We are all doing our best to adapt to another lockdown, albeit one that this time has a light at the end of it. How bright that light shines and how quickly we get back to daylight depends on us all. The roll out of vaccines is critical but it is our actions in the meantime that will also be critical. We need to follow the spirit of the rules as well as the letter. There has been some debate this week about what is local and whether specific distances should be given. I can’t see how that would work, for me this is about following the spirit of the law and taking personal responsibility for our actions. For most of us in our area there is little need to travel to exercise as we are blessed with a green town but for some it is appropriate. All I would say is if you do need to travel for exercise, if, when you get there, it’s busy, go somewhere else.

This is all about stopping transmission between households. When I talk to the Police about where they see problems their biggest concern is those inviting friends or family into their houses. This is the biggest risk of transmission and I fully support the Police in giving little latitude to these people and progressing fines, etc, as robustly as they can. These idiots are putting themselves and the rest of us at risk.

As a Conservative politician I am all for personal freedoms but in the current environment I have no time for those denying the existence of the virus and propagating ridiculous conspiracy theories. I have been to our local hospitals and these people only undermine the efforts of our fabulous NHS teams. I can assure you that as soon as it is safe to do so I will be wanting our freedoms back, but only when it is safe to do so.

Anyway, as regards what I have been doing this week, like a lot of people I have largely been working from home. Also, like many, I am going zoom or teams crazy with days where it is one virtual meeting after another so the occasional need to meet a constituent is a real treat.

I have had virtual meetings on many subjects including vaccinations, with minister Zahawi who is leading the roll out, and I have been very impressed by him. I am sure his background in logistics will help enormously. I have had updates with Durham County Council (DCC) and the MP for Bishop Auckland, Dehenna Davison, on Greenfield School; also with DCC on selective licensing; I also had several conversations with both ministers and local MP’s (Red and Blue) about Ferryhill Station and the Leamside line proposals. I was also able to actually visit one of the nursery providers to discuss their concerns around remaining open when schools are closed to all but essential workers and I am writing to the minister to share their concerns.

The select committee work on BEIS continues and this week it was all about the energy white paper where it was good to see organisations like the Climate Change Committee and the Renewable Energy Association welcoming it. There is work to do on delivery but they were happy with the white paper. Next week we are due to discuss COP26 which, as I have mentioned before, is the big Climate Change conference taking place in Glasgow later this year. Other interesting meetings during the week included the PM coming to the 1922 committee and a briefing with the new Press Secretary for No 10, Allegra Stratton, as well as a meeting of the Northern Research Group of MP’s whose focus is to shout up for the North. I was also able to speak in a debate virtually, for the first time. I spoke in the Global Britain debate on Monday about the need to invest in the North East so we can grow our businesses and start to build back better. It is strange speaking in a debate to a laptop screen when no-one can intervene or question you, more like a short speech really.

A final comment on vaccinations, the roll out has a number of approaches to it. These range from the large vaccination centres like the Centre For Life at Newcastle to local pharmacies. These are being developed in parallel with each other and everyone will soon have an option for one within 10 miles of where they live. You may get the option to go to one of the bigger centres and feel free to take this if you wish but if it is too far to travel you can wait and you will get a more local option.

For now though, please follow the rules,

Stay Home, Save Lives and Protect our NHS

Paul Howell

Member of Parliament for Sedgefield