Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has tested positive for coronavirus and Angela Rayner will deputise for him at Prime Minister’s Questions, a party spokesman said.
The first PMQs of the year is being held at 3pm on Wednesday, instead of the usual midday timing, as the House of Commons convenes at 2.30pm on its first day back.
The Labour leader has had to repeatedly isolate during the pandemic after members of his household contracted or came into close contact with the virus.
It is the second time the Labour leader has had Covid-19 - he tested positive on the day of the budget in October - and it will be his sixth period in isolation since the pandemic began.
Starmer is not thought to have any symptoms of the virus, but the infection was detected as part of his regular testing routine.
It comes a day after Starmer delivered a speech in Birmingham setting out his new “contract with the British people” and again ruled out any deal with the SNP “going into or coming out of” a general electon.
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