Preet Kaur Gill MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, commenting ahead of the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Event, said:

“With the UK co-hosting the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Event, the government is in a strong position to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that any funding commitments come with conditions to ensure global access to any vaccines, tests or other treatments related to Covid-19.

“If the government fails to take concrete action, it is risking a scramble between countries, high prices, and restricted supply at the expense of people’s lives.

“A global pandemic requires us all to work together to share knowledge, expertise and resources. That is why Labour is calling for the UK government to ensure that there is genuine transparency over where the public money pledged today goes, and guarantees that anyone who needs the products is able to access them wherever they are in the world.”