Sir Keir Starmer self-isolating after relative shows coronavirus symptoms

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has gone into self-isolation after a family member started displaying Covid-19 symptoms.

The relative has taken a test and while they wait to receive the results, Sir Keir has begun a period of quarantine. It is understood that he has not shown symptoms himself and will now be working from home.

Sir Keir was alerted to the situation on Monday morning, shortly after he appeared on LBC and shared a studio with host Nick Ferrari during the show. His office has informed the broadcaster.

A spokesman said: ‘This morning Keir Starmer was advised to self-isolate after a member of his household showed possible symptoms of the coronavirus.

‘The member of his household has now had a test. In line with NHS guidelines, Keir will self-isolate while awaiting the results of the test and further advice from medical professionals.’

This means the opposition leader won’t be speaking in the Commons debate today on Boris Johnson’s controversial Brexit Bill, which Tory ministers have admitted would break international law if passed.

Speaking on the show this morning, Sir Keir said the Tories’ Internal Market Bill would cause ‘reputational damage’ to the country.

He told LBC: ‘Here we are on the world stage for the first time in many years on our own and what’s the first thing we do? We break a treaty.

‘It’s basic stuff – if you say to other nations we agree something and a few months later you say no we don’t, the chances are they aren’t going to trust you going forward.’

The prime minister is attempting to push through the Internal Market Bill, which would override elements of the Brexit deal and has drawn mounting cross-party criticism.

Conservative ministers insist it is a ‘safety net’ if no trade deal is agreed with Brussels before the the Brexit transition period ends later this year. MPs are due to debate the legislation later today when the Bill returns to the Commons.

But a Tory rebellion is intensifying over the plans, prompting minister Rehman Chishti to hand in his resignation in protest this morning.

Chishti, who will now no longer be the PM’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, said on Twitter he cannot support the Bill which ‘unilaterally break UK’s legal commitments’.

‘As an MP for 10 years and former barrister, values of respecting rule of law and honouring one’s word are dear to me,’ he wrote to Johnson.

Over the weekend, former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair urged MPs to reject the legislation saying it would jeopardise the Irish peace process, trade negotiations and the UK’s integrity.

David Cameron echoed their concerns today, as he became the fifth former PM to criticise the plan, saying he had ‘misgivings about what’s being proposed’.

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