Coronavirus: Labour's Sir Keir Starmer urges PM to form 'national consensus' on easing lockdown
The Labour leader sets out seven principles he wants Boris Johnson to consider as the PM works on plans to ease the lockdown.
Monday 4 May 2020 22:32, UK
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has urged the prime minister to form a "national consensus" on the next phase of the UK's response to the coronavirus.
Sir Keir has set out seven principles he wants Boris Johnson to consider as the PM works on plans to ease the lockdown.
The restrictions were introduced at the end of March to slow the spread of , the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The government is required by law to review the lockdown by Thursday, with Mr Johnson set to detail a "roadmap" for the UK's next steps on Sunday.
Ahead of that, Labour has set out some key issues and concerns it wants the government to address in the next phase of its response to the outbreak.
The party is calling for a "national safety standard" for businesses and schools, an "ambitious target" for contact tracing and the introduction of bespoke support for individuals and industries facing huge challenges, like the hospitality sector.
Labour is also urging ministers to devise a national plan to make sure supply chains for protective equipment are guaranteed, as well as a "structured approach to easing and tightening restrictions".
Speaking ahead of further talks with the PM this week, the Labour leader backed an extension of the measures to halt the spread of the virus and promised to work "constructively" with Downing Street.
But Sir Keir reprised his criticism of the government's handling of the outbreak, saying ministers had been too slow on increasing testing, providing protective equipment and introducing the lockdown.
"Mistakes were made at the beginning of this crisis," Sir Keir said, adding: "We need to learn from those mistakes."
He continued: "We want to support the government to get this right and that is why we need a national consensus on what happens next," he said.
"Our priority is protecting the public's health and saving lives.
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"That is why we supported the lockdown and again support the restrictions staying in place at this time.
"However, we need to be honest with the public about the challenges ahead.
"We are in this for the long haul. It is imperative that the government is properly planning for what happens next and properly supporting our NHS and social care services."
The Labour leader acknowledged there will be concerns among members of the public after more than six weeks of being told to stay at home.
"People rightly need confidence it's safe before they go back out to work, travel or use public services," he added.
This week Kay Burley will be hosting a live Q&A with Health Secretary Matt Hancock. You can put your questions to Mr Hancock about the coronavirus and its impact on your life live on Sky News.
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