Keir Starmer to miss PMQs while he waits for family member's Covid test result

15 September 2020, 18:25 | Updated: 15 September 2020, 19:15

Sir Keir Starmer will not be participating in Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday
Sir Keir Starmer will not be participating in Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Sir Keir Starmer will miss Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday as he is "still awaiting" the result of his family member's coronavirus test.

The Labour leader is still in self-isolation after a member of his household began showing symptoms of Covid-19.

He will be replaced at the despatch box by the party's deputy leader and shadow first secretary of state Angela Rayner.

Downing Street has been informed and it is understood Prime Minister Boris Johnson will still take the session as his de facto deputy, Dominic Raab, is currently visiting the US.

Convention usually dictates that the other party nominates someone else to stand if the Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition is absent.

Read more: Sir Keir self-isolating after household member shows Covid symptoms

Watch: Call Keir - Labour leader Keir Starmer - watch in full

Sir Keir Starmer: Boris Johnson is 'all over the place' on Brexit

A spokesman for Sir Keir said on Tuesday: "Keir Starmer is still awaiting the test result for a member of his family.

"He is therefore remaining in self-isolation and will not participate in Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow.

"Angela Rayner, deputy leader and shadow first secretary of state, will be taking his place. We have informed Number 10."

It comes after Sir Keir - who entered self-isolation on Monday - was replaced by shadow business secretary Ed Miliband during Monday's debate in the Commons over the UK Internal Market Bill.

The former Labour leader clashed with Mr Johnson over the legislation, during which he gave an impassioned speech about why he would not support the Bill which, he claimed, would "get Brexit undone".

At last week's PMQs, Starmer accused the government of being unable to "get the basics right" following reports that people were being denied Covid-19 tests.

Ed Miliband blasts Boris Johnson over Internal Market Bill

Earlier on Tuesday, Sir Keir called for the "fire-and-rehire tactics" deployed by some companies during the coronavirus pandemic to be outlawed.

In his speech to the Trade Union Congress conference, the Labour leader said the treatment of staff at companies such as British Airways and British Gas was "wrong".

Making his contribution from home, he said firing and rehiring - when people are given notice of redundancy and then hired back on worse pay and conditions - was "against British values".

He said: "They should also be illegal. These tactics punish good employers, hit working people hard and harm our economy.

"So, I'm calling on the government to act now - introduce legislation to end fire and rehire."

He also set-out Labour's vision for extending the furlough scheme, which is due to be wound up in October.

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says