This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/sep/20/uk-coronavirus-latest-labour-starmer-calls-for-children-to-be-prioritised-for-testing-as-labours-online-conference-opens
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| UK coronavirus live: officials meeting today to consider case for new restrictions for London, says Hancock | UK coronavirus live: officials meeting today to consider case for new restrictions for London, says Hancock |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Health secretary says nation is at a tipping point and if people do not follow the rules further restrictions may be necessary | Health secretary says nation is at a tipping point and if people do not follow the rules further restrictions may be necessary |
| Q: Does Labour need a majority of working class votes at the next election? | |
| Yes, says Starmer. It needs to earn those votes. | |
| (At the last election the Conservatives had a greater share of working class votes than Labour did.) | |
| And that’s it. The Times Radio interview is over. | |
| Q: If someone voted leave, hates their country being called racist, wants immigration to be controlled and wants a life sentence to mean a life sentence, would they be welcome at a Labour meeting? | |
| Starmer says he wants all views to be respected. The party has 580,000 members. People won’t always agree. | |
| He says he is committed to rooting out factionalism. | |
| Q: You say Labour is under new leadership. But your policy agenda is the same as the old one. | |
| Starmer says saying Labour is under new leadership goes beyond policy. Trust in Labour has been damaged, he says. He needs to restore trust in the party. Until you do that, you will not get a hearing on policy. | |
| He says when he goes out, he asks to meet people who no longer vote Labour. He does not just want rallies with supporters. | |
| Q: Do those pledges still hold? | |
| Starmer says Covid means the challenges facing the UK are now even greater than they were. We cannot go through the anguish of the last six months and then return to business as usual, he says. | |
| Q: Your 10 pledges imply you still want free movement? | |
| Starmer says now the UK has left the EU, free movement no longer applies. But he says people do want the benefits it brought. | |
| Gloria De Piero, the former Labour MP turned Times Radio presenter, says Labour has been running adverts this week saying the PM should get Brexit done. But Starmer used to back a second referendum. Which is the real Keir Starmer? | |
| Starmer says the UK has left the EU. The remain/leave debate is over. He says some of the options on offer in the last parliament were not ideal. | |
| Q: Isn’t the government right to hold firm on state aid and fishing? | |
| Starmer says he thinks a deal can be struck on both issues. And he is sceptical of the government’s arguments on state aid because the UK does not spent as much on state aid as currently allowed under EU rules. | |
| Times Radio is now broadcasting its interview with Sir Keir Starmer. | |
| He started by saying that he thought Labour needed to do more to show its patriotism. Asked if he would be happy to wave the union jack, he said he had done in the past and would be happy to do so again in the future. | |
| Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, told Sky News this morning that he was not worried “at the moment” about the direction in which Sir Keir Starmer was taking Labour. Starmer should stick with the progressive, ambitious agenda developed under Jeremy Corbyn, McCuskey said. And he said that leftwingers in the party had been much more respectful to Starmer than rightwingers had been to Corbyn. | |
| Sky’s Sam Coates says there are members of the cabinet who agree with Prof Carl Heneghan’s argument that imposing further restrictions now would be a mistake. (See 10.45am.) | |
| Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, is about to deliver her speech to Labour’s online conference. You can watch it here. | |
| I will post a summary once I’ve seen the full text. | |
| Here is my colleague Heather Stewart’s story about Matt Hancock’s comments this morning. | |
| In an interview on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday Prof Carl Heneghan, director for the centre of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, said there was no evidence that we are seeing a second wave of coronavirus and that it would be a mistake to impose harsh restrictions now. He explained: | In an interview on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday Prof Carl Heneghan, director for the centre of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, said there was no evidence that we are seeing a second wave of coronavirus and that it would be a mistake to impose harsh restrictions now. He explained: |
| Heneghan said that it would be wrong to impose a new lockdown now. “We can’t afford to go now with harsh measures,” he said. “The impact on the economy here is going to be significant.” It was better to be vigilant. | Heneghan said that it would be wrong to impose a new lockdown now. “We can’t afford to go now with harsh measures,” he said. “The impact on the economy here is going to be significant.” It was better to be vigilant. |
| Q: Will people in London be told to work from home from this week? | Q: Will people in London be told to work from home from this week? |
| Hancock says he would not rule that out. | Hancock says he would not rule that out. |
| On Times Radio Gloria De Piero (the former Labour MP who co-presents the programme with Newton Dunn) asks when Cobra will next meet to discuss coronavirus. | On Times Radio Gloria De Piero (the former Labour MP who co-presents the programme with Newton Dunn) asks when Cobra will next meet to discuss coronavirus. |
| Hancock says an alternative decision making structure is in place now. But he says that does not mean Cobra won’t meet again. | Hancock says an alternative decision making structure is in place now. But he says that does not mean Cobra won’t meet again. |
| Q: Will you bring back daily press conferences? | Q: Will you bring back daily press conferences? |
| Hancock says they have been holding them when necessary. There was one last week. | Hancock says they have been holding them when necessary. There was one last week. |
| Matt Hancock is now being interviewed by Tom Newton Dunn on Times Radio. So far much of the interview has replicated what Hancock was saying in his other two interviews this morning, but Newton Dunn also asked why NHS Test and Trace failed to anticipate the extra demand for tests. Didn’t they realise children get sniffles when they return to school? | Matt Hancock is now being interviewed by Tom Newton Dunn on Times Radio. So far much of the interview has replicated what Hancock was saying in his other two interviews this morning, but Newton Dunn also asked why NHS Test and Trace failed to anticipate the extra demand for tests. Didn’t they realise children get sniffles when they return to school? |
| Hancock said what they did not anticipate was the number of people without symptoms requesting tests. | Hancock said what they did not anticipate was the number of people without symptoms requesting tests. |
| This is what Sir Keir Starmer told Andrew Marr when Marr asked if he wanted to see further restrictions imposed now. Under Starmer Labour has backed the government’s coronavirus measures, and generally he has avoided advocating an alternative Covid strategy. He has said it is important for public messaging to be clear, and he told Marr he did not want to second guess the PM. | This is what Sir Keir Starmer told Andrew Marr when Marr asked if he wanted to see further restrictions imposed now. Under Starmer Labour has backed the government’s coronavirus measures, and generally he has avoided advocating an alternative Covid strategy. He has said it is important for public messaging to be clear, and he told Marr he did not want to second guess the PM. |
| But, when pressed by Marr, Starmer said it would be wrong for the government to delay imposing further restrictions (as Johnson is reportedly considering - see 9.53am.) After referring to what Prof Neil Ferguson said yesterday, Marr suggested that bold decisions were needed from leaders now. Starmer replied: | But, when pressed by Marr, Starmer said it would be wrong for the government to delay imposing further restrictions (as Johnson is reportedly considering - see 9.53am.) After referring to what Prof Neil Ferguson said yesterday, Marr suggested that bold decisions were needed from leaders now. Starmer replied: |
| Marr turns to Scotland. As Sophy Ridge did earlier (see 8.50am), he quotes Starmer saying in January that an SNP majority in next year’s elections would create a mandate for a second referendum. | Marr turns to Scotland. As Sophy Ridge did earlier (see 8.50am), he quotes Starmer saying in January that an SNP majority in next year’s elections would create a mandate for a second referendum. |
| Starmer insists Labour will be arguing against one between now and next May. | Starmer insists Labour will be arguing against one between now and next May. |
| Q: Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, said Westminster should not block a referendum if the Scottish people want one. | Q: Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, said Westminster should not block a referendum if the Scottish people want one. |
| Starmer repeats the point about Labour being opposed to the idea in principle. | Starmer repeats the point about Labour being opposed to the idea in principle. |
| Q: And what if the SNP win? | Q: And what if the SNP win? |
| Starmer says he does not want to start being “hypothetical”. | Starmer says he does not want to start being “hypothetical”. |
| Marr points out that Starmer already set out his view in January. | Marr points out that Starmer already set out his view in January. |
| And that’s it. The interview is over. | And that’s it. The interview is over. |
| Q: Should the Brexit transition be extended? | Q: Should the Brexit transition be extended? |
| Starmer says he does not think that is necessary. He thinks a deal can be achieved. The government should do what it promised. | Starmer says he does not think that is necessary. He thinks a deal can be achieved. The government should do what it promised. |
| Q: What do you want - extension or no deal? | Q: What do you want - extension or no deal? |
| Starmer says he does not think you have to choose. A deal is possible. | Starmer says he does not think you have to choose. A deal is possible. |
| Starmer says he does not support raising taxes now. | Starmer says he does not support raising taxes now. |
| But, before the election in 2024, Labour will present its plans for addressing the debt. | But, before the election in 2024, Labour will present its plans for addressing the debt. |
| Q: Are you in favour of a wealth tax? | Q: Are you in favour of a wealth tax? |
| Starmer says it does not make sense to set out tax plans so far ahead of a general election. | Starmer says it does not make sense to set out tax plans so far ahead of a general election. |
| Writing the manifesto now, four years early, in the middle of a pandemic “does not seem to me very sensible”, he says. | Writing the manifesto now, four years early, in the middle of a pandemic “does not seem to me very sensible”, he says. |
| Q: Neil Ferguson says action is needed now. Do you support that? | Q: Neil Ferguson says action is needed now. Do you support that? |
| Starmer says local restrictions and national restrictions might be needed. | Starmer says local restrictions and national restrictions might be needed. |
| And he say it would be a mistake to wait for several weeks. | And he say it would be a mistake to wait for several weeks. |
| According to today’s Sunday Times (paywall), Boris Johnson is meeting officials to discuss options for further restrictions today. It says Johnson “will reject calls from scientists for an immediate two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown after being urged by the chancellor to minimise the number of businesses affected by any new curbs. It is still under consideration for the half-term fortnight next month.” | According to today’s Sunday Times (paywall), Boris Johnson is meeting officials to discuss options for further restrictions today. It says Johnson “will reject calls from scientists for an immediate two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown after being urged by the chancellor to minimise the number of businesses affected by any new curbs. It is still under consideration for the half-term fortnight next month.” |
| UPDATE: See 10.20am for the full quote. | UPDATE: See 10.20am for the full quote. |
| Sir Keir Starmer is now being interviewed by the BBC’s Andrew Marr. Marr starts with coronavirus, and Starmer is broadly repeated the points that he made on Sky earlier - that testing needs to be fixed, that the PM should apologise, that he should have fixed this over the summer, but that Labour would support new restrictions. | Sir Keir Starmer is now being interviewed by the BBC’s Andrew Marr. Marr starts with coronavirus, and Starmer is broadly repeated the points that he made on Sky earlier - that testing needs to be fixed, that the PM should apologise, that he should have fixed this over the summer, but that Labour would support new restrictions. |
| Q: Do you think £10,000 fines are too draconian? | Q: Do you think £10,000 fines are too draconian? |
| Starmer says it is important to take action against the few people who are not complying with the rules. | Starmer says it is important to take action against the few people who are not complying with the rules. |
| Q: Would you dob in your neighbour? | Q: Would you dob in your neighbour? |
| Starmer says the police have got this right. They have focused on encouraging people to obey the rules. But where people aren’t, action should be taken. | Starmer says the police have got this right. They have focused on encouraging people to obey the rules. But where people aren’t, action should be taken. |
| Q: Boris Johnson calls you Captain Hindsight? | Q: Boris Johnson calls you Captain Hindsight? |
| Starmer says Labour said earlier that testing needed to be sorted out. That was foresight, he says. | Starmer says Labour said earlier that testing needed to be sorted out. That was foresight, he says. |
| Q: Would you back a lockdown now? | Q: Would you back a lockdown now? |
| Starmer says he does not want to second guess what the PM is doing. | Starmer says he does not want to second guess what the PM is doing. |