The Labour leader is due to speak as the PM’s booster target plans already look in disarray
Keir Starmer will address the nation in a pre-recorded message on Monday night in response to Boris Johnson‘s ambitious booster vaccines plans.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister declared an Omicron “emergency” and announced an accelerated booster rollout, bringing forward plans to offer all people over the age of 18 a booster jab before the end of the year – the initial goal was the end of January.
Boris Johnson is the worst possible leader at the worst possible time. pic.twitter.com/T9Wqi2pJvc
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 12, 2021
The Labour leader’s message is set to go out at 7pm on BBC One and comes as large queues started forming at vaccination centres across the UK on Monday, the NHS website crashed due to an overwhelming number of people trying to book jabs and Covid testing kits ran out on the government website. Just 24 hours earlier, daily testing became mandatory for anyone double-jabbed who comes into contact with a Covid case.
On Monday, Johnson confirmed that at least one patient had died from the new Covid variant and refused to rule out implementing further restrictions ahead of Christmas. On Friday, rumours circulated that the government already had ‘Plan C’ drawn up.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington, in west London, Johnson said: “Sadly, yes, Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.
“So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population. So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid had earlier confirmed that “about 10” people are currently in hospital due to the new variant. He is due to give an update on Covid at 3.30pm Monday.
Johnson refused three times to rule out further measures ahead of Christmas, telling reporters: “Throughout the pandemic I’ve been at great pains to stress to the public that we have to watch where the pandemic is going and we take whatever steps are necessary to protect public health,” he told reporters.
Related links:
- Covid: Booster jabs to be offered to all over-18s as PM declares Omicron ’emergency’
- UK Covid alert level raised to level four amid Omicron case surge
- Two pupils at same school who caught Covid-19 die within a week of each other
- Man burned down nightclub to stop them asking for Covid passports
Starmer’s announcement comes ahead of a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday in which a significant number of Conservative MPs are expected not to back ‘Plan B’. The plans, however, are still expected to pass due to support from Labour.
Experts have already warned that the NHS will have to postpone appointments to meet Johnson’s ambitious vaccination booster jab targets. Six million people are already awaiting an operation – an all-time high.
