'Not realistic' to shut down society until Covid vaccine is found, MP Spellar says
Shutting down society with lockdown restrictions until a coronavirus vaccine is found is "not a realistic option" for Britain's future, a Labour MP has said.
Former Defence Minister John Spellar says the country may be forced to live with Covid-19 for "decades", with the chances of finding a working vaccine "by no means certain".
But the Warley MP warned against prolonged lockdown measures, saying the challenge for Ministers was to work out how to "minimise rather than eradicate" the disease's toll on our lives.
Mr Spellar was one of 46 cross-party MPs to back an amendment put forward by 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, which is aimed at blocking the Government from imposing restrictions without a parliamentary vote.
He said the nation faced having to "coexist" with the virus for some time. "Closing down societies permanently until an effective vaccine is found is not a realistic option," he added.
"Hopefully, the huge international effort to develop and manufacture a vaccine will be successful – but that is by no means certain.
"Even so, it will not be 100 per cent effective, as is the case with the flu vaccine. The prudent course of action, therefore, is effective risk management rather than risk avoidance.
"There must be a clear policy with public education and public engagement."
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Mr Spellar said that every choice made "would result in people suffering and dying", but that some choices "may mean those numbers are reduced".
"Cuts to diagnosis and surgery costs lives," he said. "A broken economy and high unemployment crushes hopes and blights the dreams of young people, as does disrupted education.
"Loneliness, especially of older people, shortens lives and increases mental illness and suicide.
"A wrecked economy cannot pay decent wages or support proper public services. An emaciated entertainment and hospitality sector erodes the joys of life, as well as the livelihoods of millions.
"That is why we have to replace Matt Hancock’s erratic, reactive risk avoidance with well-informed and prudent risk management."
He added: "We have to face up to reality by acknowledging that for some years – potentially decades – we may have to live with this enemy."
