Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to ONS statistics on Covid-19 deaths by occupation, said:

“This is a devastating confirmation that Covid-19 thrives on inequality and that those in low paid, insecure work have been left exposed and vulnerable.

“Everyone must be protected properly from this horrific virus. Ordering people back to work without proper protection puts them and everyone else at risk.

“We entered this public health emergency with health inequalities widening and life expectancy stalling. We now need a plan to tackle these widening health inequalities which see poorer people become ill quicker and die sooner.”