Weekly Column – We need to live with Covid as we’ve learnt to live with flu
This week I’ve written about COVID-19, vaccines and the future challenges we face.
The reality is that the vaccines have been the game changer many of us hoped they would be. The link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths has been severely weakened. The last time COVID cases were at the level they’ve been for the past month or so our hospitals were under unprecedented strain and huge numbers of people were losing their lives. This time around the pressure on hospitals has been manageable and the number of people losing their lives because of COVID has been mercifully low.
None of us can predict with any kind of certainty what will happen over the next few months and the virus remains a threat but as it stands it certainly seems like the Prime Minister made the correct decision to proceed with the 19th July unlocking. On this occasion, without the benefit of hindsight, Captain Hindsight Starmer seems to have made an error when he claimed it was inevitable that the number of COVID cases would within weeks rise to over 100,000 per day. The number of COVID cases have been declining for the past few weeks despite the unlocking and pressure on hospitals is easing. There certainly are signs that the third wave has been navigated and this time without us having to resort to the sledgehammer that is the national lockdown with all its associated costs.
I have had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine now and I would encourage everyone who has been offered the vaccine to have it. I was very pleased to learn today that over 75% of all adults in Suffolk have now received both doses of the vaccine. Unless you have a particular medical reason for not having the vaccine I can’t really see any logical reason why you wouldn’t have it. It’s safe and effective and our way back to normality.
What’s interesting is that many of those who tend to be most anti vaccine are the same people who were very much opposed to lockdown restrictions. I honestly feel that if it wasn’t for the vaccine there is a high likelihood that we would have been living with significant restrictions over the past few weeks. The majority of those being treated for COVID in hospitals at the moment are individuals who have been offered the vaccine but turned it down. Sadly this is placing unnecessary and significant pressure on the NHS at a time when its got its hand full with huge waiting lists. My fear is that many of my constituents waiting for much needed operations might have to wait longer in pain because of pressure being put on the NHS unnecessarily by those who are being treated for COVID having turned down the vaccine.
Yes, it is your personal decision whether you have the vaccine or not and I don’t believe in compulsory vaccinations. However, those who turn down the vaccine need to be prepared to accept that many others will disagree with their decision profoundly and are likely to express this. It’s your decision but on this matter our decision is likely to have implications for others and society in more ways than one.
When it comes to this pandemic. We’re in it together and ultimately, we will get through it together.
Weekely Column – Why small things like potholes and hedges are a big deal
Quite an unusual weekly column this week. I talk about a lot of the work I’ve been doing on the ground within communities to try and resolve a variety of different issues. From potholes, pavement quality, speeding, anti-social behaviour problems, littering and unkept public spaces.
There are so many examples of these sorts of issues across our very large Town and the actual concrete powers I have in my hands as the MP to resolve the issues is limited. However I am determined to highlight with the appropriate local authority whether that be Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council or Suffolk Police.
Many of you will have received letters from me over the past year or so. Sometimes progress can be slow but I have a large spreadsheet which is helping me keep track of all the different issues. I go on walkabouts regularly but to an extent I’m reliant on constituents raising the issues with me directly.
Ultimately these issues are largely the responsibility of local councillors and on many of these matters I’m working closely with councillor colleagues to resolve the matters. Sadly Labour councillors don’t seem to be all that keen to work with me on these issues. They seem to be more than content to just sit there and let the problems pile up and then blame someone else.
I can’t promise I will sort all of these issues out in a speedy way but I can at least try my best. These issues really matter. They impact pride in our communities, faith in Government, and it also seems to be the case that when areas fall into a state of disrepair problems can be compounded and anti-social behaviour and criminal activity often follows. If we’re all going to feel pride in our Town its important we feel pride in our local neighbourhood also.
St. Francis Tower
On the last Parliamentary session before the Summer Recess, I wanted to raise to the house the ongoing issue regarding St. Francis Tower and their abhorrent treatment by Block Management Ltd. The entirety of the tower has been covered of the tower block in a shrink-wrap for up to 12 months and scaffolding has been erected to fix a cladding issue.
The handling of this issue, which I have been following closely, remains an absolute disgrace. I was invited by residents to visit the block and see for myself the conditions that they are being forced to live in. The lack of natural light and the limited ventilation they have, during a pandemic and with temperatures like this, must be unbearable.
I have to say in all my time being a Member of Parliament, this is the most shocking thing I have come across. I wanted to raise this issue, to give my constituents basic dignities in living conditions. As despite repeated interventions by myself to try and resolve it, I have still not had a response from them to any of my recent letters.
I understand this cladding needs to be removed, but this must be done in a sensitive way that keeps in mind the living conditions and mental health of the residents of St. Francis Tower. I wanted to raise this with the Government today to see how we can hold Block Management to account and to support my constituents at this time of great distress. I will stand by my constituents on this issue, and I will raise the matter of Block Management’s disregard of my constituent’s well-being as many times as I need to, in order to see them meet with the residents to resolve this.
National level SEND review
I was invited to Number 10 this afternoon to discuss special educational needs with some of the Prime Minister’s advisers. A national level SEND review is currently taking place and I was glad to be able to feed in some of my views.
We also discussed prison education and the worrying fact that such a large proportion of those in prison have learning disabilities. I am pushing hard to try and make sure that everyone entering the prison system meets a education psychologist so that they can be properly assessed. We need to know the true scale of the problem.
As I’ve said before. The stakes are very high when it comes to getting SEND provision right. Get it right and we can empower some of our most creative unconventional thinkers to make a huge contribution to society. Get it wrong and sadly, too often, we are seeing with people whose needs aren’t being met in the criminal justice system.
I was very pleased to hear that the PM shares passion. I will promised that there are likely to be some significant anouncements over the coming months.
National Borders debate
Yesterday, I spoke in the National Borders debate to highlight the welcoming nature of Ipswich towards those who legitimately come over to the UK fleeing persecution, and who want to contribute to society. I also highlighted how this Bill seeks to promote those who come over here legitimately but is also firm in stopping a trade that costs many lives, and risks even more.
In Ipswich we have extended the hand of friendship to many refugees over the years. Places like the Suffolk Refugee Centre have done amazing work to support communities like the Kurdish to settle over here. I recently visited the Bloom Lounge in Ipswich, a bar started by Francesko and his brother Erion; refugees from Albania. It’s a great example of not only how welcoming Ipswich can be, but as Erion is a Conservative councillor, that it is the Conservative party that supports those that need it most.
We need to recognise that those who decide to come over here illegally, each one limits our capacity to show compassion to those that need refuge and asylum. This bill is there to deter the illegal trade and to put a stop to some of the scenes we have seen this week. It sends a message to those who think that setting foot in the UK is enough for success to think again, and that the UK will not tolerate this illegal activity.
I know this is a bill that most people support. It is a bill that takes control and does not rely on the French border police to do it for us. I am confident that the British public are behind us, but I am aware their patience is running thin, and we must deliver. I think this bill makes a real start.