Keir Starmer calls for 'round-the-clock' vaccination scheme

In a televised response to Boris Johnson’s statement from Downing Street, Sir Keir reiterated that his party supports the new measures being imposed and would back them in a Commons vote.

But he said Labour will continue to scrutinise the Prime Minister where MPs believe he is failing in his response to Covid-19.

“The British people have sacrificed so much but, thanks to the dedication and brilliance of our scientists, there is hope of a way out of this nightmare,” Sir Keir said, calling on the nation to “recapture the spirit” of the beginning of the pandemic.

“That means using this lockdown to establish a massive, immediate, and round-the-clock vaccination programme to deliver millions of doses a week by the end of the month in every village and town, every high street and every GP surgery,” he continued.

“We need our businesses and public services working hand-in-hand for the common good. We need an army of volunteers and to use every resource at our disposal.

“This is now a race between the virus and the vaccine. And if we pull together as a nation, we can win.”

Sir Keir said the Government had questions to answer over why they did not act sooner, and the effectiveness of the test and trace programme.

But he said: “Whatever our quarrels with the Government and with the Prime Minister - the country now needs us to come together. The virus is out of control., infections are rising sharply, more people are in hospital, and, tragically, more people are losing their loved ones.

“At this darkest of moments, we need a new national effort to re-kindle the spirt of last March, to come together and to do everything possible to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.”

He said: “Let’s recapture the spirit we saw at the start of this pandemic. We now need the Government to deliver for the British people. We now need a Government that’s worthy of the British people.”