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Covid-19 Update
27 January 2021
Lead MP
Boris Johnson
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSSocial CareEducationDefenceEconomyEmploymentForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 41
At a Glance
Boris Johnson raised concerns about covid-19 update in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made a statement regarding the government's measures to safeguard the UK against new covid variants until sufficient vaccinations are administered. He acknowledged the loss of over 100,000 lives due to the virus and expressed condolences. The statement highlighted the progress in the vaccination programme, with more than 6.8 million people vaccinated so far, surpassing any other European country. Johnson also emphasised the effectiveness of current vaccines against new variants identified in London and elsewhere. Additional measures include closing travel corridors temporarily, requiring proof of negative tests from those entering the UK, and banning travel from countries where known variants are present. The Prime Minister announced that arrivals from high-risk countries will be required to quarantine in Government-provided accommodation for 10 days. He also outlined plans to review lockdown measures by mid-February and set out a gradual phased approach to easing restrictions, prioritising school reopenings by March 8th if targets are met.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Question
Peter Bone asked about a potential increase in hospital admissions due to delays in opening schools, with concerns that the current lockdown may continue for longer if hospitals are overwhelmed. He noted the risks associated with reopening schools early and questioned how long the Prime Minister would delay the decision.
Minister reply
The minister responded by acknowledging the complexity of balancing public health safety and educational needs. He stated that decisions will be guided by data on vaccine efficacy and infection rates, aiming to ensure a gradual and phased approach based on scientific advice.
Paula Sherriff
Lab
Dewsbury
Question
Paula Sherriff inquired about the impact of school closures on children's education, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. She sought clarity on additional funding and support to be provided by the government.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that arrangements will be extended until schools reopen, including free meals and the national voucher scheme. He committed to a £300 million catch-up programme for tutoring and possible initiatives such as summer schools to aid recovery over the next financial year.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
The Leader of the Opposition criticised the Prime Minister for failing on multiple occasions during the pandemic, including slow lockdown implementation, protective equipment distribution, care home protection, effective testing, tracing, clear public messaging, and timely circuit breaker actions. He also mentioned a delay in imposing a third national lockdown after medical advice was given.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister responded by defending his government's handling of the pandemic, acknowledging mistakes but arguing they were not avoidable. He accused the Opposition Leader of attacking government policies without offering consistent support. He clarified that schools are safe but reopening is delayed due to transmission risks rather than safety concerns.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
The Conservative MP inquired about the issue of 30,000 people potentially still spreading the virus despite being asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. He suggested making a blanket offer to cover lost wages for those who need to self-isolate.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledged the logic behind the suggestion but preferred relying on public responsibility and current support measures like £500 payments, along with fines for non-compliance.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Question
Asked the Prime Minister to extend furlough scheme for full pandemic duration, maintain universal credit uplift, offer support to excluded individuals, and enforce stricter quarantining measures on international travel.
Minister reply
Emphasised UK Government's financial support through furlough scheme and other initiatives. Mentioned Army’s role in distributing vaccines and moving people in distress due to covid to hospitals. Invited SNP to look at overall achievements of the UK.
David Davis
Con
Goole and Pocklington
Question
Asked about enhancing primary care to reduce hospital admissions for covid patients, mentioning new studies on colchicine and ivermectin.
Minister reply
Informed that therapeutics taskforce is reviewing the drugs mentioned and promised to keep him updated.
Edward Davey
Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Question
Pressed for an inquiry into the covid crisis, noting the UK’s worst recorded death rate by population.
Minister reply
Reiterated that now is not the time for such inquiries but assured there will be a time to reflect on lessons learned.
Richard Drax
Con
South Dorset
Question
Welcomed Prime Minister's statement and asked about a more proportionate response to the pandemic, citing variants as well.
Minister reply
Stressed cautious approach while aiming for rapid vaccine roll-out, promising a road map by 22 February.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Asked about discussions with education counterparts and prioritization of teachers in the vaccine roll-out.
Minister reply
Confirmed plans for rolling out laptops to pupils, reiterated commitment to getting kids back into schools as soon as possible, and assured no shortage of vaccines.
Bury South
Question
Thanked Prime Minister for his statement and highlighted volunteers’ efforts in protecting the vulnerable.
Minister reply
Joined in thanking volunteers across the country, praising their contributions to social cohesion.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
Cited Professor Sir Michael Marmot’s report on drivers contributing to high death tolls and requested Government address those issues.
Minister reply
Acknowledged Michael Marmot's advice as invaluable, promised to look at pandemic impacts on poorest and vulnerable.
Question
The vaccine roll-out now offers hope and relief to vulnerable people who have spent months living in fear and isolation. We hear that 6.8 million vaccines have been delivered, which is an amazing achievement, and I thank everyone involved in the roll-out. The mass vaccination hubs are an important part of the scheme, but many of my constituents with mobility issues are worried that they are going to miss out on their vaccine, as they cannot make the journey to one of those larger hubs. Can the Prime Minister give them reassurance that they will be offered a vaccine locally—even in their own home—and that anyone unable to travel will be fully supported?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a very important point, and I hope that she will give reassurance to her constituents that they need have no anxieties about that. They do not have to go to the vaccination centres. They can either go to their GP surgery or, indeed, they will be visited in their own home.
Julie Elliott
Lab
Sunderland Central
Question
May I add my condolences to those already expressed to the victims, and their families and friends, of this awful illness? One of the challenges for children and adults working from home—the time now for children extended today by the Prime Minister—is, in addition to devices and connectivity, a lack of digital skills. This week I was made aware of an online scam asking people to put their financial information into a very plausible fake NHS website to get the vaccine. What is the Prime Minister doing to tackle this criminal activity, preying on often vulnerable people waiting for the vaccine? What is the Prime Minister doing to ensure that individuals, young and old, have the digital skills they need to protect themselves, learn from home and work from home?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the importance of digital skills and connectivity. That is why we are, for instance, massively increasing superfast gigabit broadband across the country and making sure that people have the technology they need. She raises a particularly important point about online scams. These are a problem. I can tell her that we are working across Government, led by the Cabinet Office, to beat the fraudsters and root them out.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
The evidence shows that the Government’s approach to easing the lockdown before Christmas meant that crowds of people came to York despite my warnings, spreading infection in the retail, hospitality and transport sectors because they could travel to a lower tier and were off guard in my community. The result has been devastating. It was completely unsafe and completely avoidable. Will the Prime Minister commit not to return to a tiered system where people can freely move the infection from one place to another? What steps will he take to avoid this catastrophe from happening again? Can I meet one of his Ministers to discuss York’s tragic experience over Christmas?
Minister reply
As soon as we were informed of the extra transmissibility—50% to 70% faster—of the new variant, we took all the action we could. I would just remind the hon. Lady that the best thing we can do for the people of York now is to ensure we keep the virus under control with the tough measures we have and ensure we all come forward for the vaccine.
Robert Halfon
Con
Harlow
Question
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In all the gloom of the tragedy of covid, will my right hon. Friend pay tribute to the staff and volunteers who are working so hard to scale up the programme of vaccinations in Harlow and delivering the life-saving vaccines to thousands of residents in our new mass vaccination centre? I know he wants schools and colleges to open sooner rather than later. I really welcome what he has said today about catch-up, the extra funding, free school meals and, above all, the education plan for a covid recovery. Will he ensure the catch-up fund also helps children with mental health problems? Will he work with a coalition of the willing, such as the Children’s Commissioner and other educationalists, to get all our children back in the classroom?
Minister reply
Yes, indeed, I join my right hon. Friend in congratulating not just the NHS, the Army and the pharmacies but the volunteers who are making the vaccine roll-out possible. We are putting extra funding into tackling mental health problems, particularly for children and young people.
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
Question
Office for National Statistics data shows that key workers and those in manual and public-facing jobs are at the highest risk of dying from coronavirus. Bradford is a key worker city, and tragically, more than 1,000 Bradfordians have now died from the virus. When the most vulnerable groups have been vaccinated, will the Prime Minister ensure that priority is given to frontline workers who have played such a key role in keeping the country going during the pandemic, often with a high risk to their personal safety, including police officers, teachers, shop workers, bus and taxi drivers and many others who are unable to work from home? When will he publish his plan for the next stage of the vaccine roll-out?
Minister reply
I congratulate the hon. Lady on being so much more sensible than her party leader, who is saying that he wants to interrupt the vaccine roll-out for the vulnerable groups and decide politically who should get the vaccine. I think we should leave it to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to decide the most vulnerable groups.
Joy Morrissey
Con
Beaconsfield
Question
I thank the Prime Minister for his commitment to reopen schools as soon as possible and for the vaccine roll-out. I am asking this question on behalf of children everywhere. As the mother of a nine-year-old, I can see that young children are struggling. Their cognitive development is determined at this age. We are storing up a lifetime of problems—anxiety, mental health issues and obesity—by having all our primary-age children at home. May I urge the Prime Minister to have courage in these final months and bring children—particularly primary-age children—back to school as quickly as possible?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is completely right, and I know that she speaks for millions of mothers and parents across the country who want our kids to be back in school and who are anxious about the gaps in their learning.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Question
Many people on low incomes and in precarious work still cannot afford to self-isolate on the UK’s meagre level of statutory sick pay, and some are not even entitled to it. What impact does the Prime Minister feel that the UK’s having one of the lowest rates of statutory sick pay has had on the death rate? Will he increase it as a matter of urgency, to help people do the right thing and stay safe?
Minister reply
In addition to statutory sick pay and universal credit, there is the £500 that we make available to those in need of it, and that is the right way forward. I am afraid that the hon. Lady is not right in what she says about the level of statutory sick pay in this country; it compares favourably with countries around the world.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Question
The Government ordered the covid vaccine early, they have delivered it efficiently, and 11% of the population are now vaccinated. Compare that with the European Union. Because of the EU’s bureaucracy, inefficiency and petty politics, it ordered the vaccine late, delivered it inefficiently and has only vaccinated 2% of its population. Prime Minister, it is not just a great credit to your leadership and your Government that we have delivered the vaccination so quickly. Is it not also one of the great advantages of having left the European Union?
Minister reply
What I will say is that we certainly were able to use speed and agility to deliver on the programme that we needed. It would have been a great pity if we had followed the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and the Labour party, who said, “Stay in the EU vaccines programme”, who wanted to get rid of big pharmaceutical companies in the crazed Corbynite agenda on which the Leader of the Opposition stood at the last election.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Question
I support the vaccination programme. My clinical commissioning groups have been among the best in England at rolling out the covid vaccine—a real success story for the communities that I represent, who have been placed under restrictions since 29 July. But today the NHS has said that it will cut by one third the future vaccine supplies to the north-west, so that the rest can catch up. That is worrying, if true.
Can I ask the Prime Minister about logistics? What impact does he think withholding vaccines to the north-west will have? Will second jabs be delayed still further or will the next cohort of first jabs need to be rescheduled, leaving those people unprotected for longer?
Minister reply
I can confirm to the hon. Gentleman that we will make sure that his constituents get exactly what they need for the roll-out to groups 1 to 4. I am assured by the Minister for vaccines, my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Nadhim Zahawi), that there is no such delay.
Laura Trott
Con
Sevenoaks
Question
Welcomes the emphasis on school return, noting the devastating impact of being out of school on children’s mental health. Asks for commitment to share evidence with teachers, parents and students that schools are safe.
Minister reply
Agrees that schools are safe and important but acknowledges their role in bringing households together which may contribute to transmission rates.
Question
Highlights constituents who have fallen through the gaps in support, including self-employed individuals and businesses in supply chains. Asks for consideration of a targeted income grant scheme.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the issue and commitment to help those with complex cases despite smaller group size.
Question
Celebrates success of vaccination programme and supports remarks about education. Urges people to accept vaccine appointments.
Minister reply
Agrees, urging everyone to take up their appointments as some groups are proving tough to reach.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Question
Highlights disparity in healthy life expectancy between his constituency and the Prime Minister's. Questions vaccine distribution prioritisation.
Minister reply
Claims equal ambition for levelling up across UK,否认了疫苗分配偏向富人地区的说法，并强调政府将确保所有地区都能按时获得所需疫苗。
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
Asks whether lifting lockdown should focus on vaccinating those most likely to be hospitalised. Warns against mission creep.
Minister reply
Agrees and warns that interfering with the JCVI 1 to 9 list would delay moving out of lockdown.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Question
Asks for support measures for businesses where working from home is not possible, including rapid test kits and sick pay.
Minister reply
Commends the roll-out of rapid tests in communities to isolate asymptomatic cases and reduce R rate.
Question
Asks if priority lists for vaccinations will be reviewed after groups 1 to 4 are complete, especially for groups like police officers, teachers, supermarket workers, etc.
Minister reply
Confirms that these groups are a priority and vaccinating them is key to reducing the death toll.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
Asks for support measures for exhausted NHS staff dealing with increasing waiting lists post-pandemic.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the stress on NHS staff, prioritising vaccination of them as part of JCVI 1 to 4 group by mid-February.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Question
Praises vaccine roll-out and urges clarity on lifting restrictions based on data.
Minister reply
Commits to setting out clear guidance in coming weeks, focusing on vaccine success, mortality rate reduction, NHS pressures, and economic considerations.
Brighton Kemptown
Question
When Australia had a second wave it held an inquiry that showed the failures of private contractors in their quarantine system, leading to improvements. Now almost covid-free, why will the Prime Minister not open a similar public inquiry now, rather than keep repeating mistakes and delaying lockdowns?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the work of Lloyd Russell-Moyle's committee and states that lessons will be learned from the pandemic but currently focusing on beating the virus.
Craig Tracey
Con
North Warwickshire
Question
As the vaccine roll-out progresses, can the Prime Minister give a clear roadmap for further easing of restrictions such as reopening outdoor exercise facilities and hospitality venues?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister agrees with Craig Tracey's request and indicates that a timeline will be provided in the coming weeks.
Marion Fellows
Con
Aberconwy
Question
With new border restrictions, will there be sector-specific support for aviation firms impacted by reduced travel?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges ongoing support for the aviation sector and emphasises that reducing virus spread is key to recovery.
Ian Mearns
Lab
Blyth Valley
Question
Can the Secretary of State for Education share his plan for reopening schools with school leaders as soon as possible, so they can be prepared?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister praises schools' efforts and confirms that more details about reopening plans will be shared in due course.
Rob Butler
Con
Aylesbury
Question
Can the Prime Minister reassure businesses that measures announced today, combined with vaccine roll-out, will lead to faster easing of lockdown?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister agrees that this is the path forward.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Wallasey
Question
Is he proud of spending £500 million on the eat out to help out scheme, which it is now estimated increased virus spread by up to 17%?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister responds by questioning whether Angela Eagle is proud of attacking the vaccines taskforce.
Jamie Wallis
Lab
Blaenau Gwent
Question
Will the Prime Minister thank British military personnel for their role in vaccine roll-out, including those in Wales, and recognise UK unity against the pandemic?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the invaluable support of the armed forces throughout the UK.
Jeff Smith
Lab
Manchester Withington
Question
Can the £300 million catch-up fund be targeted at areas like Greater Manchester, where pupils have disproportionately suffered due to deprivation and high infection rates?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister agrees that targeting areas with higher educational disruption is necessary.
Dean Russell
Con
Watford
Question
Will the Prime Minister confirm his priority for reopening schools as soon as it is safe, based on scientific and medical advice?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister thanks teachers for their efforts and confirms plans to reopen schools cautiously in line with expert guidance.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
Question
Will the military support for vaccination programmes, such as Salford's, not be withdrawn prematurely next week?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister promises to look into this urgently.
Steve Brine
Con
Winchester
Question
Do all schools have to wait until March 8th for reopening even if primary schools are deemed safe?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister explains the need for cautious and prudent approach, given evidence from vaccine roll-out in crucial groups.
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer criticised the government's handling of the pandemic, citing high death tolls and a deep recession as evidence of significant mistakes made. He highlighted failures in early lockdown measures, protective equipment distribution, care home protection, test and trace system effectiveness, public messaging clarity, and timely implementation of restrictions based on scientific advice. Starmer called for an examination of why these mistakes were made repeatedly and emphasised the critical role of scientists, NHS staff, armed forces, and volunteers in progressing towards vaccine rollouts. He also questioned the Prime Minister's recent inconsistencies regarding school safety and reopening schedules.
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