Starmer’s ‘constructive’ pledge

SIR KEIR STARMER has told Boris Johnson he will be a “critical but constructive” partner during the coronavirus crisis as he yesterday signalled a break from the overtly hostile approach of Jeremy Corbyn’s regime.

Just minutes after achieving a landslide victory, the new Labour leader spoke directly to the Prime Minister to offer to work with the Government to steer the country through the “national emergency”. In a short phone call described as “very cordial”, Sir Keir accepted Mr Johnson’s offer to attend a briefing next week with other opposition party leaders to receive updates on the UK’s response to the pandemic.

The briefing will take place via video conference, with Mr Johnson providing updates with the chief medical and science officers on the Government’s strategy to ramp up testings and

provide financial support to businesses and workers.

While senior Conservative and Labour MPs have called for closer co-operation between the Government and Sir Keir, Mr Corbyn has dismissed a formal coalition as a “negation of what our democratic society is about”.

However, in his victory speech, Sir Keir stated that Labour and the Government held a “shared purpose” to “save lives and to protect our country”.

“Under my leadership we will engage constructively with the Government, not opposition for opposition’s sake, but with the courage to support where that’s the right thing to do.”

Sir Keir last night called on ministers to publish their exit strategy and a timeframe for ending the lockdown. He also called for vaccination centres to be constructed in towns and cities across the UK so that when a vaccine “becomes available we can begin to protect the entire population”. Writing in he said the Government had made “serious mistakes”, called for action to tackle problems with delivering personal protective equipment to front-line health staff, and warned that a new target to deliver 100,000 tests per day must be met.

Labour moderates heralded a return to effective opposition as Sir Keir defeated Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, with 56 per cent of the vote.

Three of his allies were elected to Labour’s ruling national executive committee, tipping the balance of power in moderates’ favour. Both defeated candidates are expected to receive prominent jobs. He is also expected to strike up an alliance with Angela Rayner, Labour’s newly elected deputy leader.

In his first act as leader, Sir Keir yesterday issued a formal apology to the Jewish community over anti-Semitism. Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s chief of staff, and Jennie Formby, Labour’s general secretary, are expected to be forced out for alleged mishandling of bullying and anti-Semitism claims.