Mansfield MP says Prime Minister's return to work is a great tonic for the country

It is fantastic to see the Prime Minister back in Number 10 and back at the wheel, steering our course through this coronavirus emergency.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

I think he returns at just the right time when, as he said in his first speech, Britain is at the point where we are starting to take charge of this battle and we can see victory up ahead.

However, we’re not there yet and he rightly urged everyone to have just a little more patience to ensure we get this right.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Some people have highlighted shops re-opening as a sign that the rules have changed, but this is not the case.

Ben Bradley, Mansfield MPBen Bradley, Mansfield MP
Ben Bradley, Mansfield MP

Some places locally, like B&Q for example, have re-opened, but this is because it is a hardware store and therefore was never formally or legally required to close in the first place.

It made a decision to close and has now made a decision to re-open.

That’s up to the business and is within the rules if it implements social distancing measures.

It does not mean though that the rules have changed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Everyone should continue to stay home unless they have somewhere they need to be, like work or food shopping.

We cannot afford to simply re-open everything and risk a second spike in the virus.

That would be a huge error and waste all of the hard work and sacrifice people have made in the last few weeks.

We have another week or so left of the existing restrictions as they are now, and the Prime Minister and his Government are putting in place plans for what happens next.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Please heed the advice and stay home where you can, until the time is right to move to the next phase.

That new phase is likely to be a steady and gradual easing of restrictions rather than an overnight change, as we have to ensure we are managing things effectively to prevent big rises in virus transmission or reproduction.

Social distancing will be with us in some shape or form for some time to come, so whilst you can expect things to get a little easier in the weeks to come, be prepared for a new kind of normal.

We won’t be going back to how things were before.

If I can help you with any issues, call 01623 372016 or email [email protected].