Labour leader has called on the Prime Minister to convene an
emergency COBRA meeting to review the current relaxation of
restrictions over Christmas, following a sharp rise in coronavirus
cases.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, said: “It has become increasingly clear over recent
days that the tier system you introduced two weeks ago has failed
to control transmission of Covid-19. Sadly, it does now appear
that the Government has - once again - lost control of
infections, putting our economy and our NHS at grave risk in the
new year.”
He adds: “I understand that people want to spend time with their
families after this awful year, but the situation has clearly
taken a turn for the worse since the decision about Christmas was
taken. It serves no-one for politicians to ignore this fact.
“It is my view that you should now convene COBRA in the next 24
hours to review whether the current relaxation is appropriate
given the rising number of cases.”
The Labour leader has pledged to support the Government if it
concludes that tougher restrictions will be needed to save lives,
protect the NHS and secure the economy from another national
lockdown.
He says: “If you conclude with Government scientists that we need
to take tougher action to keep people safe over Christmas, then
you will have my support.”
Warning that short-term indecision could cause long-term damage
to our NHS and economy, Starmer says: “This is a critical moment
for our country. The tiered system has not kept the virus under
control and has left us with precious little headroom. Put
simply, if you take the wrong decision now, the ramifications for
our NHS and our economy in the new year could be severe.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Full text of the letter
Dear Prime Minister,
Urgent review of the Covid Christmas restrictions
It has become increasingly clear over recent days that the tier
system you introduced two weeks ago has failed to control
transmission of Covid-19. Sadly, it does now appear that the
Government has - once again - lost control of infections, putting
our economy and our NHS at grave risk in the new year.
This will be a source of great anxiety for people across the
country, who have made so many sacrifices to keep families, loved
ones and communities safe. The fantastic work of scientists and
others in developing a vaccine has been a tremendous achievement
for our country and allowed us to all feel hopeful again. But we
have been brought back down to earth with a thud as the grim
possibility of an increasingly bleak winter comes into view.
I welcomed the fact that the Government had sought a four-nation
approach on the arrangements over the Christmas period. I
understand that people want to spend time with their families
after this awful year, but the situation has clearly taken a turn
for the worse since the decision about Christmas was taken. It
serves no-one for politicians to ignore this fact.
It is my view that you should now convene COBRA in the next 24
hours to review whether the current relaxation is appropriate
given the rising number of cases. If you conclude with Government
scientists that we need to take tougher action to keep people
safe over Christmas, then you will have my support.
Any further tightening of restrictions will obviously be deeply
disappointing to many across the country. Many will have already
started planning for Christmas and would have held on to the
prospect of a happy day with family and loved ones to get us
through these tough months. But the public do not want false
reassurance, warm words or ducked challenges from their Prime
Minister. They want leadership.
This is a critical moment for our country. The tiered system has
not kept the virus under control and has left us with precious
little headroom. Put simply, if you take the wrong decision now,
the ramifications for our NHS and our economy in the new year
could be severe.
Our country has already seen one of the worst excess death rates
in Europe and the worst recession of any major economy. This was
not inevitable, but a failure to take the tough decisions at the
right time. The Government was too slow at the start of the
pandemic and in September, when it was clear we needed a circuit
break over half-term, you chose to ignore the scientific advice
and delayed the inevitable until November.
I am urging you to not repeat that same mistake now. Your
priority should be a safe Christmas, which allows a healthy and
prosperous new year.
Yours sincerely
Leader of the Labour Party
