MP Claudia Webbe leads call for global ceasefire to combat COVID-19

LEICESTER EAST MP Claudia Webb is leading a group of fellow MPsin urging the government to respond to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for a global ceasefire in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier this month Guterres said he wanted to see “an immediate ceasefire in all corners of the globe to reinforce diplomatic action, help create conditions for the delivery of lifesaving aid, and bring hope to places that are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Fundamental recognition

He said his call was “rooted in a fundamental recognition: There should be only one fight in our world today: our shared battle against COVID-19”.

Webbe organised the letter, signed by fellow MPs, to defence secretary Ben Wallace.

Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, said he supported a ceasefire shortly after Guterres’ recent statement.

However, the MPs who signed the letter claim that little action has been taken to follow this support, pointing to a recent RAF bombing raid in Iraq.

Dealing with the pandemic

Webbe said: “Continuing wars will inevitably make the impact of the coronavirus much worse. “A ceasefire and troop withdrawal would save hundreds of millions of pounds that would be so much better spent dealing with the pandemic.

“The Yemini conflict is one of the worst humanitarian crisis of the modern era. There has never been a more important time for the UK to create opportunities for peace and step away from the conflict, as well as other theatres of war.”

High profile signatories

Among the high profile signatories to the letter are former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott, Brent MP Dawn Butler and Kate Osamor, MP for Edmonton.

She added: “From the COVID-19 pandemic to the existential threat of climate change, the global community is facing increasingly common enemies. Rather than funding wars, our governments should use this moment to end the intolerable suffering caused by global conflicts. Now is the time for a true global ceasefire.”