think about the efficacy of lockdowns. i think the about the efficacy of lockdowns. i think the collective actions of the public think the collective actions of the public were indispensable in saving many public were indispensable in saving many thousands of lives. i am sure the evidence will be looked at in the evidence will be looked at in the course the evidence will be looked at in the course of the inquiry. new anti-viral the course of the inquiry. new anti-viral drugs the course of the inquiry. new anti-viral drugs have - the course of the inquiry. iis anti viral drugs have made a difference to the treatment of covid. they are the first line of defence. they work best when given early. one of the requirements to qualify to get an anti viral drug at the moment is the person has tested positive for covid. if he is going to get rid of free tests, how will people have access to the medicine? with great respect, people who are symptomatic will of course continue to have s
living with covid seems simply ignoring it. this morning he couldn t even persuade his own health secretary to agree the plan, so what confidence can the public have that this is the right approach? mr speaker, let me be clear, the labour party does not want to see restrictions in place for a moment longer than necessary. but, mr speaker, we have to take the public with us, and that requires clarity. public with us, and that requires clari . , ., public with us, and that requires clari. ,., clarity. order. if you can t show the respect clarity. order. if you can t show the respect you clarity. order. if you can t show the respect you show clarity. order. if you can t show the respect you show the i clarity. order. if you can t showj the respect you show the prime minister the respect you show the prime minister to the leader of the opposition, if you don t wish to be in here, opposition, if you don t wish to be in here, there is plenty of room outside in here, there is ple
and access to lateral flow tests have been instrumental in containing the virus and as we move forward to live with covid these are the very safeguards which support a return to normal life and these short sighted decisions have long term implications. they also hamper vital surveillance efforts and impede the ability to respond to new variants and the reality is that we have a prime minister beset by chaos and mired in a police investigation for breaking his own covid laws and he can shake his head but that is the reality. a prime minister who has no moral authority to lead, desperately seeking to appease his backbenchers, and we know this reckless statement flies in the face of advice from scientists and the who and that is because this statement is not about protecting the public, but it is about the prime minister scrambling
has under the 41 billion record settlement he has under barnett. also he has access has under barnett. also he has access to has under barnett. also he has access to hundreds of millions from the health access to hundreds of millions from the health and care levy. the only astonishing thing is he voted against astonishing thing is he voted against it. | astonishing thing is he voted against it astonishing thing is he voted against it. astonishing thing is he voted auainst it. . , .., against it. i warmly welcome the statement against it. i warmly welcome the statement the against it. i warmly welcome the statement the prime against it. i warmly welcome the statement the prime minister i statement the prime minister has made. the prime minister will be aware of growing international levels that lockdowns have been largely ineffective in preventing covid mortality and we are acutely aware of the massive damage done economically and to the health of the people due to lockdow
in the world to pass the pandemic. is it not extraordinary that despite the consensus on restrictions back then, the consensus on giving people back their freedom, which then, the consensus on giving people back theirfreedom, which is often so much harder, and trusting to personal responsibility, that consensus appears only to exist on this side of the house? i consensus appears only to exist on this side of the house? this side of the house? i think it is a ureat this side of the house? i think it is a great shame this side of the house? i think it is a great shame the this side of the house? i think it is a great shame the opposition | is a great shame the opposition cannot is a great shame the opposition cannot find within themselves to support cannot find within themselves to support what i think is a balanced approach. support what i think is a balanced approach, one that recognises that covid approach, one that recognises that covid has approach, one that recognises