Government 'slow' on approaches to coronavirus, Keir Starmer says, as first virtual PMQs is held

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Government of being too slow to react to the coronavirus crisis in his first appearance at the head of his party at Prime Minister’s Questions.
MP's Social distancing during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo: PAMP's Social distancing during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo: PA
MP's Social distancing during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo: PA

The vast majority of MPs appeared virtually to ask their question of Foreign Secretary DominIc Raab, who was standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he continues to recover from coronavirus.

And Sir Keir received praise from a number of Labour MPs for his performance, where he said the Government was not taking up the offers of help it had been given.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “Over the last few days it’s emerged that British manufacturers have got in touch with many members of the opposition, probably members across the House, saying that they offered to help produce protective equipment but they didn’t get a response from the Government.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs. Photo: PALabour leader Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs. Photo: PA
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs. Photo: PA

“I do understand due diligence and that all of the offers couldn’t be taken up but some of those who offered to help are now supplying to other countries. So they clearly could have supplied in this country and something’s going wrong.

“There’s a pattern emerging here – we were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment and now slow to take up these offers from British firms.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Prime Minister has said this is a national effort and he’s right about that. So, in that spirit, can I ask (Mr Raab) to commit to working with the opposition to identify and take up these offers from British manufacturers for protective equipment as soon as possible?”

MP's Social distancing during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo:PAMP's Social distancing during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo:PA
MP's Social distancing during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo:PA

It comes as Labour claimed dozens of British companies have told the party that their offer to help the Government provide PPE to frontline NHS staff has been ignored.

Over the weekend, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minister and Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves wrote to Michael Gove expressing concerns about the shortages of PPE.

Since then, Labour said they had been contacted by 36 British companies to say that their offers to help the Government provide PPE to frontline staff “have not received a reply”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This included Yorkshire firms CQM Learning, based in Sheffield, which could supply 8,000 face shields per day, Ripon-based Network Medical Products which could provide 100,000 face visors per week, and Leeds firm HPE Consultancy Ltd which could offer masks, gowns, scrubs, hand gel, and ventilators. Bones and Rozes Historical Clothing in Sheffield also offered 100 - 175 gowns a week.

Mr Raab replied: “I don’t accept his premise that we’ve been slow. We have been guided by the scientific advice, the chief scientific adviser, the chief medical officer, at every step along this way.

“If he thinks he knows better than they do with the benefit of hindsight, then that’s his decision, but that is not the way we have proceeded and it is not the way we will in the future.”

He added: “8,000 businesses have offered PPE in response to the Government’s call and every business receives a response.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prompted by a question from Don Valley Tory MP Nick Fletcher he said one billion pieces of PPE had been delivered to frontline staff and he said the Government would “ramp up even further our capacity not just to procure but to produce” PPE.

Sir Keir said: “Clearly this is crucial to those at risk on the frontline who are risking their lives to save ours and the least they deserve is the right protective equipment, and we’ve all heard countless examples of frontline workers not getting the equipment they need.

“This has been a stress test of our resilience and the Government plan is clearly not working, so can I ask (Mr Raab) to tell frontline workers at risk when will they finally get the equipment they need to keep them safe?”

Mr Raab responded: “He (Sir Keir) will know that getting the PPE to where it needs to be is a massive international challenge that every country faces globally from China to Germany, and we have done a huge effort to provide, for example, the ventilators which have bolstered the NHS through this incredibly difficult time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Since the start of the outbreak, we’ve delivered one billion items of personal protective equipment and tens of millions have been distributed via the devolved administrations.”

The session marked a historical moment in the House of Commons, after MPs approved plans for “virtual” sittings yesterday ahead of PMQs.

Under temporary measures drawn up by the House authorities in response to the coronavirus pandemic, MPs will be able to contribute to proceedings at Westminster – including questioning ministers – through video links.

The initial cost of development amounts to £148,793 and the running costs for maintaining the system are estimated at £369,267 per month, according to a memorandum published by House of Commons Clerk John Benger as part of his role as accounting officer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Up to 120 MPs will be able to take part remotely through Zoom while up to 50 MPs will still be able to attend the chamber – although they have been strongly encouraged to stay away.

Tape was on the chamber floor to mark out where MPs should walk and cards showing green ticks and red crosses denoted where they should sit in a bid to comply with social distancing rules of keeping a gap of two metres.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg acknowledged there will be “occasions” where such rules are “not kept to absolutely perfectly” but members were making their “best effort” to ensure social distancing.

He said: “Any changes now will be temporary for the period of the lockdown, because like many things the chamber works best when members can meet in person.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “What we do in this House is not something that it is nice to do, a frippery, a bauble on the British constitution, it is the British constitution.

“It is at the essence of how our governmental and constitutional system works. The ability to hold the Government to account, the ability to seek redress of grievance, the ability to take up those matters brought to us by constituents so that they may be put right, is best done when this House sits.”

He also joked: “In 1349 when the Black Death affected this country, Parliament couldn’t sit and didn’t, the session was cancelled.

“Thanks to modern technology even I have moved on from 1349 and I’m glad to say that we can sit to carry out these fundamental constitutional functions. And I’m enormously grateful to many who are just as traditionalist as I am, who have accepted these constraints.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed no decision has yet been taken with regards to voting and that any considerations “will be completely checked” before being implemented.

“We want to check that that is secure, and that is the key for every member’s worry, that this House, when they’re voting, that it is the person who they say they are.

“So we must look at that very seriously and that will be completely checked before we do something that wouldn’t be secure.”

-----------------------------------------

Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.