Saving Lives - A LibDem Perspective from the Island

Saving lives and longterm illness in this pandemic is critical and it's bitterly disappointing when our MP clearly has problems with basic science.

We are facing a much more dangerous virus variant and he wonders why he personally needs an explanation. We both share a distrust of this Government's incompetence with the late responses, failed track & trace system and chaotic approach to PPE. However his luddite approach in Parliament and locally showing a failure to understand how a novel virus with very high infectivity needs to be dealt with are disturbing.

He seems to think that the Government orders can save Christmas, as if a virus understands PR. When he mutters against a lockdown that saves lives, picking and choosing evidence to suit his views he betrays his responsibility to the Isle of Wight public.

We will emerge from this pandemic but the scars of unnecessary suffering, the damage to our jobs and business are made worse by scientific illiteracy that my former 14 year old pupils in Newport could see through.

Lockdowns have all but destroyed my business but I would rather have live friends and family, and healthy neighbours. Luckily we can see that the fantastic Island community response, along with sticking to hands, face and even more space, and eventually vaccines will help us emerge from this nightmare.

Nick Stuart
Chair
Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats
Fighting for a Fairer Island