MP for Rossendale

2021 has got off to a difficult start for us all as the new lockdown was announced amidst a dramatic rise in cases over the festive period.

There is however now a clear light at the end of the tunnel with the Government publishing the UK’s national vaccines delivery plan last week.

Rollout is being delivered through three types of site: local vaccination services coordinated by the Valley’s GP surgeries; hospital hubs at Burnley and Blackburn; and large-scale vaccination centres such as the one at Blackburn Cathedral.

The UK is one of the leaders in the world-wide race to get vaccines in the arms of its people quickly as possible.

Over 4 million have now received their first vaccination including around 50% of those in the most vulnerable categories.

The plan is that by 15th February everyone aged 70 or over, care home residents and carers, frontline health and social care workers and clinically extremely vulnerable people will have been offered their first jab.

Those at-risk groups account for 88 per cent (pc) of all the tragic deaths from Covid-19 to date.

Combined with the next five priority cohorts, this accounts for 99pc so the aim is to offer a first jab to everyone aged 50 or older by the end of April.

I’m currently receiving a large number of emails and calls from people asking when it will be their turn to receive a vaccine.

I know it may feel frustrating but it’s really important to emphasise that you should not contact your surgery to book your vaccine – you will be contacted by the NHS when it is your turn.

As the vaccination delivery plan rolls out, it’s vital that we continue to support residents and local businesses to get through what will hopefully be our final lockdown.

That is why I, together with 52 of my fellow Conservative MPs, wrote to the Chancellor last week calling for more support for areas like ours across the North.

The Government has already given an incredible amount of financial support during the current crisis, at the last count this was over £280 billion in the forms of furlough, self-employed income support, business support grants and other schemes.

However, many households and businesses alike are now facing a series of cliff edges throughout the spring as existing support programmes come to an end.

That’s why I have called for the Treasury to provide stability - not uncertainty - by confirming it will continue supporting households and businesses by extending the £20 Universal Credit increase and the mortgage holiday for those in receipt of Furlough, as well as the

Business Rate Holiday, the reduction of VAT to 5pc for business in the leisure and tourism sector and the abolition of Stamp Duty on properties under £500,000, for a further 12 months from April.

It is imperative that the Government sets out a roadmap out of lockdown by reference to vaccination rates.

People in the North have been locked down longer and harder than other parts of our country.

We want a roadmap out of lockdown backed by a Northern Economic Recovery Plan that with a sector specific focus on the prime strengths of the North’s economy such as educational and high value manufacturing.

Just as the United Kingdom has led the world in tackling the pandemic and rolling out lifesaving vaccinations, we now need to look beyond Covid and to refocus on levelling up the North.

We can build back better from this but it requires hope, not fear.

Finally, I continue to be amazed by the kindness people show to each other in this Valley.

Last week I collected on behalf of St James’ Church a freezer kindly donated by a Rawtenstall resident to help with supplying lunches at home to those who are isolated.

These small acts of kindness really do bind our community together in such difficult times.