Keir Starmer tests positive for COVID-19 for a second time – Labour leader to miss PMQs

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has tested positive for coronavirus, a party spokesman has said.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner will stand in for him at Prime Minister’s Questions later.

It comes a day after Sir Keir delivered a speech to an audience in Birmingham setting out his new “contract with the British people” and his vision for a future Labour government.

It is the second time the Labour leader has had COVID-19 – he tested positive on the day of the budget in October.

Sir Keir is not thought to have any symptoms of the virus, but the infection was detected as part of his regular testing routine.

This will be his sixth period of isolation due to COVID.

A small group of Birmingham Labour MPs were at Tuesday’s event, including Jess Phillips, Khalid Mahmood, Jack Dromey, Stephen McCabe and Preet Gill, together with members of the media and party advisers.

Members of the media and party advisers were also present, while Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward and the West Midlands regional police and crime commissioner Simon Foster were there.

After his speech, Sir Keir went on a tour of a green energy and decarbonisation research site in the Tyseley area of Birmingham. He was joined by Ms Phillips, Ms Gill and Cllr Ward, as well as members of the press.