Coronavirus: Labour leader demands two to three week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown

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 Labour leader urged the prime minister to “act now” and “break the cycle” of COVID-19 infections, as he warned the country could soon “sleep walk into a long and bleak winter”.

He said a “temporary set of clear and effective restrictions” could be introduced to coincide with the October half-term in order to “minimise disruption”.

Sir Keir admitted a short lockdown would “require significant sacrifices across the country” and would mean people in England only being able to make essential travel and working from home if they can.

He also called for people to be banned from mixing with other households – apart from those who have formed a support bubble – and the shutting of all bars, pubs and restaurants.

But the Labour leader said it would not mean closing schools.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, in response to Boris Johnson’s announcement of a new three-tier system for localised coronavirus restrictions, Sir Keir said there was “no longer time to give the prime minister the benefit of the doubt”.

“The government’s plan simply isn’t working – another course is needed,” he added.

A short lockdown would “provide an opportunity to reset and to rectify some of the mistakes the government has made”, Sir Keir said, as he demanded ministers “get a grip on testing and hand over track and trace to local authorities”.

He urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to accompany a circuit breaker lockdown with “extensive support for jobs, businesses and our local economies”.

Sir Keir accused Mr Johnson’s government of having “not got a credible plan to slow infections, it has lost control of the virus, and it’s no longer following the scientific advice”.

He highlighted how documents published on Monday night revealed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) had recommended a “circuit breaker” lockdown three weeks ago.

Minutes from a 21 September meeting of SAGE showed that a short period of lockdown was at the top of a list of measures to be considered for “immediate introduction”.

Attendees of the meeting, held on Zoom, included the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.

The minutes of the meeting were published very shortly after the prime minister had faced questions at a Downing Street news conference on Monday on his new three-tier strategy for localised restrictions.

In a direct message to Mr Johnson, Sir Keir said at his own news conference on Tuesday: “You know that the science backs this approach.

“You know that the restrictions you’re introducing won’t be enough. You know that a circuit break is needed now to get this virus under control.

“You can’t keep delaying this and come 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 of that.

“You don’t need to balance the needs of your party against the national interest.”

On Monday, the prime minister announced the Liverpool City Region would be the first part of England to be put into the new Tier 3 of localised restrictions.

Coming into force on Wednesday, this will see pubs and bars close – unless they can operate as restaurants – and people banned from socialising with other households both indoors and in private gardens.

Indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios, sports facilities, leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos will close alongside pubs and bars in the region.

Wedding receptions will not be permitted and people are being urged to avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK.

Last week, pubs and restaurants across Scotland’s central belt closed for at least two weeks, as part of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s own increased restrictions.

Northern Ireland could become the first entire region of the UK to impose a “circuit-breaker” lockdown to try to curb the second wave of COVID-19, Sky News reported on Monday.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Labour leader demands two to three week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown