I have received many emails on this matter and I wanted to ensure I had a broad view of the situation before responding.
I truly appreciate people’s frustration as so many have sacrificed an enormous amount to follow the rules and protect others. We are all anxious to see our families freely and the social distancing measures are something all of us are finding really hard. Ultimately, this sacrifice has been worth it as the NHS hasn’t been overwhelmed and we are now moving cautiously towards a new normal, with greater freedoms. As your MP, my focus is entirely on supporting our local services and those of you who have reached out for extra help and support to get through this pandemic. Many are very concerned about their health, jobs, businesses and children’s education and future. I apologise to those still waiting, the volume has been unprecedented and we still have many cases to respond to.
We have received a number of emails from people who are angry with Dominic Cummings and the choices he made to deal with his personal situation. Many disagree with his choices (some agree) and question whether they were within the spirit of the lockdown or within the guidelines. As the facts of Mr Cummings’ situation are disputed and there are ongoing investigations, I have made the range of views from constituents known to my Government colleagues. I find it difficult to put myself in this situation as I have not had Covid-19, nor do I have a young child, and faced with this situation would hesitate to advise any parent what is best for their family.
In my view, we need to continue to be cautious, keep distant and follow the guidelines during this vital period. The Government is focussed on making the key decisions which will lead us to the next phase and start to open up and rebuild our economy. This will not be easy, we have a great deal of uncertainty ahead of us and we will need all of our collective effort to do so.
