It was great to welcome the G7 to the South West this past weekend and the beaches of Cornwall looked beautiful. The summit of world leaders produced an important new package to protect lives and tackle loss and damage caused by climate change and new commitments to biodiversity and sustainability. I really liked the reports of the First Lady, Jill Biden, and the Duchess of Cambridge sharing their determination to improve early years education for children both and home and overseas and I think that can be a very powerful partnership.
At the start of the week we had the bad news that the Government is delaying the lifting of all COVID restrictions by up to four weeks. I do not support this. The evidence clearly shows the vaccines are highly effective against the all important metrics of hospitalisation and severe illness, especially among the double jabbed as almost all the vulnerable are here in Somerset. It also shows hospitalisation rates well below what had been expected as a normal consequence of reopening, and predominantly among those at very much lesser risk and in parts of the country that have been vaccine hesitant. I know that some will disagree with me but individuals who may not choose to have the vaccine or are concerned for other reasons can of course take precautions as they see fit in the same way that people make decisions about their personal health all the time, and these summer months are the ones in which to get through any effects of reopening without adding pressure to the NHS in the autumn and winter.
We have seen the goal of freedom promised but its goalposts moved too many times and if we carry on in this manner some weary people will either not believe assurances any more or give up thinking for themselves. Creeping authoritarianism is to be resisted and for these reasons I will be lobbying the Government hard to unlock all restrictions unless local serious cases dramatically increase. In the meantime I will continue to do all I can to support our local businesses during this time and encourage everyone to take advantage of the rapid progress of our vaccine programme and get their first or second jabs as soon as possible. All adults should be offered their first jab by the end of the week.
There is good news though for care home residents who will be able to spend more time with family and friends, including overnight stays from 21 June, and weddings can have more guests even if the restrictive small print is disappointing.
The success of our vaccine programme is also allowing us to donate 100 million surplus vaccines within the next year and I have been pushing the Government to help vaccinate the world throughout. A lot of local people have contacted me about the issue of foreign aid and this donation alone will save thousands of lives around the world without any concerns about misuse of funds or corruption.
I am working hard to represent Somerset with the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government and had a meeting with Robert Jenrick this week and am following up with another Minister next week. With likely changes to local Government here as well as continued problems with South Somerset District Council I am keen to make sure we don’t miss out on any opportunities for local transformation and will stay in close touch on this.
As always, if I can be of help or if you would like to contact me on any of these issues please do call 01935314321 or email marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk