In this week's commemorative edition of the Rotherham Advertiser, marking the impending year anniversary since the start of the pandemic, Alexander Stafford MP reflects on how Coronavirus has changed all our lives and his role as MP.
Alexander writes:
As your local Member of Parliament, I have been working intensely to mitigate the worst effects of coronavirus on Rother Valley. The pandemic has seen an explosion in requests for help from constituents, many of whom are vulnerable and have nowhere else to turn. It has been my privilege to fight for these people and to put our community first, always.
Highlights of my work include successfully fighting in Parliament for greater testing provision for Rother Valley and dealing with floods of casework to ensure local people and businesses are accessing the grants available to them – and everything in between. I have made sure that the huge coronavirus workload has not impacted my focus on non-coronavirus matters: I guarantee that my campaign to improve our area will not be stopped.
Of course, I have had to adapt the way I operate in line with the government guidance. It has taken some adjustment, as I am a firm believer in meeting as many constituents as possible, attending as many local events as I can, and being present in Parliament at every opportunity in order to represent Rother Valley to the best of my ability. However, having only been elected in December 2019, the majority of my tenure so far has taken place under the strange new conditions of a world gripped by the pandemic.
Accordingly, I have thrown myself into conducting virtual surgeries, participating in the virtual Parliament, and taking part in local events permitted under the regulations. My staff in Dinnington and in Westminster have been working remarkably hard in very difficult circumstances and I must thank them for their efforts in providing the people of Rother Valley with stellar service. However, I must also express my appreciation for the response from our local community during the pandemic. I have been moved by how Rother Valley has come together – it proves that our community really is special. Looking ahead, I shall be on hand as always at [email protected] to help with any requests or queries from my constituents. Stay safe and keep up the good work: the end is in sight.
