Newspaper column 18 June 2020 - Protests, more funding, and support for seasonal business

This week is the thirteenth week in lockdown measures, although we have seen further easing take place at the beginning of the week, with non-essential retail shops being able to open, as long as they can put into place rigorous social distancing measures.

In Parliament last week I was pleased to once again highlight how important our seasonal industries are in Cornwall, not just the traditional tourism and hospitality trades but also for those who work in the festival industry, musicians and outdoor theatre performers.

I asked the Leader of the House of Commons if he would find time for a debate on supporting seasonal businesses, including people who work in the festival industry and musicians, who are facing what has been described as ‘three winters’ of poor or no trade at all.

It is crucial that these vital sectors are not left behind as we come out of lockdown and I will continue to do all I can to highlight their cause and ensure that they are not forgotten.

A sad consequence of lockdown is that we have seen some types of crime go up. Domestic abuse is a terrible crime, and it is sad to see that reports of it have increased by more than 10% in Cornwall during lockdown.

I have been pleased to see the Government release funding to combat this and earlier this week it was good to see that the Cornwall Refuge Trust, based in Truro has received £39,451 of Government funding to help it continue to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic

Groups like The Cornwall Refuge Trust do absolutely vital work in helping the survivors of domestic abuse find safe havens from their abusers and then rebuild their lives. I am pleased to see the Government provide additional funding for it at this difficult time.

Finally, I wanted to touch on the various protests that have occurred as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, both nationally, and in Truro on this past Monday.

Unfortunately, racism does exist in Cornwall. I have witnessed it several times and people close to me have been hurt by it. I will play my part to ensure voices are heard. People are listening – I am listening, and the government is listening. Attitudes are changing. Racism plays no part in my world and I do not tolerate it in others.

We must do more, so let’s stand together to tackle racism and ensure Cornwall is as welcoming as it can be to one and all. Only by working together can we tackle this issue head on.

That being said I absolutely disagree with all the violence that has erupted from public protests, but particularly the destruction and threats of damage to statues of figures from our past.

Removing references to elements of our past that we find offensive today does not change the past. Drastic removal makes it more likely that we will not learn from the past.

My view is that instead of destroying elements of out past that are now objectionable, we should instead where-ever possible flood the debate with more information.  Give controversial characters depth and set their actions in the context of their time.  We should not shy away from an uncomfortable past, we must ensure we can have a fully informed debate on the actions of these people and recognise them, both for what they are, and also for how far we have come as a society since.

We must ask questions, we must challenge and debate and we must listen. But most of all, we must move forward together