Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey writes exclusively to readers:
This week MPs voted on the government’s new set of coronavirus restrictions which would see the UK enter a 28-day national lockdown.
Having looked at all the available data for South Bucks and Beaconsfield, alongside the entire country, I decided that regrettably this is the best course of action for constituents and the wider country.
As a result, I supported the government and voted for the lockdown.
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This has certainly not been an easy decision. I am all too aware of the pain and hardship which the previous lockdown, and current level of restrictions, has had upon businesses and individuals across Beaconsfield. However, the data regarding hospitalisations is highly alarming. Beaconsfield is particularly vulnerable to a second wave of infections.
Firstly, because of our older population, and secondly because we fortunately fared quite well during the first peak earlier this year.
This vulnerability can help explain why across South Bucks infections are increasing at an incredibly fast pace, almost twice as high as the average across the entire country.
I had sincerely hoped that the tiered system would work, but it seems time is not on our side to wait and see if it will effectively control the virus.
We must act now to protect the NHS and its limited capacity.
The good news is that I believe this time can be used to our advantage. Firstly, we can use this time to sort out the issues with test and trace and try and boost compliance with instructions to self-isolate.
Secondly, we must use this time to prepare a credible and robust roadmap that will prevent another wave of infections and another national lockdown.
Just because the rest of Europe has found itself in the same predicament as us does not mean we should accept rolling restrictions followed by draconian lockdowns as a fact of our lives.
Such a strategy is unsustainable and must be avoided moving forward. The progress in mass testing and vaccines presents a promising way forward and I am pleased that the government is prioritising this approach.
If we all work together, we can successfully get case numbers down to a level where we may be able to see our loved ones again this Christmas. So please, from tomorrow Stay at home.
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