Rother Valley MP gets chance to quiz Prime Minister on lockdown exit plans

Mr Stafford asked his question the Prime Minister, following Mr Johnson’s statement to the House outlining the Government’s cautious roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions.

The Prime Minister responded to the Rother Valley MP’s question and also congratulated him on the recent birth of his new baby daughter, Persephone.

Mr Stafford asked: “May I first thank the Prime Minister for his clear statement and for the support and guidance he has given us all across Rother Valley.

“It is clear that this Government are taking a balanced and pragmatic approach that ultimately will save lives.

“Can the Prime Minister confirm, however, that this plan is both dynamic and flexible enough to ensure that we can reopen different businesses at different times and in different locations, so that we can kick-start our economy as soon as possible, and that only with a strong economy can we have a strong NHS?”

Mr Johnson replied: “My honourable friend is entirely right.

“I congratulate him, by the way, on the birth of his daughter, Persephone—an appropriate name, perhaps, for a country beginning to take steps out from the darkness.

“As we take these steps, we will of course be flexible.

“We will make sure that, where there are local flare-ups, where we see the disease taking off again, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes.

“My honourable friend is absolutely right, however, that to have a strong NHS, as we must, we do and we will, we need a strong economy as well.”

The full exchange can be found here.