Keir Starmer today makes Labour the party of lockdown. Says the covid figures are stark and the government does not have a credible plan.
Says we need "circuit breaker" - a short period of national restrictions.
Starmer "There's no longer time to give this PM the benefit of the doubt. Another course is needed. That's why I'm calling for a 2-3 circuit break in England."
Says it would NOT mean schools closing but should run across halfterm
Says a circuit break would require "extensive support" for jobs and businesses.
Starmer says "it was not inevitable but it is necessary."
Tells the PM: "Act now, break the cycle. If you do you will have the votes. You wont need to balance" between different Tory factions.
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Government wanted smallest number of votes tonight - everything bundled as one
BUT some have been separated out by the Speaker
AND it looks as some Tories are to vote against motion 9, the retrospective vote on curfew / fines / public spaces
Speaker Eleanor Laing opening debate: “Motions 3-9 to be debated together but I can assure the house the q will be put separately at the end of the debate”
So a big announcement today about skills shortages - and it’s not the one about to be given by the PM
A red warning light from the official body which looks at skills shortages about the lack of people available for the social care sector gov.uk/government/new…
This is what the Migration Advisory Committee says about care workers and nursing assistants - vital during a pandemic
They warn of “stark consequences of low wages in social care”
All this before the end of free movement at the end of the year
Even though we are about to experience a huge national spike in unemployment, the MAC warns that the social care sector will “struggle to recruit” if wages are not increased “as a matter of urgency”