Boris Johnson invites opposition leaders for talks on government's efforts to tackle coronavirus outbreak
Boris Johnson has written to the other party leaders for talks on coronavirus.
1 min read
Boris Johnson has invited opposition leaders for emergency talks on how the UK is tackling the coronavirus epidemic.
The Prime Minister said party leaders "have a duty to work together" to confront the disease.
He said he wanted the talks to take place next week, alongside a briefing from chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser.
Mr Johnson sent the letter just an hour before it was announced that Sir Keir Starmer will succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
The PM said: "I want to listen to your views and update you on the measures we have taken so far, such as rapidly expanding testing and providing economic support to businesses and individuals across the country.
"The Government I lead will act in the national interest at all times and be guided by the best scientific evidence, and of course we will continue to engage constructively with all political parties on the national effort to defeat this pandemic.
"I have no doubt that - as we have so many times in the past - the people of the United Kingdom will rise to the current challenge and we will beat coronavirus together."
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