Keir Starmer fumbles over Labour funding plans as he demands new Covid restrictions
Keir Starmer criticises Boris Johnson’s ‘mixed messages’
Sir Keir Starmer has failed to outline how he would have the UK fund the additional financial measures he insists Britons need to survive the current lockdown. The Labour Party leader insisted additional help must be provided to all those families and businesses facing major pressure due to the restrictions currently in place. But when confronted about the funding, Sir Keir appeared to fumble slightly before bypassing the question about how he would repay the extra help in the long-term.
ITV News reporter Shehab Khan asked: “The Government has spent huge amounts during the pandemic which at some point will have to be paid back.
“In your speech, you talk about securing our economy – how do you plan on paying for all the money that has been spent on things like the furlough scheme?
“And Chris Whitty today said it’s the most dangerous time in the pandemic. What extra measures do you think the Government should be taking and how long do you think it should be in place?”
Sir Keir said: “On the measures I’ve set out today, they are the measures I think are needed here and now to get families and businesses through the next few weeks and they need to be put in place urgently.
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“Otherwise the cost will be in lost businesses and jobs. And for working parents struggling with their children at home.
“If these measures aren’t put in place, it’s going to be very tough.
“So that’s the immediate issue. Of course, there’s a borrowing issue for the longer term but we have to secure and protect families at this time.”
Sir Keir also agreed with England’s Chief Medical Officer Christ Whitty about the UK being on track to face “the worst” of the latest coronavirus wave and insisted further restrictions may be necessary soon.
More to follow…
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