Keir Starmer self-isolating as aide tests positive for Covid – a day after he visited Portsmouth

Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating after a member of his private office staff tested positive for coronavirus.
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A spokesman for the Labour leader said that he had not shown any symptoms of the disease but would be working from home in line with Government regulations.

‘This afternoon, Keir Starmer was advised to self-isolate after a member of his private office staff tested positive for the coronavirus,’ the spokesman said.

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‘Keir is well and not showing any symptoms. He will now be working from home.’

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to the Portsmouth Gin Distillery. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA WireLabour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to the Portsmouth Gin Distillery. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to the Portsmouth Gin Distillery. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
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It is understood Sir Keir will stay at home until December 16 – 14 days after he last came into contact with the staff member concerned last Tuesday.

The news come after a day after Sir Keir visited The Portsmouth Distillery, with Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan and shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds, to show his support for small businesses.

The party leader praised the gin-maker for using its facilities to turn out hand sanitiser during the pandemic.

Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA WirePicture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
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The Labour party has confirmed the staff member who tested positive was not part of the visit to Portsmouth.

This is the second time that Sir Keir has been required to self-isolate.

In September he went into quarantine when one of his children developed possible symptoms of the disease only for a test to come back negative two days later.

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