CAROLINE ANSELL MP: I was pleased to see top-up fund to help small businesses

Even so, I know residents across the town will be outside clapping in honour of the ‘finest generation’ and its victory in defeating Nazism.

I hope others are doing the same or holding virtual street parties and celebrations with friends and family of what is an important occasion.

I will certainly be raising a glass.

We’ve needed some of the spirit of those times during the last few months and I am especially thankful to all those older people - many of whom lived or served through the war years, for the sacrifice they are making by self-isolating at this time.

I know how tough it must be, but it’s vital we stop transmission of this virus to those who are most vulnerable.

I can only say it will end and we will be able to meet up with our loved ones again.

Government work continues at pace around COVID-19 and I was especially pleased to see the recent announcement of a £617 million government discretionary top-up fund to help small businesses.

This was a game-changing announcement that helps businesses, like those in Eastbourne’s Enterprise Centre, who missed out on previous grant schemes.

It was a measure I pushed hard for with ministers because I was acutely aware many smaller businesses in shared spaces with no rateable value, had been hard hit by coronavirus but had fallen through the cracks.

Other major initiatives include a new tracing smartphone app being trialled on the Isle of Wight.

This will tell people if they have been near someone with the virus as we use this ‘track-and-trace’ strategy to bring the virus under control and put us in a position to lift the lockdown.

If successful, the government will be asking the whole of the UK to download it to keep the R or reproduction number of the virus under one.

Of course, what is really needed to get life back to normal is a vaccine and this week the Prime minister helped host a remote international meeting with other world leaders to fund a joint global effort to research and find one.

We have real hope of a vaccine but not soon.

Until then, we will need to use measures like the app and balance social distancing with the need to get the economy moving as best we can.

Measures are being drawn up.

It will be challenge but one I am sure we will continue to rise to.