Responding to the Home Secretary’s comments about failures to roll out the correct equipment to protect frontline workers in the NHS and social care, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Throughout the crisis, Liberal Democrats have been supportive of all the efforts to beat coronavirus. We continue to agree with the experts that people must stay at home to save lives.
“Yet over the last few days, it has become clear that the Government is failing to deliver on key promises to NHS and social care workers, especially over supplies of protective equipment. Ministers look in danger of losing control.
“We simply cannot send tens of thousands of frontline workers to care for people as they fight this virus without adequate protection.
“The lack of sufficient protective equipment is becoming a national scandal; many health and care staff clearly feel they’ve been sold down the river.
“I am repeating therefore my call for Parliament to be recalled immediately, using online technology, so MPs can ask the questions people need answers to. I hope other opposition party leaders will now join me in this call.
“For the Government to maintain the support of the opposition, we must have complete transparency. That is the only way we can all play our part to protect our frontline workers and beat the coronavirus.”