Tonight marks the last of the official clap for our carers. It will be the tenth week and the organisers have decided that rather than let it fizzle out as more and more people forget or become distracted with other things, that we should let this be the final big, public show of thanks. We have really enjoyed going out and clapping, blowing whistles, banging pans and, on one week, breaking a spatula with the ferocity of our support. The community feeling of gratitude for people who have continued to work in the hardest of circumstances has felt heart warming.

So now what? How do we show that we continue to value the NHS, the key workers and everyone who has gone above and beyond during this pandemic? I think one way that we can do that is to listen to them.

You may know someone working for the health service or follow NHS million on social media.

You may know teachers, police officers, posties, care workers etc. Listen to what they need and how they feel. I’ve been fairly vocal on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts about my dismay at the Dominic Cummings story and I’ve heard from many people who made heartbreaking decisions in the national interest and are now left feeling betrayed by the government who have defended his actions.

I heard from a nurse who held the phone as relatives said their goodbyes to dying patients over FaceTime. I heard from parents who were very ill with the virus and muddled through in complete isolation with very young children, some of whom had disabilities. I heard from people who have said their mental health has been so worn down by being alone, but that they’ve kept going because they thought it was their duty to do so.

I have cried over some of these messages. We get a bit used to people in power making errors and feeling frustrated or even angry about them. But this time it feels personal. I’ve seen the justification for his actions and I do understand the personal motivation of looking out for your family, but I also understand that when you’re in a position of influence so significant, you need to accept that there are consequences.

That’s very different from telling tales on neighbours who’ve chatted to their grandchildren over the hedge. Individual private citizens may even have made the same choice that Dominic Cummings did, but their actions won’t have undermined the public health message. It’s not about everyone needing to be squeaky clean or holier than thou (or your choice of clichéd expression that suggests we’re perfect)- this is about a person in a unique position devaluing the most vital health guidance we’ve ever had to adhere to.

I do not hate him, or wish him any harm or condone people doorstepping him (particularly when they’re not observing social distancing themselves.) It’s been suggested that it’s not practising the kindness that I preach to ask for his resignation, but kindness isn’t always about keeping quiet. His actions should have repercussions. It’s not kind to ignore the betrayal felt by hundreds of thousands of people who have made enormously difficult decisions in worse situations than him.

The longer the government protect him over their own robust health message, the further trust erodes. As we move out of lockdown gradually, we will need to keep faith in the people who are asking us to do our civic duty. We are the worst hit country in Europe. Many many mistakes have been made and if our own leaders are implying it’s basically ok to do what you want as long as your motivations are sound, we’re heading for more preventable deaths.

“I preferred your earlier blogs, Rosie. You know, the ones where you tried to sell a few cards or an organic t-shirt or two.”

I know. I did too. Im a freelance illustrator. For my income I rely on design work and people buying my products. You may ask why on Earth I’m getting involved or risking losing sales and unsubscribes for putting my point across so strongly. It’s because I can’t not. The quote, for which I can’t find a reliable attribution, that most accurately sums it up is;

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

The hypocrisy of a government intent on setting us stringent (necessary) rules whilst continuing to absolve the most senior advisor who broke those rules of any responsibility is TOO MUCH TO IGNORE. I will continue to listen to the people who have been affected by this horrible virus, I’ll share my anger and frustration and I’ll keep writing to my MP! It’s one of the few practical actions I can take and you can too.

If you’ve read this far I can only assume that you agree at least in part with what I’ve said, or you’re my mum and dad who read it all because it’s the law. Go to www.writetothem.com, enter your postcode and find the contact details for your representative. I’ll include my sample email as I know some people have said they don’t know quite what to write- but honestly, just write what you feel. It doesn’t have to be long. If they know we’re not willing to let it go, it will remain on their radar to take further up the chain. Your MP is there to serve your interests. It’s one way to honour the sacrifices made by health, care and key workers across the country as well those families and individuals who have suffered extreme hardship.

Dear X,

I am writing to express my dismay at the government’s response to Dominic Cummings’ actions during the most stringent part of the lockdown. To suggest that he was following the instincts of a good father is such an insult to the millions of us who have had to suppress our instincts for the common good.

People up and down the country have suffered unimaginable loss and hardship, under the misapprehension that we were all in this together. It’s disingenuous to suggest that we were always allowed to seek childcare in an emergency when that was never the general message put out to the country at large and was a clause directed at protecting those suffering abuse.

The very very least we deserved was an acknowledgement and apology over his lack of judgement. But that moment passed when our prime minister chose to back him instead of shoring up faith in the clear message to protect the NHS and the lives of others by staying at home. I read now that the police have stated that the lockdown rules were indeed broken when he drove with his wife and child to Barnard Castle. This is surely now completely unforgivable.

As your constituent, I expect you to work on my behalf to explain to parliament the outrage I and many others feel at this betrayal and to ask for Mr Cummings’ dismissal from any area of Conservative Party policy making so we can move on and restore some faith in the integrity of the government,

Yours,

I really deliberated about whether to write this. It would be so much easier to keep my head down, but I think it’s important and as activist Maggie Kuhn said,

“speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.”

Let’s clap ‘til our hands hurt tonight. Stay safe lovely people. I promise to flog you stuff again soon.

Xx Rosie