I received this from a constituent last night who has a family member who has just been put on a ventilator- please read it, it is incredibly powerful and moving. It is by far the most compelling case I have read about why we need Parliament up and running again (1/12)

People will want answers as to why their loved ones are suffering. They want and deserve the full picture;

"Here we are, desperately sad, braced and helpless for the 2 week state of horror and suspended animation. He doesn't deserve this and neither does anyone else. “(2/12)

“You understand heart attacks, understand car accidents, but this came out of nowhere. His family and ours did, and still do, all the right things. It should not happen. I do not criticise NHS for how they handle the situation nor am I seeking to blame.” (3/12)

“I do however think this government should be held to account. They have mishandled this situation by delay and obfuscation and created the conditions that leave us in this position. I know they are faced with an unimaginable task.” (4/12)

“We are being let down and have been because of the political choice for10 years of austerity.
The politicians who are fronting the press conference and the current cabinet parrot the same messages.” (5/12)

“Boris Johnson, ill or not,leads and led a government responsible for minimising the situation and leaving us under prepared. They are not doing a 'good' job. We have nothing to compare it with. They are doing 'a' job, 'their' job” (6/12)

“I reiterate we have been let down. The NHS and military have been run down by austerity and now these are the very people bailing us out.The ministers fronting the press conferences dodge questions and manipulate the news. “ (7/12)

“The press conference is now so unhelpful because of the overly political waffle. I suspect that too is deliberate

When a critical question is asked the response is bland, the journalist is shut down or the focus returns to an earlier repeated point. “ (8/12)

“Sometimes if a scientist answers a question, truthfully, which appears to be off message, s/he disappears from the podium on subsequent days. The electorate are not daft and see through what is happening including the scandal of what is occurring in care homes.” (9/12)

“I am angry, not about the pandemic, but about how we as a people are in such a vulnerable position. We should not be. All of this current praise etc about community, NHS and so on serves to distract from the real s***show that is our government, “ (10/12)

“...the antecedents to this crisis and the scandal of care homes.

I'm glad the PM is better. It doesn't take away from the fact that he sickens me in what he says. He should not position his political party of the NHS and public service. “ (11/12)

“When Parliament returns scrutinise aggressively, remain focused and do not let them off the hook. This is WRONG we have been badly served

My heart is breaking. I need to know proper scrutiny will happen to make some sense." (12/12)