Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Keir Starmer self-isolating for third time after Covid contact

Labour leader will work remotely until 1 February

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Monday 25 January 2021 15:15 GMT
Comments
(EPA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

The Labour leader said he had no symptoms and will be working from home until Monday 1 February in line with government advice.

It is the third time Sir Keir has been forced to self-isolate after a member of his team tested positive for Covid-19 in December and a relative showed symptoms of the virus in September.

It was not immediately clear whether he will face Boris Johnson virtually at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday or delegate the responsibility to deputy leader, Angela Rayner.

Under the government’s instructions, individuals who are told to self-isolate by the Test and Trace service or the NHS Covid-19 app must not leave the home for any reason.

A period of self-isolation lasts for 10 days from the first point of contact with a Covid-positive person, meaning the initial contact came late last week.

Writing on Twitter, Sir Keir said: “This morning I was notified that I must self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. I have no symptoms and will be working from home until next Monday.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in