Labour leader Kier Starmer has called for an immediate national lockdown this afternoon
Starmer told reporters: “The virus is clearly out of control and there’s no good the prime minister hinting that further restrictions are coming into place in a week, or two or three.
“That delay has been the source of so many problems. So, I say bring in those restrictions now, national restrictions, within the next 24 hours.
“That has to be the first step towards controlling the virus.”
Greater Manchester MP and deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted
“At every stage of this crisis Boris Johnson has been too slow. Those delays have cost lives and meant that lockdowns have been longer and more damaging.
The government must introduce national restrictions now instead of hinting that further restrictions will be required soon.”
Infection rates broke the 50,000 barrier for the sixth consecutive day with the UK recording 454 deaths
