Despite openly acknowledging that heavy restrictions are not something he believes in, Ben said that there was currently no other credible alternative.Ben has raised his concerns throughout the week directly with Government. He asked the Leader of the House to ensure that MPs had access to all available information in order to decide whether or not to support the measures. Ben also made the case for some outdoor sports and activities to be allowed to continue under the new measures. He told the Prime Minister that he believed allowing these activities would help mitigate some of the more negative impacts of lockdown, both physical and mental.
Commenting, Ben Bradley MP said:
“This decision has weighed really heavily on me and the prospect of these restrictions is not something I’d usually support. However, we’ve seen a huge rise in the spread of coronavirus and we need immediate action to ensure our hospitals aren’t overwhelmed.
“I’m fully aware of the economic impact of this decision, as well as the impact that it will have on people’s emotional and physical wellbeing. I’ve been pushing Government to open up sport and activity to help them throughout this period.
“I’ve reached out to constituents to find out their views, and a poll of 2000+ people showed that 70% have backed lockdown proposals. This is not a long-term solution and I cannot see myself backing restrictions like this again in the future. My priority now will be securing the best possible financial support for Mansfield and supporting my constituents.”
