Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham column: Back to the workplace

Recess is an invaluable time where I can meet with businesses and residents and I’ve used it to push my shop local campaign, encouraging people to use our town centre and high street whilst enjoying the Eat Out to Help Out scheme that’s now ended.

It was very welcome news last week when the Government, having reviewed the latest data, made a decision that Burnley had made sufficient progress to allow for the lifting of local restrictions.

That has allowed families to meet inside again, and some of our businesses like beauticians, soft play centres and the bowling alley to re-open.

As we have seen with Bolton and Trafford though, it is so important though that we don’t ease off on being vigilant.

I used my first appearance in the Commons since Parliament reconvened to thank those residents who have played their part in getting us to this position and also spoke about the need to continue with the support our borough has received.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, also put on record his thanks to all residents as well as committing to providing that extra support.

The level of engagement I have been able to have with him, and his department, has been invaluable in ensuring we get the right support locally and it’s good to hear that this will continue.

As a result of the progress being made against this virus across the country, we have been able to go back to many of the things we had to temporarily give up.

We’ve already re-opened the majority of businesses and young people are now getting back to school where they can learn and thrive.

It’s also right that we start to encourage people to go back to the workplace which so many other jobs depend on.

We have made huge strides in adapting to new technologies during this period, with more video conferencing and other tools being used, but nothing makes up for proper social interaction.

We are by our nature sociable – it’s why the restrictions last month were so tough.

And it’s difficult to imagine how a new apprentice starting out, or a 16-24-year-old using the Kickstart Scheme, would be able to learn their trade or get the experience they need if we continued with remote working all the time.

So whilst we should be encouraging businesses to use the best of the changes that have been necessary over the last few months, with greater flexible and remote working, we also need to keep making places Covid-secure so people can get back to the workplace.

This is the approach being taken by Parliament too. Technology that has proved so useful during the pandemic so far will be an important part of how we do things moving forward, but MPs are also back in the building physically so we can get on with the job of delivering on our manifesto.

The agenda leading up to Christmas is busy, with key pieces of legislation due before us.

Issues such as the environment, the future of agriculture, fisheries and a bill to stop the vexatious claims made against British soldiers.

All important matters that will be conducted in the usual workplace and which I look forward to backing.