Last night, after the vote on the Covid-19 restrictions, I was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme. I have attached a clip of my contribution; you can hear the whole program here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0012ftk
I said in my previous post that I believe the Government response to this variant is balanced, proportionate and time-limited. I do want us all to get to a stage in which we respond to Covid through our own personal responsibility.
Given that the Omicron variant is very transmissible and we need to know more about the severity of it, my view is that now is not that time. Even if it is less severe on a case by case basis, if vastly more people get Covid due to the extreme transmissibility of the variant, there will be more hospitalisations and therefore more pressure on the NHS - potentially overwhelming pressure.
Covid was not in anyone's manifesto. I believe these measures are reasonable as they protect public health. I understand other MPs' arguments that the measures go against their libertarian principles. People are entitled to disagree and it is healthy to disagree. The debate yesterday reflected the debate going on in wider society.
Thank you to all of the constituents who have written to me on this topic, whether you agreed with me or disagreed - I will be responding individually to all emails.