PMQ: Border Control and Anti-Semitic Violence

The United Kingdom Parliament met together for the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions Time. Labor Party and Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer asked multiple questions to Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader Boris Johnson the UK’s border and the recent rise in anti-Semitic violence.

Starmer began the PMQs by asking Johnson if he agreed that the new COVID-19 variants were the biggest threat to the UK.

In his response, Johnson said that new data showed that vaccines were increasingly effective against all variants. Not only that, but in general, people had been coming to get their vaccine shots.

Starmer responded by saying that the COVID-19 variants were incredibly dangerous. It was not only just about the Indian variant, but including all future variants. He pointed out that Johnson weakened the borders by moving 170 countries to the Amber List.

Johnson responded by saying that the UK had one of the strongest border regimes in the world. In regards to the Amber List, people were encouraged to only travel for emergencies. Anybody who did return from an Amber List country is expected to self isolate for ten days.

“People who fail to obey the quarantine can face fines, Mr. Speaker, of up to £10,000,” he said (6:37).

Starmer pointed out that a big problem in Johnson’s government was the lack of clarity. The environmental secretary said that people could travel to Amber List countries to visit family. However, on that same day, another government health official said that no one should travel for the remainder of 2021. 

Then, Johnson said that travel to other countries should only be for essential reasons even though the Welsh Secretary said that holidays were essential.

“The government’s lost control of the messaging,” he said. “If he [Johnson] doesn’t want them to travel to Amber List countries, why has he made it easier for them to do so?”

Johnson said that a big focus the government was taking was that they did not want to legislate everything. Therefore, they wanted to give the people guidance on what to do. He made clear to not go to Amber List countries except under extreme circumstances, and holidays did not count as an extreme circumstance.

Starmer moved onto and talked about the topic of anti-Semitism. He said that ever since the violence in Gaza, there had been a 500% rise in violence against the Jewish community. He asked Johnson what his plan was to continue to provide protection and stop anti-Semitism.

Johnson said that he shared his horror the anti-Semitic violence. He said that the government will continue to work with the Jewish community and the Community Safety Trust to put an end to the violence.

Other members of Parliament asked questions for the remaining PMQ session.