UK's Keir Starmer tests positive for coronavirus and enters isolation for sixth time

Labour leader receives a positive test result after a speech in Birmingham on Tuesday

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks at Millennium Point, Birmingham, setting out his party's ambition for a new Britain, on January 4. PA

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has tested positive for coronavirus a day after a major speech setting out his vision for Britain’s future.

Mr Starmer missed Prime Minister’s Questions, with deputy leader Angela Rayner stepping in to face Boris Johnson.

The Labour leader previously tested positive for coronavirus on the day of the Budget in October.

Mr Starmer is not thought to have any Covid-19 symptoms but the infection was picked up as part of his regular testing.

This latest positive test result will mean his sixth period of isolation since the start of the pandemic.

A Labour spokesman said Mr Starmer had been taking regular lateral flow tests.

“That is because the nature of his role obviously means that he is still going out and about and meeting people,” the spokesman said.

“I think it is the responsible thing to do in the situation, given the nature of his roles.”

Keir Starmer makes his keynote speech to the Labour Conference in Brighton. Getty Images

Britain's Labour Party leader Keir Starmer prepares his conference speech before addressing delegates. The annual Labour Party conference is taking place in Brighton, on the south coast of England. Reuters

Keir Starmer walks along Brighton seafront promenade. This is Mr Starmer's first conference as Labour Party leader. PA

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, left, is joined by Keir Starmer as they meet members of the Sussex Police force on a walkabout in Worthing. PA

Keir Starmer welcomes Louise Ellman to the conference in Brighton. The former MP who quit Labour over its handling of anti-Semitism has rejoined following changes to the party's rules on discrimination. PA

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy addresses delegates on the fourth day of the conference. AFP

Socialist party members hand out leaflets outside the conference centre. Getty Images

Catherine Atkinson, whose husband served in Afghanistan, holds nine-month-old Elena as she addresses delegates. Getty Images

A cameraman operates in the main hall during the conference. Getty Images

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn takes part in a question and answer session with delegates during a fringe meeting in Brighton. Getty Images

Visual artists carry an oversized sculpture of an ice cream outside the conference. AFP

Deputy leader of the Labour Party Angela Rainer listens to speeches in the main hall. Getty Images

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth receives applause after his speech. AFP

Jeremy Corbyn arrives at a Labour conference fringe event, in Brighton. Reuters

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds gives media interviews at the Brighton Centre ahead of his keynote speech. PA

On Tuesday, Mr Starmer addressed an audience in Birmingham where he promised “straight leadership” based on the values of “security, prosperity and respect” if his party is returned to power.

He spoke at Birmingham’s Millennium Point to a small group of city Labour MPs including Jess Phillips, Khalid Mahmood, Jack Dromey, Stephen McCabe and Preet Gill, and party advisers.

Also in the audience of about 20 were Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward, and the West Midlands regional police and crime commissioner Simon Foster.

Ms Phillips, Ms Gill and Mr Ward later joined Mr Starmer on a tour of a green energy and decarbonisation research site in the Tyseley area of the city.

The Labour spokesman said people Mr Starmer met at the event had been contacted to tell them of his positive test result.