The ongoing situation in Ukraine is deeply concerning, particular as the Prime Minister has made it clear that all the evidence shows that President Putin is bent on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It is clear that President Putin has not respect for Ukraine and is attempting to single-handedly redraw the map of Europe. This is simply not acceptable and I strongly welcome the commitment our Government has made to immediately institute a package of economic sanctions targeting Russian economic interests.
Russia is the biggest threat to the United Kingdom’s national security and to European stability, and it is absolutely right that the Government does all it can, alongside our allies, to hold it to account for its unprovoked attack on Ukrainian sovereignty.
I will of course continue to follow this developing situation closely.
The past two years have been incredibly difficult for all of us and I pay tribute to the sacrifices that everybody here in Swindon and across the country have made to help protect the NHS and save lives.
It is because of these sacrifices and the enormous success of the vaccine rollout that on Monday the Government was able to publish its plan for living with Covid-19. As part of this plan, the Prime Minister has confirmed that legal restrictions in England will end on Thursday.
Individuals will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid-19. Instead, people who test positive will be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days.
Fully vaccinated adults and those aged under 18 who are close contacts will no longer be advised to test daily for seven days and the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate will also be removed.
It is important to remember that we have not declared victory of Covid-19 – this virus is not going away. But we are now in a position to take this step and begin learning to live with the virus.
As part of this, research into early-intervention treatments for Covid-19 will continue and the Government has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation to offer an additional booster dose to al adults over-75 and the most vulnerable over-12s this spring.
Languages are one of the most powerful ways we can preserve and develop culture, so it was great as part of another busy weekend in Swindon to join representatives of the Bangladeshi community in Faringdon Park to celebrate Mother Language Day.
Celebrating Mother Language Day is important as it helps ensure these languages are not forgotten in an increasingly globalised world. People should be proud of their mother language and I was proud to support this excellent event in Swindon.
On Monday I also had the opportunity to meet Dhiraj Pujari and the team from The Drink Valley, an exciting new microbrewery and bar on Fleet Square. This business is a welcome addition to our town as more people choose to venture out and about as restrictions ease.
I was not able to sample more than mere taste of the real ale on offer, but I hope to have a fuller opportunity soon.
