Dear John,

In the early summer, a Government report called “Preparing for a challenging winter” warned of the risk of a second wave of the pandemic, of the coronavirus mutating and of the NHS being overwhelmed. At a Prime Minister’s Question Time in July, Boris Johnson was asked by Keir Starmer if he had read the report, to which he replied he was ‘aware’ of it. Six months on, asked the same question by Andrew Marr, the Prime Minister again wouldn’t confirm if he had. 

This week the UK has become the most infected country in the world per capita, and many of the starkest warnings from that report have become reality. In Birmingham, our hospitals face a grave situation, with the dramatic rise in admissions leading to patients lying in ambulances outside for six hours sometimes waiting for a bed. 

Restrictions are, sadly, necessary to protect people’s health and the health of our NHS. I have profound respect for our incredible health workers who are powering through fatigue and intense stress to look after us all. We each owe it to them to follow the new guidance as best we can. 

As we enter yet another period of restrictions it would be easy to lose faith. But we cannot afford that.

Thanks to our brilliant scientists we now have a light at the end of the tunnel. The vaccine must be rolled out swiftly and safely: delays will cost the economy billions of pounds. 

That’s why the Labour Party and trade unions are doing everything we can to support this national effort: to secure the economy, protect the NHS and then rebuild our country. 

Earlier today I wrote to local Labour Party members about how to support the vaccine rollout, from signing up to NHS volunteer campaigns, speaking to neighbours, friends, family and community leaders to promote vaccination, making sure colleagues at work can get paid time off to get vaccinated, and speaking out against disinformation online. 

You can read my letter by clicking here.

This week the Prime Minister announced that schools will close to all but vulnerable and key workers’ children. It is devastating that it has once again come to this, and made even worse by the chaotic handling of the decision and lack of a plan from the Department of Education. 

Last weekend, I wrote to the Education Secretary about the implications of the new Covid-19 variant on schools, and stressed how important a robust catch-up programme and remote learning would be as this runaway second wave forces children back home. 

Gavin Williamson must stretch every sinew to get devices to pupils who need them; internet access to pupils without; remove data charges for educational websites; provide technical support for schools; and guaranteed time with teachers. 

I wrote to the Education Secretary in June last year about the Government’s failure to follow through on its pledge to provide devices for disadvantaged pupils. I was therefore staggered to read this morning that at this same time Gavin Williamson snubbed an offer of cheap broadband for children who need help. 

This Government should be grabbing every opportunity to help children get through lockdown. I and my Party will be campaigning hard on this in the coming weeks.