Karen Bradley

THERE are many occasions in Parliament when different political parties come together as one in unity and the various All Party Parliamentary Groups such as the ones on Challenger Banks and Human Trafficking that I Chair and Co-chair are just some of the many examples of this.

There are also many events and initiatives which rely on crossparty support and one of these is the fantastic initiative to create a Parliamentary Coronavirus Memorial Quilt. This has been welcomed across Parliament and shows the Parliamentary community coming together in a sign of unity, in memory of all those loved and lost during the pandemic.

All members of Parliament from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords were invited to create a simple patchwork block measuring six inches square to represent them and/or their constituencies during the pandemic.

I was pleased to join Mr

Speaker, other members of Parliament, Lords and staff across the Parliamentary estate and contribute to this great initiative.

My patchwork square represents people across the Staffordshire Moorlands who kept to the rules, struggled through the isolation of lockdown and all those who served the nation to get us to the rainbow on the other side.

The symbol of the rainbow is a moving reminder and a tribute to the emergency services, nurses and doctors who saved lives while we isolated from the virus. For our loved ones who sadly did not make it, we remember them fondly as we begin the summer without restrictions.

The blocks are being pieced together to form a quilt that represents the multitude of experiences during this time whilst also demonstrating unity through a single united quilt. I am delighted that the Moorlands is represented and look forward to seeing it in all its glory when it is finished.