I made two key promises in my first speech as Labour leader, just over six months ago: that Labour would work with the government to tackle coronavirus and that we would always act in the national interest.
But in recent weeks, the two have become impossible to square.
We are in a decisive moment in our efforts to tackle coronavirus. The numbers are stark – and they are heading in the wrong direction.
Cases are increasing rapidly. And while they are rising more sharply in some areas than others, this is happening in all regions of our country.
There are now more people in hospital with this dreadful virus than when we went into national lockdown on 23 March.
The British people have made huge sacrifices throughout this crisis for the greater good. That is now being put at risk.
The Government has lost control of the virus, lost control of the message – and is no longer following scientific advice.
The measures it has set out in recent weeks are harming the economy and failing to suppress the virus.
The Prime Minister has run out of time. His plan isn’t working. Another course is needed.
We now need a national reset: a two-to-three week circuit break that gives us time to fix testing, protect the NHS, get control of the virus.
If we do this, we can get control of the virus, together. If we don’t, I fear the government is sleepwalking our country into an increasingly bleak winter.
The Prime Minister must now decide which path he wants to go down.
