal protective equipment, he continued.
"We have heard too many stories of staff unable to get the equipment they need to keep them safe or to adequately care for patients", Sir Keir said."We have heard too many stories of staff unable to get the equipment they need to keep them safe or to adequately care for patients", Sir Keir said.
Ministers should also set out when the social distancing measures might be lifted and their plan for economic recovery to protect the hardest hit, he said. 'Challenging the government'
Sir Keir described coronavirus as a "national emergency" and a "global emergency". Ministers should also set out their plan for economic recovery to protect the hardest hit, he said.
He said he wants to "see the government succeed" in defeating it, but that, under his leadership, Labour will provide "strong, effective and responsible opposition". Sir Keir said he wants to "see the government succeed" in defeating it, but that, under his leadership, Labour will provide "strong, effective and responsible opposition".
He added that would not mean "scoring political points or opposing for the sake of opposing", but "challenging the government and asking difficult questions when it is necessary".He added that would not mean "scoring political points or opposing for the sake of opposing", but "challenging the government and asking difficult questions when it is necessary".
Sir Keir spoke to Prime Minister Boris Johnson after his victory and agreed to meet next week to discuss the coronavirus crisis. Sir Keir spoke to Prime Minister Boris Johnson after his victory and said he was due to have a briefing on Sunday on the coronavirus crisis.
The lawyer, who became an MP in 2015, won the Labour leadership contest on the first round of voting, with more than 50% of ballots cast.The lawyer, who became an MP in 2015, won the Labour leadership contest on the first round of voting, with more than 50% of ballots cast.
Meanwhile, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has been elected deputy leader, replacing Tom Watson, who stood down as an MP before the election.Meanwhile, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has been elected deputy leader, replacing Tom Watson, who stood down as an MP before the election.
In a video message released by the Labour Party, Sir Keir promised to work constructively in opposition and said he hoped Labour "when the time comes can serve our country again - in government".In a video message released by the Labour Party, Sir Keir promised to work constructively in opposition and said he hoped Labour "when the time comes can serve our country again - in government".