New leader Keir slams ‘serious’ Covid mistakes
SIR Keir Starmer has slammed the Government for “serious mistakes” in the handling of the coronavirus crisis.
But Labour’s new leader, as he axed key allies of Jeremy Corbyn in a radical shake-up of the shadow cabinet, insisted he is willing to engage “constructively” over the deadly disease.
Sir Keir has already spoken to Boris Johnson about working together to tackle the pandemic and was involved in a briefing from senior government officials yesterday.
During that call – which included Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance – Sir Keir reiterated his commitment to “work constructively with the Government in the national interest”.
He had said Labour would “do our bit to offer solutions” but would also “speak for those who have been ignored” and expose mistakes where they are found “to ensure that they are rectified as soon as possible”.
Sir Keir added: “And let’s be honest, serious mistakes have been made.”
Grilling
But he went on later to tell the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Labour “won’t demand the impossible” from the Government, though the Prime Minister can expect a grilling on key issues like testing and protective equipment for NHS staff.
Sir Keir said: “You can see when difficult questions were asked on testing things began to move, the same thing with equipment on the frontline.”
Meanwhile, his first shadow cabinet announced last night saw Barry Gardiner, Ian Lavery and Jon Trickett all sacked, with other Mr Corbyn choices, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott, already having resigned.
Anneliese Dodds comes in for Mr McDonnell as shadow chancellor and new deputy leader Angela Rayner chairs the party in place of Mr Lavery.
Lisa Nandy, who Sir Keir defeated in the leadership race, takes over from Emily Thornberry as shadow foreign secretary while Nick ThomasSymonds replaces Ms Abbott as shadow home secretary.
There is also a frontbench return for Rachel Reeves, who becomes shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Sir Keir claimed that he wants a team “not looking back” but made up of “those who want to serve towards the future aim of winning that next general election”.