Column 31 December 2020 - Looking forward...

I hope everyone was able to take some time to have a relaxing Christmas, among all the particularly difficult decisions we have had to take recently with regards to COVID-19 and in particular the new mutation of the virus that caused sad but necessary changes to the rules the Government had put in place over the Christmas period.

The new COVID-19 variant was identified due to Public Health England’s proactive and enhanced monitoring following the increase in cases seen in Kent and London earlier in December.

It is not uncommon for viruses to undergo mutations; for example, seasonal influenza mutates every year. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the variant has any impact on disease severity, antibody response or vaccine effectiveness.

Because of the increased transmission of the new COVID-19 variant it is more important than ever to follow the rules to ensure its spread is limited as much as possible.

In terms of the vaccine, the roll out in Cornwall continues with the vaccine also being given in Falmouth GP’s. The vaccine is being given out to prioritise those groups considered to be at greatest risk, and is by appointment only. Please do not contact your GP surgery about the vaccine, but instead wait to be contacted. As of 21 December 500,000 vaccines have been given across the UK, and rate of vaccination will increase, particularly as more types of vaccine are authorised for distribution.

So as we look towards 2021 then, there is hope on the horizon, hope for a return to some sense of normality after what has been a turbulent, unpredictable and difficult time for all of us.

My continued thanks to all who have worked so hard across society in fighting back against COVID-19 through the year, from those working in our NHS and care settings, to everyone who volunteered in their community, and all who have taken part in ensuring our country has stayed running in the middle of the pandemic.

Looking forward to 2021 I want to focus on the positives, the Hall for Cornwall will be reopening in September following the latest award of Government funding, Falmouth will again host the legendary Tall Ships event, which will bring millions to the economy, continued work on the dualling of the A30 between Carland and Chiverton Cross, which will provide a massive upgrade to this vital piece of infrastructure, as well as numerous other areas where I have been working hard to bring improvements to our area, our schools, transport, connectivity and economy.

No one could have foreseen what was coming in 2020, but as we look towards 2021 I pledge to do all I can to continue to work hard as your constituency MP to be your representative in Parliament and to ensure Truro and Falmouth’s voice is heard loud and clear, that we get our fair share of funding, as we recover from the virus, go through Brexit and look to the future.

As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , by telephone on 01872 229698.

Column 23 December 2020 - Looking back over 2020

It is now just over one year since my election as the Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth. The 12th of December marked one year exactly since our landslide victory at the polls, giving us our greatest majority since 1987. Being one of the 109 Members of Parliament from the 2019 intake, I can assure you, this year has been nothing short of a whirlwind. A roller-coaster ride but one but I do not want to get off; I am loving every second and, despite the difficult year, life will get better.

As you will recall, we were elected with the mandate to Get Brexit Done. We got Brexit done on 31st December 2019 and we remain committed to getting Brexit done. Come 1st January 2021, the transition period will have ended and the next chapter in our rich history will commence. Britain is ready and open for business.

As if dealing with Brexit was not a big enough issue, two months later our country, and rest of the world, was turned on its head with the COVID-19 pandemic taking centre stage. The pandemic has caused such great damage not just to our country, but to every other nation in the world. It has caused heartache, financial harm, and has ultimately forced the Government to use legislation which has been intrusive in our way of life, changing how we act as a nation – something no Government in this country wants to do, especially a Conservative one. For every decision that has been made, the health and wealth of our nation has been at the forefront. The Prime Minister continues to have my full and unequivocal support and I have nothing but admiration for how he has dealt with this pandemic. Overall, because of the actions of this Government, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, particularly with the fantastic news about the vaccine. As we ease out of lockdown and introduce the mass roll-out of the vaccine, other countries are facing their biggest COVID case rises and deaths since this all began.

Individuals at the highest risk are now being contacted to be vaccinated by the approved vaccine. If you are contacted and offered the vaccine, I urge you to take up this offer.

Throughout the year, my team have worked alongside me to ensure the people of Truro and Falmouth are represented. I am so proud of my team and so grateful for all their hard work. This really is a team effort and my team have been beside me every step of the way. To Jordan, James, Karen, Ruth, Huw and Jack – thank you. In this year alone, my office has received over 20,000 emails and we have helped over 9,000 individual constituents with their issues and concerns. A mammoth effort by all account and is far higher than a normal year in Parliament.

As well as standing up for our constituency in Parliament, I continue to be in the constituency at every given opportunity, working hard on the ground securing investment and working with local businesses and organisations.

In addition to the high volume of casework, in my first year as your Member of Parliament I have successfully secured over £260 million in Government funding for Truro and Falmouth. This includes the commitment of the funding for a new Woman and Children’s Hospital at Treliske, a new school, further progress on dualling of the A30, funding for the Hall for Cornwall development, funding for active travel infrastructure, Cornish railway upgrades and much more. I am committed to ensuring that we have the levelled-up funding in place to ensure that we can live, work, grow up and be successful in this part of Cornwall.

As we approach the end of what has been turbulent 2020, we must all be optimistic for the future. There is so much to look forward to in the year to come, not just with the roll out of the vaccine and life slowly getting back to normal, but also for events such as the Tall Ships Festival, which is to returning to Falmouth as hosts in the summer of 2021, an event which really does show the best of what Cornwall has to offer.

Since day one I committed myself to being your caring, compassionate, constituency MP. Hopefully in my first year I have stuck true to that.

Wishing all Truro Voice readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Column 17 December 2020 - Culture, roads, Brexit and Covid

 Last week ended with more good news for our constituency as the Hall for Cornwall was awarded a £2,000,000 Capital Kickstart grant as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund enabling organisations to push forward with capital projects despite the financial challenge caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

It's great to see the Hall for Cornwall again recognised with funding from the Government to help it through its critical refurbishment and keep it on track to reopen next year. I have worked hard with Julien Boast and his excellent team to ensure all in Government are aware just how important the Hall for Cornwall is, not just for Truro, but as a cultural centre for arts for Cornwall.

On Friday, I visited the construction site of the dualling of the A30 from Carland Cross to Chiverton Cross. I had a briefing from Highways England on the progress of the project, which will ease congestion for Cornwall on the critical route. This is such an exciting and much-needed improvement. Something that has been needed for a long time and it’s brilliant to see shovels in the ground.

Included in the project are will be 8.7 miles of high quality dual carriageway, provision for pedestrian, cyclists and horse riders, over 12 miles of wildlife proof fencing, 8 miles of new Cornish hedgerow, 29 new culverts and wildlife crossings and 10 new underpasses/underbridges.

This will be a major upgrade for our major road that will not only will improve safety, reduce congestion and improve efficiency, but will also unlock economic growth in this part of Cornwall. I look forward to catching up with the team again in the New Year and continuing to work with them to see this vital project through to its conclusion.

On Saturday I went back to the Knowledge Spa at RCH Treliske to continue taking part in the COVID-19 vaccine trial I have been in since November. I will continue to be monitored as part of this trial over the coming year.

This week also sees the first of the approved Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 vaccine being distributed to GP’s for community vaccination. This follows RCH Treliske starting vaccinations on site last week for NHS staff and care home workers last night. This is another big step in our recovery from COVID-19, but with the tiers up for review this week, we still need to be cautious and do everything we can to protect ourselves and others from the virus.

Finally Brexit has again been making headlines as the negotiations around our future Trade Deal with the EU look to conclude before the transition period ends on 31 December.

While, at the time of writing, nothing has been concluded, I am pleased to see our Prime Minister take a firm stance with Brussels, as concessions regarding our fishing fleet and access to our waters, and over the sovereignty of our country after we have left the EU should simply not be up for debate.

As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , by telephone on 01872 229698

Newspaper column 3 December 2020 - Tier 1 and Christmas

On Thursday last week the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care confirmed the arrangements for the new tiered COVID-19 restrictions across England.

The vast majority of England were in the higher tiered restrictions 2 and 3, reflecting the higher levels of COVID-19 in these areas and the increased risk of transmission that goes with it.

Only Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Wight were placed in the lowest tier of restrictions, Tier 1 from 2^nd December.

This is because we have, throughout the pandemic, kept the lowest levels of COVID-19 in the country in Cornwall.

Residents of Cornwall were singled out for praise and thanked by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care during his statement in Parliament, and it is great to see our efforts through the pandemic given this national recognition.

The news that we are in Tier 1 will doubtless have been a relief for so many of our hard-pressed hospitality businesses, who will now be able to re-open or open to sit-in customers again with less restrictions than across most of the rest of the country.

The decisions on the tiering will be regularly reviewed though, and it is up to all of us to continue to follow the rules, stay safe and suppress the virus to ensure we in Tier 1 and don’t fall back to harsher restrictions in the future.

As we enter December it is also time to look forward to the Christmas period and the Government and devolved administrations has issued guidance on what families will be able to do over the week around Christmas.

This cannot be a ‘normal’ Christmas. But as we approach the festive period, the Government has been working closely to find a way for family and friends to see each other, even if it is for a short time, and recognising that it must be both limited and cautious.

Travel restrictions across the four administrations and between tiers will be lifted to provide a window for households to come together between the 23rd and 27th of December.

Up to three households can form an exclusive ‘bubble’ to meet at home during this period. When a bubble is formed it is fixed, and must not be changed or extended further at any point.

Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place, but existing, more restrictive rules on hospitality and meeting in other venues will be maintained throughout this period.

Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over Christmas will be a personal judgement for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable.

I hope that these rules, announced a month in advance, will give some clarity to people over what they can plan for at Christmas time, and even though this won’t be a ‘normal’ Christmas, we will be able to all spend time with our families in a way that is safe and responsible.

If you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk, by telephone on 01872 229698.

Oppose the Foreign Aid budget cut campaign

Thank you to the many constituents who have emailed me regarding the proposed cut to the Foreign Aid budget.  

It is with regret given the economic difficulties that we are facing which could not possibly have been foreseen that the government has to make this decision. I will not be opposing it; with a heavy heart, I believe it is the right decision for this juncture.  

 

The UK will still be the second highest aid donor in the G7 and it will be restored to 0.7% when the financial situation allows.  

 

A recent YouGov poll put support for the proposed cut to foreign aid at 66% with only 18% opposing.  

 

Amongst the different Parties supporters this included: 

 

Conservatives – 92% support/ 3% oppose 

 

Labour – 44% support / 37% oppose 

 

Lib Dem – 49% / 35% oppose 

 

If you would like to discuss this further or any other matter then as ever, please feel free to contact me: 

 

cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk