Politics

Raheem Sterling backs campaign to honour NHS heroes with a medal


Boris Johnson is poised to recognise NHS staff and volunteers fighting coronavirus amid growing support for the Mirror’s campaign to give them medals.

Doctors’ leaders, unions and MPs have already backed our call to honour brave workers battling Covid-19 on the front line.

And sports stars, including Raheem Sterling, last night threw their weight behind the plea as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hinted life-savers will be honoured.

England and Manchester City forward Sterling said in a moving statement: “I’m proud to back the Daily Mirror’s campaign to give our NHS heroes and volunteers a medal to show our support for the incredible work they are doing.

Raheem Sterling has backed the campaign

“They are risking their lives on the front line and we should honour them and thank them for their amazing efforts.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also sent a heartfelt message about the incredible work being done during the crisis.

He said: “We all have to be disciplined, work together, that is why we are at home.

“But the people in the health service aren’t – it is incredible these people are doing their job to make sure we stay safe.

“They put themselves in danger, day in and day out, because they want to help other people, and yet they have such good spirit.

“They deserve so much praise because they want to help the sick and seriously ill. It is extraordinary and we should recognise that.”

Do you have a coronavirus story? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

The brave volunteers helping during the outbreak deserve a medal

Ex-Army commander Col Richard Kemp, a veteran of Afghanistan, also backed the demand, writing exclusively for the Mirror.

And speaking from Downing Street, Mr Raab suggested the Government could support the move once the pandemic has eased.

He said: “The job they are doing is amazing, inspirational. They deserve all the tributes and all the recognition and I am sure we will want to look very carefully at how we do that once we have got the other side of this crisis.”

Earlier, PM Mr Johnson’s spokesman praised the “fantastic” efforts of dedicated healthcare staff – and said the country would want to show its appreciation.

He said: “The Prime Minister is very clear about the debt of gratitude which we all owe to the NHS workforce.

Jurgen Klopp has voiced support for the campaign

“They are doing a fantastic job and I am sure the nation will want a way to say ‘thank you’ once we have defeated this virus.”

Last Thursday, millions of people applauded NHS staff in a vivid demonstration of the affection in which they are held.

The dedicated workers demand nothing more than enough personal protection equipment so they can do their jobs.

But while they only want masks, aprons, goggles and gloves so they can perform their work more safely, we think that, when the crisis has abated, they should have a permanent token of the country’s gratitude.

Martin Churchward is still delivering essentials and papers around the clock

Age UK’s Caroline Abrahams also backed the idea saying “every effort should be made to recognise selfless sacrifices” of staff “pushed to their absolute limit.”

When we launched our campaign last week, it was supported by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the British Medical Association, Britain’s biggest union – Unison, the CBI, acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price.

Labour leadership candidates, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy have also pledged their backing.

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Coronavirus outbreak

There is a precedent for granting awards for vital work in the face of a killer disease.

In 2015, the Government approved a medal for Britons, including civilians, fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

It was the first medal awarded by the Government for a humanitarian response.





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