Today's Headlines

PM's recovery strategy introducing more confusion

Yesterday the Government released their recovery strategy following the PM' announcement on Sunday regarding the relaxation of lockdown.

• People across the UK have made enormous personal sacrifices to slow the spread of COVID-19, to protect others and to protect our NHS and care services. Millions of people have put their lives on hold, are in isolation and face losing their livelihoods.
• In changing the advice and changing the messaging the Government has spread confusion and put at risk what people have fought so hard for. The Prime Minister is creating more confusion than clarity by badly communicating his Government's plans.
• We must put people's health first. The only way route out of the current lockdown is to radically expand our capacity to test, trace and isolate which the Government is still a long way away from achieving.
• The Government must also prioritise the situation in care homes. The scarcity of protective equipment and testing means many care workers have been forced to compromise their safety whilst working. The Government is finally recognising the need to test everyone in care homes, but that should have been in place already. Care workers and residents cannot afford to wait another 3 weeks.
• Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield, John Skipworth had this to say "Boris's performance on Sunday was an absolute shambles"

Tragic consequences of Govt's failure to protect care workers are 'indisputable'

Statistics published by the ONS yesterday morning showed that those working in social care 'had significantly raised rates of death involving COVID-19'.

• Throughout the coronavirus crisis, those working in social care have been continuing to work on the frontline, putting themselves in harm's way to look after our loved ones. The figures released yesterday morning showing a raised rate of death for care workers are heartbreaking and highlight what they are all risking as they continue to care for the most vulnerable during this pandemic.
• The scarcity of protective equipment and testing means many care workers have been forced to compromise their safety whilst working. The fact that care workers are more likely to lose their lives than nurses or doctors shows how desperately they also need protection from the virus. The tragic consequences of the Government's failure to properly protect care workers are indisputable.
• Despite repeated questioning, Ministers are still struggling to answer basic questions regarding how they will ensure a consistent supply of PPE to care workers. It's clear that social care has been an afterthought in the Government's pandemic planning.
• The Government must ensure frontline care workers get the testing and protection they need immediately - it's the very least they can do when staff are putting their lives on the line to care for our loved ones.

Johnson and Raab must ensure Harry Dunn's family receive justice

Yesterday it was reported that Interpol has issued Anne Sacoolas, who was charged with killing Harry Dunn back in December, a red notice so that she is now wanted internationally.

• Harry Dunn's family have been through an immensely tragic ordeal. They should not still be waiting for justice.
• The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary must show some leadership and do the right thing. The red notice issued by Interpol is not only a step in the right direction, but shows that Anne Sacoolas had no diplomatic immunity in the first place.
• Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab must not sit back and allow justice to continue to be evaded. They must work to ensure Anne Sacoolas returns to the UK to participate in the police investigation so that Harry's loved ones can finally have some closure.