Campaign reply - COVID-19 restrictions

Thank you to the many constituents who have recently been in touch expressing concern at the recent introduction of measures from the government to help prevent the spread of the virus.

At all stages of the pandemic the government has delicately attempted a balance between by protecting our NHS in order to save lives and minimising the wider social and economic impact of our restrictions.

It is because of the common sense of the British public that, so far, we have been able to avert an even greater catastrophe. However, we always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was very real. As in Spain and France and many other countries, we have reached a significant tipping point.

Recently the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser warned that the doubling rate for new cases could be between seven and 20 days and in the last fortnight, daily hospital admissions in England have more than doubled. The UK’s Covid alert level has been raised from 3 to 4 meaning that transmission is high or rising exponentially.

Therefore, the government had to act. If we can curb the number of daily infections, and reduce the R number to 1 or below, then we can protect the NHS, look after our most vulnerable people, and shelter the economy from the far sterner and more costly measures that would inevitably become necessary later.

Together, we can fight back against this virus.

This is very much not a return to the full lockdown we saw in March – Something I could not support at this juncture. The government is not issuing a general instruction to stay at home and the government is ensuring that schools, colleges and universities stay open.

This virus is a fact of our lives and our fight against it will continue until we have access to a vaccine. We will not listen to those who say let the virus rip nor to those who urge a permanent lockdown we are taking decisive and appropriate steps to balance saving lives with protecting jobs and livelihoods.

Parliament will have every opportunity to scrutinise all decisions, MPs will be able to question the Government’s scientific experts more regularly, MPs will gain access to data about their constituencies, and MPs will be able to join daily calls with the Paymaster General.

I completely understand the concerns of those who are frustrated at the latest measures being brought in.

As a Conservative party politician, I believe fiercely (as does the Prime Minister) in personal liberty and free markets. However, given the times we are currently living through, these temporary extraordinary decisions that no Prime Minister ever wants to make, must be brought in.

The South West does have the lowest rates of infections in the UK. However, there was a significant uptick in cases in Cornwall last week and this is expected to continue to rise. This is why the national restrictions will apply UK wide.

I recently met with the Chancellor to discuss plans for the economic recovery and to make representations to him as what measures businesses in my Truro & Falmouth constituency need. I am confident that moving forward and working together we will recover strongly.