We’re now in the middle of what has been an extended lockdown, it’s covered Easter, it’s covered the school half-term and I know it’s been extremely difficult for many people.
Today we celebrate St. George’s Day, the Patron Saint of England and of course very a important day in the Christian calendar and I think the one thing that really stands out about this green and pleasant land are the people who live here.
The very people have been working on the frontline putting their own lives at risk quite often to make sure that we are cared for, that our country, our nation can continue to continue.
We know that this will be very difficult too for our Muslim friends, who will be opening Ramadan when they used to be in contact within the Mosque, within their community, seeing close family and this will be a change for them too, and they’ve adapted fantastically well.
We don’t know how long it’s going to go on for, thankfully it appears as though the line is beginning to flatten. And although that represents a huge number of fatalities still, it’s hopeful maybe that we are getting to the point where we can stabilise it, but that also means that we all have to do our bit, and play our part and that means that none of us despite the temptation, despite the frustration and the loneliness sometimes of being in self-isolation, to break the social distancing rules that have been set out because it’s through those rules and us all making sure that we look after ourselves and one another that we stop the spread of the virus.
And if we do that and we’re all playing our part it means that that the economy has the best possible chance of being able to recover after the lockdown has ended, but also that we don’t get a second or third burst of the virus outbreak as well.
So let’s all play our part, lets celebrate today if you’re celebrating St. George’s Day or if you’re opening Ramadan today or if you’re just wanting to celebrate the fact that even in very difficult circumstances our country is showing the very best of itself, where people are coming forward in frontline services and through volunteering.
And finally for me, I just want to say thank you to my office staff, the people in the background who you probably don’t often see, are the people who are working really hard like many frontline workers to make sure the people get the support and advice and guidance that they need in what has been extremely stressful circumstances for many people in Oldham West and Royton so to them thank you. To our frontline workers thank you so much for all you’re doing to keep our country going in difficult circumstances, and we can all play a part in making sure that would beat the virus together.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 