Labour is working for a lasting freedom from covid-19
Monday 19 July was billed as England’s “freedom day”, signalling Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s conquest of the covid-19 virus.
It was to be his virus victory day when he would “summon the spirit of Churchill” in a speech to be given at “an historic venue” associated with the wartime leader.
This speech was quietly cancelled, after a U-turn on his decision not to self-isolate and on seeing increasing anger across the NHS, social care, schools, supermarkets, hospitality and transport sectors.
At times of national crisis, it is essential that messaging is clear and coherent.
Unfortunately, the only consistency in the government’s communications around covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns has been their inconsistency.
The messaging has all too often been confused and consequently often misunderstood.
Covid cases remain persistently high in Brighton and Hove, and by lifting the covid restrictions, the government has left workers in a precarious and unsafe position.
Just over a week ago, our local Labour councillors launched a new campaign with the GMB union for covid-safe public spaces.
It is wrong to expect our shops, restaurants, pubs, bars, cinemas and buses to open as usual with no protection from coronavirus in place.
So we are pledging to work with residents and local businesses to keep often-crowded spaces covid-safe.
Our pledge recognises the risk that the pandemic continues to pose to workers and residents and asks everyone to keep wearing masks and maintaining distance in public spaces, particularly indoors.
During our Action Day on Saturday, I joined Labour Party councillors and members to deliver our covid safety posters to local businesses around the city.
Thank you to all those businesses that welcomed our message.
We are also writing to key institutions and organisations in the city, such as Brighton and Hove City Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Brighton and Hove Bus Company, the local taxi trade, Churchill Square shopping centre and more, asking them to sign our pledge and join our campaign to protect workers and residents from covid-19.
If we want our valuable services and shops to stay open, we must protect the staff.
To sign our pledge and find out more, visit www.brightonhovelabour.com/covid-safe-public-spaces.
Councillor John Allcock is the joint leader of the Labour opposition on Brighton and Hove City Council.
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It might be easier to take this seriously were it not that Labour councillors have already been breaking this pledge by having close little huddles inside with the Tories
Locally, Brighton and Hove has a terrible vaccination rate. And, yes, we have a high rate of Covid infections. It is very likely that these two are linked
Around one in 6 locally haven’t had a covid jab compared to the UK average. That’s a huge amount and puts us far away from protection locally. If we had levels of vaccine takeup driving lockdown release locally (as Australia is planning) then we’d still be in lockdown
So to make workplaces and other areas safe we need to be driving vaccination. And persuading the 1 in 6 adults who have chosen locally not to be jabbed (compared to UK averages) to do so. Perhaps Labour should stop some of the political point-scoring and persuade the other local parties to take action and fix the local vaccination issue? If not, lives locally will be lost and many others suffer from long covid. We also risk local lockdowns….
Totally agree. I keep on here of terrible situations caused by people not having the vaccination. Recently 4 cleaners from my cleaning agency all came down with covid. All unvaccinated and all going into vulnerable peoples homes. My unvaccinated 40 year old seamstress is now also dead due to covid. I know many fit people who were ore-vaccination now with long covid. In the US paediatric hospitals are now full up as The Delta variant is more problematic with younger age cohorts. The Labour Party and GMB should focus on getting the message about vaccinations as it is far more likely that you vote Green or Labour if you are unvaccinated.
But, as usual, you’re not actually DOING anything.
Just pointless waffle.