In his latest Reporter column, Denton MP Andrew Gwynne writes about the measures introduced to combat Covid-19 infections this winter, amid rising concern about the Omicron variant.

Last Tuesday, we all saw the clip of senior Government officials laughing and joking about a party that occurred in 10 Downing Street last December, when the rest of the country was in strict lockdown. The public outcry was united as it was furious.

Over the weekend, images were released of the Prime Minister hosting a Christmas quiz via Zoom last year, alongside fellow staff members adorned in tinsel. These photos prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was misleading the country when he claimed that he didn’t know about any Christmas parties.

Whilst the rest of the country did the right thing, followed the rules, and suffered a tough Christmas, Boris Johnson and his advisors were hosting Christmas parties in direct contravention of their own rules.

It goes without saying that I am livid. However, I am also profoundly concerned. Last week I was made Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister and have been fully briefed on the threat that the COVID-19 Omicron variant poses to the NHS and to our recovery from the pandemic. The Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisors have advised that whilst we find out more about Omicron, we need to be taking precautions.

That means working from home where we can, wearing face masks in enclosed public spaces, testing if you encounter anyone who has tested positive, and showing a negative Lateral Flow Test or proof of vaccination before going into heavily attended events. These are simple and clear measures that will hopefully buy us time to better understand Omicron.

The Prime Minister is leading the charge on these ‘Plan B measures’, and I don’t blame anyone for rolling their eyes when they hear him giving a lecture on Public Health. That is why having politicians we can trust is essential. We need to be able to look at our leaders and believe that they are sticking by their own rules and have our best interests at heart. The Prime Minister’s recent antics have obliterated that trust.

However, the fact is, it’s not the Prime Minister who devised these rules, its Britain’s top scientists and epidemiologists. Their advice has been instrumental in tackling the virus over the last 18 months, and I trust them wholeheartedly in their current assessment.

My message to people across Tameside is a simple one; Do not let the failings of our Prime Minister distract from the importance of sticking to these measures. I share your feelings of frustration, anger, and disappointment. However, our NHS and our loved ones must be protected.

I refuse to let the Prime Minister undermine this vital message. So, I will be sticking to these new rules, and I would urge everyone across Tameside to join me in doing so. Get vaccinated, listen to our incredible public health officials, and let’s get through this tough winter together.

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