Our changed values since lockdown

Have you noticed some of the important things we have learned during this Covid 19 crisis? Like Boris Johnson being able to find the magic money tree that his predecessor, Theresa May, could not? Like realising who really are the key workers in our society, and it is not those who work in the City of London. Like realising that our public services were woefully run down during the period of austerity. Like realising we really need and should value those people who have come from other countries to work here, whether from Europe or elsewhere in the world, to look after for us in the NHS and in care homes, and to pick our fruit and vegetables.

We must learn also what has been good in the crisis and build on that for a better and I hope, greener future. We have all realised we do not need to travel so much, so pollution has been reduced.

We have realised the benefit of those local shops and services that have been able to stay open. We have realised the benefit of exercise, by walking, cycling and working in our gardens and allotments. We have realised the benefit of our community coming together to look after each other with groups like Mutual Aid and Community Friends. We have realised we need to reward better those who have served us so brilliantly during this crisis, not just with weekly clapping and pot banging.

Note to Huw Merriman MP: why did you and 312 of your Conservative colleagues on 28 June 2017, vote against an amendment to “call on the Government to end the public sector pay cap and give the emergency and public services a fair pay rise”? The DUP joined the Conservatives but all other opposition parties voted for the amendment.

We may all be facing the same storm in this country at present but clearly we cannot afford to all have the same protective gear.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.