Lockdown 2: another Boris Blunder
A second lockdown is a disaster but it is inevitable given the rate of increase throughout the UK. The consequences of letting this disease rip through the population are too serious to accept.
Listening to people with real knowledge of this disease from medicine, public health and epidemiology we cannot wish this away. Public servants in departments, the NHS and local government have been working hard to reduce the spread. We we have all seen the vast majority of Islanders doing their bit, and the heroic efforts of local businesses and organisations. However this has not been enough yet.
I do not blame the Government for the disease and we will always support measures to keep the public safe. But the Government with its PR approach, mixed messages and dreadful examples have damaged public trust. Setting up a national track & trace via private contractors & ignoring local health professionals is a key example of arrogance and incompetence at the centre.
Support for the Isle of Wight is critical and I want to see the Council & MP telling us in detail what they are asking for from Government and what steps they are taking to get support for the Island. Given how badly the Island economy and communities will be hit, it's time for our local officials to really start lobbying!
A national lockdown including the Isle of Wight before infections are out of control here will see us cope better than many areas in terms of infections and hospital admissions. Waiting for a message from on high we know it is hard but we will carry on looking out for each other, supporting essential services and keeping ourselves healthy.
Nick Stuart
Chair IoW Liberal Democrats
- To contact Nick, please email chair@iowlibdems.org.uk
- Other IoW LibDem contacts are on our Contact page
- If you'd like to help IoW LibDems fight for a fairer island, see here
- Ed Davey's view on Lockdown 2 is here