Now Keir Starmer backs ‘inspiring’ campaign to tackle kit shortages

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer last night hailed the ‘inspiring’ Mail Force campaign after it raised more than £5 million for essential safety equipment to protect frontline NHS and care home staff.

Sir Keir said the new charity was helping supply vital protective kit to brave medics who are working round the clock in the fight against Covid-19.

Mail Force was set up last week by a consortium led by The Mail on Sunday’s sister paper, the Daily Mail, and including Marshall Wace, the UK asset management company, and Salesforce, the US enterprise software giant. The charity’s fundraising page has been inundated with donations. By last night over 11,600 had pledged more than £490,000. The charity has also received 2,000 cheques by post.

The Mail, whose proprietor is Viscount Rothermere, has provided £1 million to Mail Force and Marshall Wace, founded in 1997 by Sir Paul Marshall and Ian Wace, also donated £1 million. Marc Benioff, a Silicon Valley pioneer who is the cofounder of Salesforce, agreed to matchfund these donations, creating an initial fighting fund of £4 million. The Rothermere Foundation has given £150,000 and the Rothermere/Harmsworth family has donated an additional £100,000.

Mail Force also attracted Royal approval after the Duchess of Cornwall made a personal donation. Meanwhile, Sir Brian Souter, the founder of transport company Stagecoach, said he would match donations from readers up to £500,000.

His generosity came after former Tory Party treasurer Michael Spencer donated £250,000 on Thursday. A day earlier billionaires Hans and Julia Rausing donated £1 million to Mail Force.