PMQ: COVID-19 Delta Variant and Business Relief

The United Kingdom Parliament met together for the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions Time. Labor Party and Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer asked six questions to Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader Boris Johnson on the Delta Variant and Business relief.

Starmer opened up the PMQs by asking Johnson if the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant from India is caused by keeping the borders open.

Johnson gave a firm no, and said that the UK put India on the red list on April 23. It was not until April 28 when the Delta variant was identified. 

Starmer fired back by saying that on March 24 is when the new variant spread in India. By the first of April, 100,000 new infections spread across the country. Johnson did not put India on the red list until April 23. During that time period, 20,000 people traveled from India to the UK.

“The British people did their best by following the rules and getting vaccinated,” Starmer said. “But, the Prime Minister squandered it by letting a new variant into the country.”

Johnson responded sharply by saying that Starmer had not gotten his facts correct. April 1 was not the Delta variant, but the Kappa variant, according to Johnson. However, even then, he believed that the British people were ready, since 79% of them were vaccinated.

Starmer made clear that the consequences to Johnson’s actions were that the Delta variant was higher in the UK than in other countries. Not only that, but the UK has higher infection rates than the rest of Europe. However, he did praise the NHS for their vaccine rollout.

“But, while the NHS was vaccinating, he was vacillating,” Starmer said.

Johnson criticized Starmer for jumping between different points without picking a side. He also said that the UK’s policies against COVID-19 were strong, since 50 countries were placed on the red list. Furthermore, closing down the borders would bring about certain negative consequences.

“We have 75% of our medicines and 50% of our food that comes in from abroad,” he said.

Starmer criticized this by saying that the 20,000 Indians that entered the UK did not bring vital medical supplies or food. Furthermore, he pointed out a former senior advisor that said that Johnson did not want a border policy. All of these issues would lead to businesses suffering since business rate relief ends by the end of June.

Johnson assured that businesses had been recovering, as he pointed to a 2.3% increase in the economy in April. Not only will he continue to lend support for businesses, but he believed that the vaccine rollout had helped businesses out. 

“Thanks to the vaccine rollout - thanks to the cautious steps we are taking, we are seeing a shot in the arm for businesses,” he said.

Other members of Parliament asked questions to Johnson during the remainder of the PMQs.