Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tests positive for Covid

Sir Keir Starmer has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be doing Prime Minister's Questions or responding to the Budget, Labour has said.

It comes less than an hour before Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers his Budget to the House of Commons.

Ed Miliband, the shadow business minister, will take Prime Minister’s Questions in his absence. He told MPs: “I can reassure the House - it’s for one time only”.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow Chancellor, will respond to the Budget. Deputy leader Angela Rayner is currently on bereavement leave.

It marks Sir Keir’s fourth spell of self-isolation since the beginning of the pandemic. In July, the Labour leader was forced to quarantine after one of his children tested positive for Covid.

However, it is the first time he has tested positive for the virus.

Unconfirmed reports claimed the Labour leader received a positive result after taking a lateral flow test on Wednesday morning. Under current regulations, anyone reporting a positive result must self-isolate immediately.

Earlier today, Sir Keir tweeted that the government’s Budget “must take pressure off working people”.

He added: “With costs growing and inflation rising, Labour would cut VAT on domestic energy bills immediately for 6 months.

“Unlike the Tories, we wouldn’t hike taxes on working people and we’d ensure online giants pay their fair share.”

On Tuesday, the House of Commons ordered everyone except MPs to wear face coverings while on the parliamentary estate due to rising Covid cases.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and justice secretary Dominic Raab were among those donning a face mask in the chamber.

Read More

Chancellor criticised for lack of climate action ahead of Cop26 talks

Sunak ‘loading the burden’ on workers via ‘parallel universe’ Budget – Labour

Miliband challenges Johnson over Cop26 ambitions on PMQs return