MIKE HILL: Follow the rules, it's a matter of life or death

On Monday the Government ordered primary schools outside of London to open. The very next day they ordered them all closed as the entire country was put under lockdown and Parliament was recalled. By any stretch of imagination, it’s not been a great start to 2021.

Saying that, the Prime Minister had little choice ultimately, and Tuesday’s announcement on Lockdown 3 was seen as inevitable by most folk, and absolutely the right decision given the circumstances we find ourselves in. With the spread of the new variant and the rapidly increasing infection, hospitalisation and death rates, it was a decision that was long overdue.

Undoubtedly the relaxation of the rules for Christmas was popular to tired and fed up citizens across the nations, but the legacy of that decision is now beginning to show and although Boris might not be up the proverbial creek without a paddle, because he has the vaccine, his Government is certainly up a Gum Tree; I’ve never been on as many Zoom calls with Ministers in such a panic as I have been this week.

The next few weeks and possibly months will be some of the hardest we have ever faced, but we will face it together and get through it. It’s the scientists and the NHS who will ultimately get us out of this mess and so for their part the Government must prioritise the roll out of the vaccine. We all stood on our doorsteps to praise them in the spring and we must not forget them, their hard work and their sacrifice this time either.

They also need to announce further measures beyond those already announced by the Chancellor to help support businesses which cannot operate, the self-employed and sole traders. We must all follow the rules, it’s a matter of life or death, but they must provide the means to help us do it.

I encourage you all to follow the NHS and Government advice.

Stay at home. Protect our NHS. Save lives.