Angela Rayner challenged over claims teachers at "greater risk" from from Covid-19

Angela Rayner has been challenged over claims that teachers were at increased risk of infection and death from Covid-19.

Pressed on why she was bringing herself into conflict with the scientific advice, she said: "Frontline key workers who are out there are more at risk", and added that "teachers are frontline key workers".

But on Wednesday Prof Jonathan Van-Tam told a Downing Street briefing there was not a "markedly increased rate of infection or mortality" from Covid-19 among teachers.

The Labour deputy leader has called for teaching staff to be vaccinated in the February half-term.