Starmer enters self-isolation after staffer tests positive for Covid-19

Keir Starmer has entered self-isolation in line with the government’s coronavirus rules after coming into contact with a member of staff from his private office who has tested positive for Covid-19.

A spokesperson for Starmer said: “This afternoon Keir Starmer was advised to self-isolate after a member of his private office staff tested positive for the coronavirus. Keir is well and not showing any symptoms. He will now be working from home.”

It is understood that the Labour leader last came into contact with the member of staff on Tuesday this week, and that he will follow the government guidelines by self-isolating until Wednesday, December 16th.

Starmer was also forced to enter coronavirus self-isolation and start working from home on September 14th. On that occasion, he was told that a member of his household had showed possible symptoms of Covid-19.

The opposition leader was not understood to have shown any symptoms of the virus himself then either, and he left self-isolation two days later after one of his children tested negative for Covid-19.

Boris Johnson, who has already had the virus, left self-isolation this week along with six other Tory MPs after they held a meeting in Downing Street with Lee Anderson who later tested positive for Covid-19.

The Prime Minister participated in House of Commons activity virtually, via video link from Downing Street. Whether the Labour leader will do the same this week for PMQs or hand over to Angela Rayner has not yet been confirmed.

Labour’s deputy leader stood in for the opposition leader in September when he stopped self-isolating just shortly before PMQs was starting. She drew attention to care worker pay and the social care crisis.