Covid school shutdowns are a ‘moral issue’ says Miriam Cates

Covid school shutdowns are a “moral issue”, a Conservative MP has told BBC 2’s Politics Live programme this morning.

Responding to claims by Labour MP Zarah Sultana that the shutdowns did make sense and her suggestion that she would “trust teachers over Tory ministers”, Miriam Cates MP argued that the evidence suggests schools were never a “hotbed” of transmission and have reflected community Covid rates.

“Covid isn’t a risk to children” she added, emphasising they were more at risk of “severe harm” including psychological issues, from prolonged educational closures.

She suggested it was a “moral issue” over whether it was “right” to use children as a “buffer against a pandemic that doesn’t affect them.”