A view from Wrexham’s Member of Parliament

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here.

Today, Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton writes…

2020 has been a year like no other. We have all experienced challenges in a shared way, probably unlike anything since the Second World War. But Wrexham residents have rallied together to tackle this unprecedented situation as a community.

A new year brings fresh hope for the future; the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine is doing just that. Last week, 82 year-old Brian Pinker became the first man in the United Kingdom to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being made ‘jab-ready’ here in Wrexham.

Great news for the UK as a second vaccine is approved, of which the @GOVUK has already secured 100million doses.

I’m proud of the role that @WockhardtUk here in #Wrexham are playing in the production of the vaccine! https://t.co/Xbnz5YcsmG

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) December 30, 2020

Despite some initial hiccups the UK has vaccinated 2 million people to date, more than the whole of the European Union combined. Whilst a considerable number of constituents have contacted me about their concerns, I have raised these directly with senior health board officials who have given reassurances that as we go forward, that the vaccination programme will meet their target of vaccinating all those in the first two priority group by the first week of February.
I’m sure residents will join me in praising all of our dedicated doctors and nurses who have been working around the clock to care for those who have fallen ill with coronavirus and to administer the vaccine.

Furthermore, I am encouraged that two new drugs, tocilizumab and sarilumab, have been approved to help treat people with coronavirus and is currently being used across the United Kingdom.

https://twitter.com/DHSCgovuk/status/1347214335253368834?s=20

Although this encouraging news and offers us hope, we must make sure that all of our hard work and sacrifices are not in vain, and we must ensure that we continue to follow local restrictions to suppress and control the virus in order to save as many lives as possible.

In the words of Sir Captain Tom Moore, who has been an inspiration to us all throughout the pandemic and who, I believe, exemplifies the best of Britain, “tomorrow will be a good day.”
Over the Christmas period we saw that same community spirit shine through in Wrexham. I had the pleasure of meeting with the volunteers at PPE Hwb Wrecsam who have been working around the clock to produce and distribute face visors to the community since the beginning of the pandemic.

It is fantastic to have been able to witness the great work of @PPEhwbWrecsam throughout the pandemic. They are a shining example of #Wrexham residents rallying to support one another and I am so pleased that their great work is continuing.https://t.co/0qBnfmR7va

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) December 21, 2020

In 2016 the people of Wrexham voted to leave the European Union. It was an honour to represent their views by voting in favour of the Prime Minister’s UK-EU post-Brexit deal which represent a new chapter in our nation’s long history. The deal delivers on the promise made to residents at the election last December, taking back control of our laws, border, money, trade and fisheries, and ends any role of the European Court of Justice. Opening new trading opportunities globally, whilst also protecting the integrity of the UK internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it.

https://twitter.com/AthertonNWales/status/1344782085001781251?s=20

Once again, I’d like to wish everyone across Wrexham a happy new year. I’m sure you will join me in hoping for a better and more prosperous 2021.

https://twitter.com/AthertonNWales/status/1344801435536531458?s=20

As always, if there is anything I can do to support Wrexham residents please don’t hesitate to contact me on the details below:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 2719 4885 | 01978 291742
Post: Office of Sarah Atherton MP, 65 Regent Street, Wrexham, LL11 1PF

The situation is developing rapidly, visit my website for up-to-date information, guidance and advice with regards to coronavirus and the vaccine: https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/coronavirus-homepage

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Welsh and UK Parliament representatives to write a monthly article with updates on their work and closer to home – you can find them all here.