The Prime Minister has set out the four steps out of lockdown. I am pleased that we are doing so well in meeting the requirements for easing restrictions. These include the vaccine deployment programme continuing successfully, which is reducing hospitalisations and pressure on the NHS, and no new variants of major concern.
Sadly countries in Europe are not doing as well, and we must not let our guard down given the possibility of importing new variants.
Today the House of Commons debated the legislation which puts the steps out of lockdown into law, the renewal of most of the Coronavirus Act, and also our own Commons procedures (the virtual element of Parliament, and the proxy voting).
I have supported the Government's measures throughout this pandemic and I continue to do so. I do however have reservations that the easing could be a bit quicker, given the data so far has been so good, and the takeup and effectiveness of the vaccine are proving to be higher than they were initially modelled.
The sooner we have our lives back the better. I am pleased that we are on track for this to happen.
You can read the whole (very interesting) debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/.../9701394F.../Coronavirus or watch it here: https://facebook.com/AaronBell4NUL/videos/726790934676307/