PMQ's and Debates in House of Commons as Boris is Questioned Before Lockdown Vote

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced off against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in today’s PMQs.

Mr Starmer first mentioned the US presidential election, stating “it’s not for a candidate to decide which votes do and don’t count or when to stop counting.”

Mr Johnson replied “Of course we don’t comment as a UK Government on the democratic processes of our friends and allies“.

Mr Starmer then moved his focus towards COVID-19, and asked Mr Johnson if he understood the “human cost” of deciding to not impose a new national lockdown when scientists recommended doing so in September.

“On September 21, when the Government scientific advisers indicated the circuit break would bring the virus back under control, the number of people that day who tragically lost their lives to Covid-19 was 11” he said.

“The Prime Minister ignored that advice. On Monday, 42 days later, the number of people who tragically lost their lives to Covid-19 was 397.”

When asked if the lockdown would definitely end on December 2nd, or if it would depend on the circumstances, Mr Johnson stated “I hope very much, be able to get this country going again, to get businesses, to get shops open again in the run up to Christmas. But that depends on us all doing our bit now to make sure that we get the R (value) down.”

MP’s are also set to vote today on whether England is to enter another national lockdown tomorrow, with unease growing within the Conservative party about the effect another lockdown would have on the country's economy. MP’s debated in the House of Commons today over the government’s plan for a national lockdown. Huw Merriman questioned Boris Johnson over the consequences another lockdown would pose.

Written by Ben Jamieson.