Covid news — live: Starmer calls for immediate national lockdown as more than 50,000 cases recorded again

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for a nationwide lockdown to be introduced within 24 hours to control the spread of coronavirus following a surge in new cases.

More than 50,000 positive tests for Covid-19 were reported for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday, with 54,990 cases recorded in the past 24 hours.

Sir Keir told reporters that the virus was “clearly out of control” and it was “inevitable” that some schools would have to remain closed on Monday.

It came after Boris Johnson warned that England’s tier system for restrictions is “probably about to get tougher” due to surging infection rates across the country.

However, the prime minister resisted calls to keep all schools closed next week and claimed that he had “no doubt” that classrooms were safe this winter.