Freeport project is just what Ashfield businesses need right now

A new Freeport next to East Midlands Airport will alone create 60,000 jobs.

The businesses I visit in Ashfield are very excited about this project as they will be bidding for contracts for building and infrastructure that will be associated with it

So, a massive boost for our area and we need it right now.

Furlough has been extended to help protect jobs and save businesses and I back the Chancellor in this as I know some families are struggling financially.

Yes, we do have people who have not had a day off work and many have had to work weekends, but no-one has asked to have their hours cut and lose income.

After a long battle, Avant Homes have agreed to finish all the snagging work on their housing development in Huthwaite.

This is something that has taken me six years to sort in my role as a district councillor and now MP.

In my short time as the MP this is the second developer I have taken on and managed to get a result.

But we have a long way to go as there are other new housing estates in Ashfield that currently need adopting and you can be assured, I will not rest until everyone is completed.

Last Friday I visited three schools to see how they were geared up for children returning this week.

I was very impressed with what I saw with their testing stations and lateral flow set up.

I tried it out myself at Sutton Community College and had a Covid test with the pupils and 30 minutes later it came back negative.

The last time I had a Covid test it came back positive and put the Prime Minister out of action for two weeks – something I will never forget.

On a personal note, I am ready to get back to Westminster and to get back in the Chamber so I can have my say for our area.

Zoom meetings and virtual debates are not the same, something is lost, and we need to get back to talking to human beings rather than faces on a screen.

We are nearly there, and my case is packed.

Lee Anderson is MP for Ashfield.