Today, MPs debating legislation in the House proposing a second lockdown in England. Cities of London & Westminster MP Nickie Aiken was listed to speak in the debate but was unfortunately unable to do so as the parliamentary time allotted for the debate ran out before it was her turn to speak. You can view read the text of the speech she intended to deliver below.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the reasons why the Government has taken this decisive action: The coronavirus spread must be brought under control, and the R Rate returned to below one. If a national lockdown is required to achieve this and crucially, if it is essential that if there is even a slim chance that NHS services would be overwhelmed; action must be taken.
I’m sure my right honourable friend will agree that we do not want to be in the position where frontline doctors and nurses are having to make decisions based on pressures on the service rather than medical need. I appreciate that there are many that have concerns about another national lockdown. In the time available to me today I would like to highlight the most prominent concerns that have been raised with me by local people and businesses in the Cities of London and Westminster.
Firstly, if I may address the primary concerns that have been raised by local people. It is, indeed, a concern I have raised before with my right honourable friend in this house. And that is people’s mental and physical health during heightened restrictions. I understand that we must restrict social interactions to bring the R Rate under control, but I am hugely concerned about the impact of closing gyms, pools, leisure centres and sports grounds.
My constituency is urban and densely populated: green space is at a premium. People here, myself included, rely on their gym or pool for that essential release that comes through exercise. I know that people are encouraged to exercise outdoors during lockdown but walking or running may not be suitable for everyone and the weather may well be more against us than it was in May.
It also seems that there are some inconsistencies in the new legislation in this area: how can it be correct that my friend and I can go for a socially distanced walk but cannot play tennis which could be argued that we would further apart. How can children play football, basketball or hockey at school before 5pm, but not in a community setting after 5pm?
I fear that the impact that the restrictions on exercise and grass roots sport included in this legislation will have a hugely negative impact on our communities. Likewise, where many people rely on exercise as an essential release and support, others may also rely on their faith or spirituality.
My constituency is blessed with two cathedrals, an abbey, and countless churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and other places of prayer or spiritual importance. All these groups have taken action to ensure that their venues remain welcoming, supportive and, crucially, COVID secure. If residents rely on their faith or faith community for vital mental health support surely it is for the best that they continue to be able to do so during a lockdown, when the potential for restrictions to impact on mental health are at their greatest.
I would also urge my right honourable friend to consider allowing bookshops to be reclassified as essential businesses. I know that David Campbell of Everyman’s Library secured within 24 hours of asking, the signatures of 20 of the world’s leading writers including Sebastian Faulks, Salman Rushdie and Simon Jenkins, for his strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister supporting this idea: if we are to be restricted to our home then reading may bring comfort to many. I appreciate that the larger national bookshop chains may wish to remain closed during this second lockdown, surely it would be preferable for local, independent bookshops based in the heart of their local communities to remain open and secure a sale rather than a global internet brand?
Finally, I would like to consider some of the priorities that local businesses have made clear to me for this 2nd lockdown. Business welcome the support that Government offers: the furlough scheme, the grants for businesses forced to close, and extending loan schemes. I spoke to business leaders yesterday and they welcome the support. With the second lockdown now upon us business needs to plan for the medium term and make investment decisions now to take forward in the next financial years. What would help them is rather than the rolling, on a monthly basis announcements that the Government considers introducing schemes that last six months to provide companies with the confidence they need to make decisions. I would urge my right honourable friend to implore the chancellor to provide a longer-term outlook for businesses in my constituency and across the country.
I will vote with the Government today in order to protect the NHS and save lives. I would though ask that my right honourable friend consider the priorities brought to me by my constituents: their mental and physical health and giving local businesses the confidence to plan for the future.
