Sir Keir Labour leader speaks out over Cummings in visit to docks
SIR Keir Starmer visited Bristol yesterday for the first time since the party’s election victory in the West of England.
The Labour leader went to the Royal Portbury Dock in Avonmouth with Dan Norris, who was voted in as Weca metro mayor for the region earlier this month in a rare gain for the party nationally.
The pair arrived shortly before 11am for a tour, and met with staff and apprentices at the Bristol Port Company before taking questions from press.
They then visited the WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford, which is part of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.
Sir Keir said the allegations made by former No 10 advisor Dominic Cummings about Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Government were “very serious” and, if true, undoubtedly a breach of the ministerial code.
“The health secretary needs to answer those allegations and more importantly we need to get to the bottom of this,” Sir Keir continued.
“The select committee should see all the available evidence as soon as possible and the enquiry should be fast-forwarded, particularly for the families of those who lost someone to Covid.
“They will be asking themselves, and talking about this, did we lose a member of our family unnecessarily because of the chaos and incompetence of the decision-making in government.”
During his visit, Sir Keir also spoke about the allegations made by Mr Cummings yesterday.
He said: “They are very serious allegations from Dominic Cummings about the chaos and the incompetence of the decisionmaking in the Government and there are consequences for that in relation to those that died.
“What we need to do is put what Dominic Cummings said alongside the facts we know – that we have one of the highest death tolls in Europe.”
“The families who have lost someone are entitled to answers in relation to this because bad decisions have consequences and in this case the consequence, I’m afraid is unnecessary deaths.”
West of England metro mayor Dan Norris said they visited the Bristol Port Company because he has a jobs and skills summit that he wants to get done in the next hundred days, describing the Bristol Port Company as a brilliant place to be.
Mr Norris said: “I am absolutely determined that we get on with that summit and bring back jobs, investments and skills to our region.”
Sir Keir said he was really pleased to be at the docks and having spoken to apprentices, as well as seeing ships being unloaded.
“There is no substitute for going and seeing something on operation and that has been fantastic, to get a sense of business in the West of England,” he continued.
“It is very important and exciting for me to be here to support Dan as well.”
❝ They are very serious allegations from Dominic Cummings about the chaos and the incompetence of the decision-making in the Government Sir Keir Starmer