MIKE HILL: Queen’s message to the nation shows true leadership

Her message of unity and hope to the nation was historic and unprecedented, but necessary. As our Head of State she spoke plainly, but compassionately. She rightly praised the NHS and frontline workers, but she also praised all those citizens doing the right thing by each other, their families, their neighbours and their communities, in staying at home and following Government rules. As she said in her speech, ‘We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.’

And those tough times are now upon us as we move into the peak of the crisis here in Hartlepool and across the North East. We are moving into the eye of the storm, but will get through it and get to the other side so long as we obey the rules of social distancing, going out for brief exercise or doing essential shopping and staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus. It’s tough, I know, but it simply has to be done; there is no alternative at this moment in time.

This is also not a time for party politics. I am not alone in expressing my concerns about the removal of the oxygen tank from Hartlepool Hospital and its implications on the viability of the empty wards for treating Covid-19 patients; but we have to put our trust in the NHS right now and have the arguments later. The health and well being of each and every one of my constituents is my priority during this pandemic and that is my focus.

As our own Prime Minister is being treated in an ICU the gravity of the situation hits home. While I write this, I know the thoughts and prayers of a whole nation are with him and the thousands of other people laid in ICUs across the UK.

For all of those employers keeping your non-essential factories and workplaces open and prioritising your order books ahead of your workers, think again. For all those who think they are somehow a special case and need to be out and about' think again. Instead think about those key workers, like my own son and my daughter-in-law, who are in work, equally as anxious and as ill-protected as you and I. Desperate for the right PPE, but determined to keep us safe, healthy and protected. Alongside our NHS workers, our posties, the police, care workers, shop workers, the military, food distribution volunteers, vets, GPs and countless other frontline people, they are all heroes and deserve the support of the nation. When this is over, we need to ensure that we remember those people are responsible for keeping Britain moving through a crisis.

Stay at home. Protect our NHS. Save lives.