'DO IT NOW'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer demands England is plunged into full national lockdown in the next 24 hours
A THIRD national lockdown is on the cards after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a shutdown within the next 24 hours - and the PM admitted further measures are likely.
Sir Keir has urged Boris Johnson to bring in the tough restrictions urgently and added that the closure of more schools is "inevitable".
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And in an interview this morning, Mr Johnson suggested more could be needed to slow the spread of a mutant strain of Covid.
He said we need to be “realistic” about the pace of which the new variant is spreading across the country, but did not reveal any imminent new measures.
Sir Keir said the virus is now "clearly out of control" and urged Mr Johnson not to delay any decisions regarding further restrictions.
Asked if he was calling for a full shutdown across England, he told Sky News: "Nationwide lockdown.
"The Prime Minister is hinting that that's going to happen but he's delaying again and we can't afford that again."
Sources suggested Sir Kier wants a national lockdown similar to the one in November, rather than March.
But it would be tougher than current Tier 4 restrictions and see more attractions - such as zoos - close.
'OUT OF CONTROL'
According to ITV, the Labour leader wants to bring back the national "Stay At Home" message.
One senior source added that schools should be the "last to close".
Sir Keir added: "The virus is clearly out of control and the Prime Minister is hinting that there are tougher national restrictions to come in two or three weeks.
"That delay has been the source of so many problems.
"I'm saying bring in those restrictions now, national restrictions within the next 24 hours, that has to be the first step to controlling the virus."
He said that it was "inevitable" more schools are going to have to shut their doors.
Sir Keir added: "On schools, I don't want to add to the chaos which would be caused by having all schools closed tomorrow. Many will be closed.
We can't allow the Prime Minister to use up the next two or three weeks and then bring in the national lockdown that is inevitable. Do it now."
Sir Keir Starmer
"It is inevitable more schools are going to have to close and the Government needs to plan for children's learning and also for working parents.
"So it is inevitable more schools are going to close.
"But the more important thing in a way is the national restrictions that need to come in in the next 24 hours.
"Let's not have the PM saying 'I'm going to do it but not yet'. That's the problem he's made so many times.
"We can't allow the Prime Minister to use up the next two or three weeks and then bring in the national lockdown that is inevitable. Do it now."
Meanwhile, Sage member Professor Sir Mark Walport said it was "pretty clear" tougher restrictions were needed.
The former chief scientific adviser told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them.
"It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can.
"Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more."
He said the mutation is "transmitted more readily in younger age groups", adding: "It is going to be very difficult to keep it under control without much tighter social restrictions."
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"We know that person between 12 and 16 is seven times more likely than others in a household to bring the infection into a household," he said.
"It really is about doing everything we can to make ourselves as safe as possible."
And this evening, the Doctors’ Association UK - a professional association for UK medics - has issued a statement calling a full lockdown with the extended closure of schools.
In an open letter to the PM, campaign leaders said: "We believe that a further period of even tighter restrictions is essential to avert a national disaster, and call now for the implementation of a full national lockdown."
Mr Johnson today refused to rule out a “Tier 5” lockdown.
The Prime Minister warned he may have to introduce tougher coronavirus restrictions “in the next few weeks”.
He said we need to be “realistic” about the pace of which the new mutant Covid variant is spreading across the country.
Mr Johnson said new “tougher” measures may need to be used in “many parts of the country” in a desperate bid to reduce the number of coronavirus cases.
So what does Sir Keir really want?
Some sources say the Labour leader is calling for a return of the kind of lockdown imposed in England in November.
But by arguing it's "inevitable" that schools close, Sir Keir appears to be hinting that he'd back a much stricter shutdown, closer to March's measures.
It's also been reported that the MP wants the Government to reinstate the 'stay at home' message for the entire country.
That directive is already in place for Tier 4 areas.
But Sir Keir could be asking for even tougher rules for the entire country, with more attractions including zoos - which are open, even in Tier 4 - closed down.
The politician says a new crackdown must begin tomorrow, January 4 - the date millions of children are set to return to school.
In a post on Twitter, he said there must be "no more dither, no more delay" - adding: "It’s not good enough for the Prime Minister to hint at further restrictions at unspecified times and then do nothing.
"He must put national restrictions in place."
Speaking after Sir Mark on The Andrew Marr Show, he said “yes” when asked whether it may be necessary to bring in new tougher restrictions.
The PM could not rule out curfews, return to single hour exercise a day and a ban on household mixing or a total national lockdown.
Asked if a “Tier 5” was on the way he said the restrictive system is “probably about to get tougher.”
He added: “It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country.
"I'm fully reconciled to that, I bet the people of this country are reconciled to that until the vaccine comes on stream in a massive way, we're fighting this virus with the same set of tools.”
The 56-year-old would not speculate on the type of new restrictions but said the country would be aware of the things the government could introduce.
He added: “You've spoken about Tier 5, I haven't said that. But there are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider."
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