Today the Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, and Labour’s Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, Jess Phillips MP, have jointly written to the Home Secretary calling on the Government not to repeat the mistakes it made during the last lockdown.

The Labour frontbenchers’ intervention comes as England settles into its second national lockdown, announced by the Government last week. When the country was locked down for the first time, domestic abuse charities saw an increase of up to 50% in the number of calls to their helplines.

In their letter, Mr Thomas-Symonds and Ms Phillips called on Rt Hon Priti Patel MP to ensure additional funding was available to these charities so that victims of domestic abuse might be best supported. They wrote:

“Domestic abuse did not emerge with the pandemic. It is an unacceptable stain on our society that has worsened in recent months. For some, this period has lead to an escalation of abuse and violence, and the coronavirus cirri has created further barriers for victims to escape abuse or bring perpetrators to justice. Frontline organisations are doing extraordinary work to support people at an incredibly difficult time; the very least they deserve is the necessary support from the Government”

A full copy of this letter can be read below.