CONSTITUENCY MATTERS
AS I write this, the government has just announced that London is moving to Tier 2 measures to combat Covid-19.
This means no households mixing indoors. I know this will place an additional burden on Londoners, but with the government’s failure to create a functioning track and trace system, it is also necessary.
It is vital that people follow this guidance to combat the spread of the virus; that we protect ourselves and each other from Covid.
And of course, along with following these new rules, it is important everyone continues to wear masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing – as well as working from home where possible.
However, I agree with the Mayor of London that, as SAGE recommended to ministers, the immediate priority should now be a short national circuit breaker lockdown, which will help us control the infection rate and give the government the chance to sort out our track and trace system – which, right now, is simply not working.
I would encourage everyone who has a compatible phone to download the NHS’s test and trace app, but there are so many people who are unable to use the app on their phones.
In addition to the lack of testing capacity, the London Assembly Health Committee recently highlighted that hundreds of thousands of Londoners may be unable to access home testing as they are not on the credit agency data bases.
Nationally it is estimated that 5.8 million people are invisible to the credit agencies.
The government needs to fix this to ensure the testing system does work effectively.
Circuit breaker lockdown or not, even the restrictions already imposed are hard for London and
Londoners. That’s why the Mayor has called for an extension to the business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses as more restrictions are expected, as well as further support to help them maintain Covid-safe environments.
He has also called for the government to commit to protecting vulnerable Londoners.
No one should be faced with added financial hardship through redundancy or a loss of earnings, and they should be able to access benefits or crisis support should they need to.
This is a tough time for all of us and we all wish we had a government that delivered the world-class testing and tracing system they had promised us.
The Mayor and the Labour Group at City Hall wish we had a government that worked with us and not punish Londoners by starving TfL of funds and imposing that we withdraw free travel for children and pensioners.
This makes it even more important that we look out for each other.
We should all follow the government’s advice, help each other and be listening friends where we can be.
Stay safe, keep others safe.