Rother Valley: Alexander Stafford MP praises people's resolve during lockdown

After eight weeks of nationwide lockdown, I am happy to report that Rother Valley’s hard work and sacrifice is starting to pay off.
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Coronavirus cases are slowly dropping and on May 10, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s road map for re-opening our society.

It is a sensible and proportionate plan which will kick-start the economy and gradually release people from their homes.

The Government is also establishing a covid alert level, consisting of five levels.

Alexander Stafford, Rother Valley MP. Photo: London Portrait Photographer-DAVAlexander Stafford, Rother Valley MP. Photo: London Portrait Photographer-DAV
Alexander Stafford, Rother Valley MP. Photo: London Portrait Photographer-DAV

Crucially, it has been made clear that if the infections spike again, the Government can, and will, reintroduce tighter restrictions.

This is a reality that all of us must remember and I want to stress to the people of Rother Valley that now is not the time to undo all our good work by throwing caution to the wind.

We are over the peak but we are certainly not out of the woods yet.

We must keep doing what we have been doing or risk the coronavirus returning worse than before.

However, I have complete confidence that if we stick to the Government’s plan and follow the scientific advice, we will emerge from this crisis safely.

I am proud of the fact that lockdown did not prevent people across Rother Valley from honouring Britain’s VE Day heroes.

Air-raid sirens, the Nation’s Toast, and a wonderful VE Day quiz marked the occasion in Harthill, Thurcroft was bedecked with a sea of bunting and Todwick played host to a special singer.

In Maltby, the Royal British Legion ran a poster design project, St Bartholomew’s Church rang the bells of peace, and Maltby Council streamed The Last Post on its Facebook page.

There was a ‘poppy trail’ in Wickersley and a poignant thanksgiving service at Wales Parish Church.

Although we could not mark the 75th anniversary in person, I am satisfied that we did the VE generation proud and, if anything, made the occasion even more memorable.

In honouring their heroism, parallels can be drawn to the times we are living through now.

VE Day is a beacon of hope that brighter days ahead and we will be triumphant.

Alexander Stafford is MP for Rother Valley.