CAROLINE ANSELL MP: A coronovirus crisis call to arms for Eastbourne to come together

We are living in conditions similar to those this country has faced in war and now, more than ever, is the time to work together here in Eastbourne and beyond to do what we can to protect ourselves and reach out to others during this emergency.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Mar 2020, 13:08 BST
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No-one ever thought such a crisis might occur with such speed and the government has responded with £350 billion economic of support so far for business and more on the way for workers.

The government must act to slow the virus and save lives.

And we are all part of this action.

We don’t stockpile, we look after the vulnerable; we self-isolate if we are ill, we link together a whole new wave of volunteering.

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By dint of their age, there are very many of our most dedicated volunteers who need to self isolate.

We must pick up the baton.

This present crisis will end.

It is temporary; we will get through it and we will pick up our lives in the months to come.

Of this I am absolutely certain.

My time in London this week has been dominated by action on the virus, working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to get Eastbourne residents back home and in Defra, the government department I work in, which is at the forefront of one of the most serious challenges to face us – our food supply with an special focus on reaching the vulnerable and isolated.

While crazy busy in Westminster, home has been constantly in my thoughts and on Wednesday, sitting in the House of Commons, I patched into a telephone conference call which brought together our local community groups and businesses, council officers and the police to begin to rally and co-ordinate our local response. Council Leader, David Tutt and I have committed to working side by side.

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Already friends, families and neighbours have mobilised and that’s fantastic.

Now, I’m looking to see the town ‘mapped’ to identify where we need to go street by street, to reach out through our new volunteer hub – details to follow - to make sure no home is left behind.

This will be an absolute lifeline because this emergency could last some time.

So, this article is a call to arms to Eastbourne and Willingdon, as befitting this wartime like scenario.

Everyone has skills and something to offer and if we all join together, I know we will come through.

Related topics:Caroline AnsellDEFRALondonWillingdon