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| UK coronavirus live: Starmer calls for children to be prioritised for testing as Labour's online conference opens | UK coronavirus live: Starmer calls for children to be prioritised for testing as Labour's online conference opens |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments, including the opening of Labour’s online conference | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments, including the opening of Labour’s online conference |
| Q: Do you have the stamina for the fight ahead? | |
| Yes, says Hancock. He says incredibly motivated to do the right thing. | |
| He says he could increase the number of tests available for drive-through centres. But that would mean taking some away from care homes. He wants to do the right thing, he says. | |
| He says in Belgium they were seeing a second wave. But they brought in new restrictions, essentially on socialising, and that enabled them to bring the second wave under control. | |
| He says “we can get through this - until the cavalry comes” in the form of mass testing, vaccines and treatments. | |
| And that’s it. The Hancock interview is over. | |
| Hancock says he is not apologising for the performance of NHS Test and Trace. He defends what staff have done. | |
| Hancock says his officials are meeting today to consider the need for lockdown measures in London. He says he has discussed this with Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. | |
| Khan wants new restrictions imposed in the capital from as early as tomorrow. | |
| Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is now being interviewed on Sky. | |
| He says the nation is at a tipping point. If people do not follow the rules, including the rule of six, further restrictions may be necessary. | |
| He says the rules are being toughened. | |
| Q: If you knew somebody was breaking the rules, would you report them? | |
| Yes, says Hancock. And everyone should. | |
| Hancock says people should report anyone ignoring social distancing or self-isolation rules. When Boris Johnson was asked a similar question in an interview with the Sun last week, he was not as explicit as this, saying he did not approve of a “sneak culture”. | |
| He repeats the point about the need for people to follow the rules. And if they have the virus, they have to self-isolate. | |
| Q: Are people following the rule of six? | |
| Hancock says people did relax over the summer. But they must follow the rules. If he was not worried about this, the government would not be introducing £10,000 fines. | |
| But the government is also offering much more support to people who do need to self-isolate. | |
| He says self-isolating isn’t like being in lockdown. You must not leave your home. | |
| Q: Why are you a vegetarian? | |
| Starmer says he gave up meat a long time ago, for the body and for the environment. But he does miss meat, he says. | |
| And that’s it. The interview is over. | |
| Q: If the SNP win the Scottish parliament elections, should there be another independence referendum? | |
| Starmer says Labour does not want a second referendum. | |
| He say the Tories are focusing on Brexit and the SNP on independence. But they should be focusing on coronavirus. | |
| He says there should be a Cobra meeting on Covid. | |
| Q: In January you said, if the SNP won a majority at Holyrood, they would have a mandate for a referendum. | |
| Starmer says, if the SNP win a majority, that will have to be looked at by Westminster. But Labour will be arguing against that. | |
| Q: So there should be a second referendum? | |
| Starmer sidesteps the question. He says he wants to focus on “the here and now” for the moment. | |
| Q: You wanted a second referendum. But now you are telling the PM to deliver Brexit. Will you back any deal? | Q: You wanted a second referendum. But now you are telling the PM to deliver Brexit. Will you back any deal? |
| Starmer says he will consider the deal. But a deal is in the national interest. | Starmer says he will consider the deal. But a deal is in the national interest. |
| The PM promised a deal. | The PM promised a deal. |
| He signed the withdrawal agreement. Did he know what was in it? If he did, why did he mis-sell it to the public? Or was it incompetence - not knowing what was in the deal? | He signed the withdrawal agreement. Did he know what was in it? If he did, why did he mis-sell it to the public? Or was it incompetence - not knowing what was in the deal? |
| Q: Do you really want to move on? Or is this just a political position? | Q: Do you really want to move on? Or is this just a political position? |
| Starmer says the last parliament could not agree on anything. | Starmer says the last parliament could not agree on anything. |
| Q: What are your principles? | Q: What are your principles? |
| Starmer says the UK is out of the EU. The leave/remain debate is over. | Starmer says the UK is out of the EU. The leave/remain debate is over. |
| But of course he wants to get into power, he says. That is what he is politics for. He wants to change lives. And you don’t do that from opposition. | But of course he wants to get into power, he says. That is what he is politics for. He wants to change lives. And you don’t do that from opposition. |
| Q: What is your message for the Labour conference? | Q: What is your message for the Labour conference? |
| Starmer says he wants to stress that Labour has a new leadership. He has spent the last six months listening to what people think about the party. He is focused on 2024. | Starmer says he wants to stress that Labour has a new leadership. He has spent the last six months listening to what people think about the party. He is focused on 2024. |
| Q: It’s not very subtle, is it? Corbynites won’t like this. | Q: It’s not very subtle, is it? Corbynites won’t like this. |
| Starmer says they lost the last four elections. | Starmer says they lost the last four elections. |
| He is listening to people. And he will take decisive action, for example on anti-semitism. | He is listening to people. And he will take decisive action, for example on anti-semitism. |
| He says Jewish groups told him they would judge him by his actions, not his words. He is happy with that. | He says Jewish groups told him they would judge him by his actions, not his words. He is happy with that. |
| Starmer says children should be prioritised for testing, like NHS key workers. They should be able to get a test within 24 hours, and results within 24 hours. | Starmer says children should be prioritised for testing, like NHS key workers. They should be able to get a test within 24 hours, and results within 24 hours. |
| Q: How much extra testing capacity would be needed for this? | Q: How much extra testing capacity would be needed for this? |
| Starmer says the government should have increased testing capacity over the summer. | Starmer says the government should have increased testing capacity over the summer. |
| Q: But what is needed now? | Q: But what is needed now? |
| Starmer says Sage said some time ago that, in the autumn, 500,000 people might have Covid symptoms at any one time. So they knew what the demand would be. | Starmer says Sage said some time ago that, in the autumn, 500,000 people might have Covid symptoms at any one time. So they knew what the demand would be. |
| The system should be able to test 500,000 people a day. | The system should be able to test 500,000 people a day. |
| Q: Isn’t it unrealistic to prioritise children, when so many other people need tests too? | Q: Isn’t it unrealistic to prioritise children, when so many other people need tests too? |
| Starmer says this problem has been known about for months. | Starmer says this problem has been known about for months. |
| He says parents have seen children, or whole classes, sent home. | He says parents have seen children, or whole classes, sent home. |
| And this is not going to end. It could go on for months, he says. | And this is not going to end. It could go on for months, he says. |
| He says that does not amount to a meaningful return to school. | He says that does not amount to a meaningful return to school. |
| He says everyone knows that children get bugs at school. He cannot believe the government did not scenario plan for this. | He says everyone knows that children get bugs at school. He cannot believe the government did not scenario plan for this. |
| Sky’s Sophy Ridge is interviewing Sir Keir Starmer now. | Sky’s Sophy Ridge is interviewing Sir Keir Starmer now. |
| She starts by asking if he backs the government plans briefed overnight for fines of up to £10,000 on people who refuse to self-isolate. | She starts by asking if he backs the government plans briefed overnight for fines of up to £10,000 on people who refuse to self-isolate. |
| Starmer says he does support these plans. | Starmer says he does support these plans. |
| But he say that he thinks in most cases people are obeying the rules. | But he say that he thinks in most cases people are obeying the rules. |
| Q: Would you support the government if it calls another national lockdown? | Q: Would you support the government if it calls another national lockdown? |
| Starmer says he does not think a second national lockdown is inevitable. | Starmer says he does not think a second national lockdown is inevitable. |
| The priority is to sort out testing, he says. | The priority is to sort out testing, he says. |
| If he were the PM, he would apologise for the problems with testing. He would make fixing it his first priority. And he would bring back the daily briefings, he says. | If he were the PM, he would apologise for the problems with testing. He would make fixing it his first priority. And he would bring back the daily briefings, he says. |
| In his Sunday Times interview Sir Keir Starmer also said, when asked if he watched the Queen’s address to the nation on Christmas day, that he watched it live. “In times of crisis and in difficult times people do look to the monarch as a voice and a symbol of what it is that we are as a country,” he said. | In his Sunday Times interview Sir Keir Starmer also said, when asked if he watched the Queen’s address to the nation on Christmas day, that he watched it live. “In times of crisis and in difficult times people do look to the monarch as a voice and a symbol of what it is that we are as a country,” he said. |
| (The question was probably prompted by the criticism Jeremy Corbyn received when he answered a question on this last year.) | (The question was probably prompted by the criticism Jeremy Corbyn received when he answered a question on this last year.) |
| Starmer was also asked if he would every be willing as PM to use a nuclear weapon. He replied: “That’s not a question anybody who’s serious about being prime minister will ever answer.” | Starmer was also asked if he would every be willing as PM to use a nuclear weapon. He replied: “That’s not a question anybody who’s serious about being prime minister will ever answer.” |
| In fact, many prime ministers and leaders of the opposition have said they would be willing to use the nuclear deterrent in extreme circumstances - although generally they never discuss how extreme those circumstances would have to be. | In fact, many prime ministers and leaders of the opposition have said they would be willing to use the nuclear deterrent in extreme circumstances - although generally they never discuss how extreme those circumstances would have to be. |
| At least two of the Sunday newspapers have interviews with Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the Labour conference. | At least two of the Sunday newspapers have interviews with Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the Labour conference. |
| Nigel Nelson has spoken to him for the Sunday Mirror and his article is headlined: “Keir Starmer slams Boris Johnson as ‘not up to it’ - but offers to help save Christmas”. Summarising Starmer’s message, Nelson says the Labour leader believes “opposition politicians have a duty to pull together to rescue Britain because the PM is so useless”. That does not sound quite the way Starmer normally phrases things, but it does seem a reasonable summary of his message. Starmer told Nelson: | Nigel Nelson has spoken to him for the Sunday Mirror and his article is headlined: “Keir Starmer slams Boris Johnson as ‘not up to it’ - but offers to help save Christmas”. Summarising Starmer’s message, Nelson says the Labour leader believes “opposition politicians have a duty to pull together to rescue Britain because the PM is so useless”. That does not sound quite the way Starmer normally phrases things, but it does seem a reasonable summary of his message. Starmer told Nelson: |
| And Caroline Wheeler has interviewed Starmer for the Sunday Times (paywall). For their headline, the Sunday Times have chosen a softish line - albeit one that does not reflect well on Labour MP. It says: “Once you’ve worked with donkeys, Labour MPs are a breeze.” Starmer’s parents used to look after rescue donkeys and Starmer told Wheeler: | And Caroline Wheeler has interviewed Starmer for the Sunday Times (paywall). For their headline, the Sunday Times have chosen a softish line - albeit one that does not reflect well on Labour MP. It says: “Once you’ve worked with donkeys, Labour MPs are a breeze.” Starmer’s parents used to look after rescue donkeys and Starmer told Wheeler: |
| Good morning. Today was meant to be the first full day of the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Now it has been reduced to what effectively sounds like a prolonged Zoom call but some conference fixtures remain. There will be major speeches from the leading figures in the shadow cabinet, the Sunday papers are more Labour-heavy than usual and Sir Keir Starmer is doing a series of broadcast interviews this morning. | Good morning. Today was meant to be the first full day of the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Now it has been reduced to what effectively sounds like a prolonged Zoom call but some conference fixtures remain. There will be major speeches from the leading figures in the shadow cabinet, the Sunday papers are more Labour-heavy than usual and Sir Keir Starmer is doing a series of broadcast interviews this morning. |
| Of course, the coronavirus crisis dominates everything. Overnight Starmer has called on the government to prioritise children for testing. In a statement he said: | Of course, the coronavirus crisis dominates everything. Overnight Starmer has called on the government to prioritise children for testing. In a statement he said: |
| In response, the Conservatives issued this statement from their co-chairman, Amanda Milling. She said: | In response, the Conservatives issued this statement from their co-chairman, Amanda Milling. She said: |
| A lot of parents who were trying unsuccessfully to get tests for their children last week may be surprised to learn that they were being prioritised. But no doubt we will hear more on this soon from Matt Hancock, the health secretary, who is also giving interviews this morning. | A lot of parents who were trying unsuccessfully to get tests for their children last week may be surprised to learn that they were being prioritised. But no doubt we will hear more on this soon from Matt Hancock, the health secretary, who is also giving interviews this morning. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 8.30am: Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, and Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary are also on the programme. | 8.30am: Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, and Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary are also on the programme. |
| 9am: Starmer and Hancock are also interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. | 9am: Starmer and Hancock are also interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. |
| 10am: Labour’s online conference, Labour Connected, starts. The opening remarks will be broadcast here, but most events are from members only. | 10am: Labour’s online conference, Labour Connected, starts. The opening remarks will be broadcast here, but most events are from members only. |
| 10am: Starmer and Hancock are also interviewed on Times Radio. | 10am: Starmer and Hancock are also interviewed on Times Radio. |
| 11am: Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, speaks at the Labour conference. | 11am: Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, speaks at the Labour conference. |
| Here is our global coronavirus live blog. | Here is our global coronavirus live blog. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |