It was revealed this morning that the Government’s scientific advisors called for a “circuit breaker” of around two weeks to arrest the growing spread of the virus.

The Government rejected this advice, going instead for local lockdowns, the three tier idea announced yesterday and the constantly changing economic packages.

The Chief Medical Officer was clear last night that he had grave doubts about the workability of the Government’s approach, even at the highest Tier 3 level.

Today we had the highest death toll from the virus for four months with infections rising and, at current rates, doubling every seven to fourteen days.

This afternoon Labour leader Keir Starmer called on the Government to heed the scientific advice and introduce the circuit breaker idea for two to three weeks, accompanied by full economic compensation for the businesses and workers affected.

This would mean doing what we did in March, but with schools remaining open, in order to arrest the second wave of the virus AND, crucially, give an opportunity to sort out the misfiring test and trace system on which billions is being spent but which is not working as it should.

In case of opposition to this idea from within the Conservative Party, Keir Starmer was also clear that Labour would help the Government get this policy through the House of Commons.