I would like to wish all my constituents in Barnet a happy Christmas and a peaceful and safe New Year.
2021 has been tough for many people, with Covid pandemic continuing to affect our daily lives. The emergence of the Omicron variant has caused great uncertainty and anxiety. But the best thing we can all do to get through this latest Covid crisis to get our booster jabs. That is the way to protect yourself, protect your family, protect the NHS and prevent further lockdown-type restrictions.
Looking back at the last twelve months, I want to say a huge thank you to the NHS and care workers who have been at the forefront of the fight against Covid for a second year. An especially big thank you to everyone involved in this country’s world-leading vaccination and booster programme. Through the hard work of thousands of people, both professionals and volunteers, over 120 million vaccine doses have been delivered. This allowed Covid restrictions to be lifted completely in the summer. We were the first country in the world to start vaccinating people and as a result, we were one of the first to emerge fully from lockdown.
At this special time of the year, it is important to remember the police and emergency services who will continue their work for the community over the festive break. I thank them for their service. And I pay tribute to the brave men and women of our armed forces, many of whom will be posted overseas away from their families during this time of celebration.
Looking ahead to 2022, I shall continue to campaign enthusiastically in Barnet and in Parliament to highlight the issues that matter to my constituents including protecting our green spaces, tackling crime, giving Barnet children the best education, improving public transport, and expanding NHS services.
I hope that everyone in our diverse community, from whichever faith or secular background they come, has the chance to enjoy some rest and time with friends and family over the forthcoming holiday period. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!
