Prime Minister Boris Johnson has this afternoon urged people across the country to join in a national clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore at 6pm tonight (February 3).
The prime minister told the House of Commons that Captain Tom ‘dedicated his life to others’.
“We all now have the opportunity to show our appreciation for him and all that he stood for and believed in, ” he said.
“That is why I encourage everyone to join in a national clap for Captain Tom and all those health workers for whom he raised money at 6pm this evening.”
The Second World War veteran died yesterday at the age of 100 after capturing the hearts of Britain in the early days of the pandemic when he raised more than £30m for the NHS.
The country has held a national applause before, with a weekly event for front-line NHS staff and other key workers running for 10 weeks during the UK’s first lockdown.
Before Prime Minister’s Questions earlier, the House of Commons held a one-minute silence in memory of Capt Sir Tom and those who have lost their lives as a result of the pandemic.
If Boris really wanted to celebrate the NHS, how about give the staff a decent pay rise and fund it properly so people like Captain Tom don’t feel the need to walk miles round their garden to plug the gap? All you’re doing Boris is making a lot of noise. Literally.