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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will hold virtual meetings with members of the public over Zoom as he tries to resuscitate the party after its historic electoral defeat.
Dubbed “Call Keir”, he will hold the first hour-long discussion in the marginal Conservative area of Bury on Thursday before talking to residents in Tees Valley.
The meetings will be open to all members of the public in all regions, not just Labour voters, and are aimed at learning the lessons of the Labour Party’s collapse in the December general election.
Sir Keir will also use the sessions to find out more about how people are coping with the coronavirus crisis and to scrutinise the Government’s response.
“Coronavirus is the biggest crisis our country has faced in a generation,” he said.
“That is why I want to hear directly from people about their experiences, how they are coping and what more they want to see done to help keep people safe and well.
“It is also important that Labour listens and learns from our election defeats. I want an open and frank conversation with the British people about what we need to do to restore people’s trust in the Labour Party.”
The choice of location for the first meeting is significant as a sign of intent as Bury North is the seat in which the Tories have their smallest majority in England with just 105 votes, while Bury South is third in that list.
So far, Sir Keir has been seen as having had a good run as leader after taking over at the beginning of the month from Jeremy Corbyn, who led the party to its worst such defeat since 1935.
Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/46
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/46
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/46
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/46
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
6/46
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
7/46
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/46
London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London.
Matt Writtle
9/46
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
10/46
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
11/46
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
12/46
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
13/46
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
14/46
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
15/46
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
16/46
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
17/46
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
18/46
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
19/46
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
20/46
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
21/46
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
22/46
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
23/46
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
24/46
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
25/46
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
26/46
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
27/46
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
28/46
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
29/46
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
30/46
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
31/46
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
32/46
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
33/46
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
34/46
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
35/46
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
36/46
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
37/46
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
38/46
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
39/46
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
40/46
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
41/46
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
42/46
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
43/46
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
44/46
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
45/46
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
46/46
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
1/46
Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/46
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/46
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/46
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/46
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
6/46
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
7/46
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
8/46
London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London.
Matt Writtle
9/46
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
10/46
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
11/46
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
12/46
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
13/46
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
14/46
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
15/46
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
16/46
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
17/46
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
18/46
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
19/46
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
20/46
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
21/46
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
22/46
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
23/46
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
24/46
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
25/46
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
26/46
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
27/46
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
28/46
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
29/46
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
30/46
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
31/46
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
32/46
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
33/46
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
34/46
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
35/46
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
36/46
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
37/46
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
38/46
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
39/46
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
40/46
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
41/46
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
42/46
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
43/46
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
44/46
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
45/46
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
46/46
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
Sir Keir won praise from Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, whereas his predecessor received unprecedented criticism from the Jewish leader during the election campaign.
But Sir Keir faces a challenge over a leaked anti-Semitism dossier which suggested “factional opposition” towards Mr Corbyn hindered efforts to tackle the crisis.
Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee agreed to publish the result of the inquiry in mid-July and it will meet on Friday to discuss who will oversee the investigation.
