Focus magazine issue #12 March 2021

March 2021

Issue #12

FOCUS ALSO INSIDE...

UoB Law Clinic opens for business remotely Influence of celebs breaking Covid rules Polish eatery turns to takeaway Cinderella

history inspires new book

UoB granted National Lottery funding

A magazine made for students, by students

UoB students working on the Covid frontline

Focus speaks to students who have been working on the frontline throughout the pandemic

MARCH 2021

5 6

CONTENTS

FOCUS

Note from the Editor

UoB students working on Covid frontline

10

National Lottery funding for UoB project

12

Local restaurant turns to take-away services

14

Academics publish book on Cinderella history

15

Law Clinic opens for business remotely

16

Does celebs breaking the rules encourage fans?

18

US Election column

3

MARCH 2021

FOCUS

A note from the editor....

Welcome to the latest edition of your student magazine, Focus - providing you with all you need to know about the goings on at the University of Bedfordshire!

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, millions of inspirational frontline workers have continued to do their vital jobs, keeping the country going through these tough times. This issue of Focus looks at the fantastic UoB students who have been doing just that. Turn to page 6 for more.

Also this month, the University of Bedfordshire has recently secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to create opportunities and events exploring the heritage of the local communities. The project launches this year and will run for around two and a half years. You can find out more about this on page 10.

With an increase in celebrities and public figures breaking lockdown rules, this issue of Focus asks – would you be influenced to break Covid rules by your favourite celebrity?

You can find out what UoB students had to say about that on page 16.

And, with the US Election now over and done with and Joe Biden the new President, we have the last edition of our US-focused monthly column, which you can find on page 18. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Jake Nichol for the last 10 months of insightful election coverage and analysis and we look forward to Jake launching a new column next month, looking at the wider political world including his thoughts on the current political landscape in the UK.

Katy x

With thanks to....

EDITOR Katy Lelliott DESIGN Katy Lelliott

STORIES Jake Nichol Bartosz Romanek James Doyle Katy Lelliott Holly Brown

Email us your stories to FocusUOB@outlook.com

5

FOCUS

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @FOCUSUOB

The UoB students working on the frontline throughout the Coronavirus pandemic Throughout the pandemic, millions of essential workers have kept the country going through these tough times. James Doyle speaks to three UoB students who have been working on the frontline as Coronavirus leaves devastation in its wake

(Credit: hiromin777)

W

hile many of us have spent the majority of the last year stuck inside, some students at the University of Bedfordshire have been helping the local community by working hard on the frontline during the pandemic in key worker roles.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has truly

6

highlighted how much we all depend on essential workers as the backbone of our society.

Despite the increased risk of working at the moment, none of these essential workers have been deterred from performing their jobs.

These students persevered against dangers

to their health in order to provide some sense of normality for those in their care.

One of these students, Joyce Mrehwa, has been balancing her support worker role with her studies.

She is currently working at a residential care home while also being in the second year

MARCH 2021 of a Social Sciences degree.

Explaining the duties that come with her role, she said: “On the 28th of March 2020, I was assigned to a residential home which houses 34 residents and is ten minutes away from my home.

“My duties are to lead the shift as a team leader; this involved giving medicine and attending to any issues that rise up, emotionally and physically.

“My responsibilities also included monitoring any rise or change in residents’ conditions/illnesses, reporting repairs that need to be carried out and dealing with any queries over the phone from families or nurses.

“On top of all the above, I had to attend to the complaints and compliments from staff and relatives in our dealings with the residents.”

When asked about the difficulties she had faced over the last year, Joyce went into detail about the problems she encountered.

She explained: “Prior to this role, I was doing almost the same job in a home that had less than ten residents at maximum capability.

“It was overwhelming coming from giving less than ten people their medicine to 34 residents, as well as all of the

FOCUS above responsibilities.

“The first time I did my

(Credit: Joyce Mrehwa)

medicine round, I took 4 hours, and the next round of the same day was in the next hour.

“There was some traumatic and rushed days; the pandemic was definitely not helpful for my colleagues or me.

(Credit: Varaidzo Hahn)

“It brought so much fear and anxiety, and it did affect me negatively for a while, but once I made up my mind

to ignore the outside world, I concentrated with my spiritual life - I turned to my faith in God to help me remove any and all fear/anxiety from the picture.”

Overall, Joyce thinks that the role has been a positive force for change in her life.

She explained her final thoughts as she said: “Although I am down financially slightly, the joy and peace in my heart I have obtained overrides it all.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding role than the one I am in.

“I am enjoying working, and its flexibility also gives me the chance to also do my university course.

“As much as the pandemic has brought up negative reports/news, I found it very useful in growing my faith because now I understand that being spiritually-minded can provide me with peace and joy.”

Due to the multiple national lockdowns over the last year, many residents in care homes have essentially been cut off from the outside world and their families.

The amazing efforts of dedicated support staff have meant that this difficult time has been a little less lonely for them all.

Another student performing critical tasks for those vulnerable in care is Varaidzo Hahn.

7

FOCUS She is a second-year student studying Health and Social Care while also working in an elderly care home.

Her main motivation behind this decision was her burning desire to help others.

She said: “I took up this role to help those who could not help themselves.

“I came to realise that even family members did not even know how to help their elderly relatives.

“People were engrossed in such fear, confusion and trauma.

“Some of the elderly people I care for were not understanding in the need for face masks, and some even thought we were wearing face masks because they were starting to smell.

“Some family members would also visit without PPE [Personal Protective Equipment], thereby putting their lives and those of their loved ones in danger.

“However, I am thankful for the Government and the NHS for raising awareness and promoting the use of PPE.” Varaidzo also spoke about some of the hardships she was confronted with while working during such a difficult time for the whole country.

She explained: “Working during such an unprecedented time was like sentencing myself to death.

“Some relatives, friends and colleagues were

8

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @FOCUSUOB discouraging me from going to work.

“They feared for my life, which I think anyone would do.

“I found everything challenging, especially during the 1st wave; the statistics of casualties constantly rising was worrying, and I even lost a couple of people I personally knew.

“It was also disheartening to see family members

(Credit: Hasnain Qadri)

leaving flowers and cards at the door to celebrate birthdays for their elderly relatives.

“It definitely brought some uncertainty, I was too scared to physically interact with people I love, fearing that I might end up infecting them with COVID-19 - having to be tested every week was almost traumatising.”

Reflecting on her experiences working throughout the entire pandemic, Varaidzo also offered her take on the future.

She said: “The pandemic

as a whole changed life in general - things will never be the same.

“When we returned to campus in September 2020, I saw a fellow student and with excitement and joy I rushed to hug him, and all he could do was to stretch out a fist towards me.

“I was embarrassed at first, but I realised that was the new norm.

“We no longer express ourselves the way we want to, especially to people we love and care for.

“It is time we try to get past it all and attempt to move on so we can live our lives again.”

One more student who has been aiding those in need during this unprecedented time is Hasnain Qadri, who is in the final year of his Applied Social Sciences degree.

While not directly working in a care home himself, Hasnain provided a more personal approach to assisting others.

He detailed the work he has undertaken over the course of the last year: “During the pandemic, when I have time to spare, I am a key worker in Hertfordshire and support adults with disabilities.

“I’ve been working there for quite some time now.

“As a support worker, it’s my duty to support and care for an individual in their daily life.

“I have to give them

FOCUS

MARCH 2021

(Credit: Matthias Zomer)

medication, assist with housework, take calls for them, book check-ups/ appointments, and more.

“I am also training in an advisory role at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which I found on the University’s career website - I went through the interview stage and was offered the opportunity to work there, which I am ever so grateful for.

“I applied to the role during my final year at university because I wanted to be able to help people in a different way, learn new skills and also to help me with better career aspects later on once I graduate.”

Hasnain admits that working during such a difficult time has undoubtedly come as a shock, but he rose to the challenge.

He explains: “At first, working during a pandemic in this unprecedented time, I didn’t take it too seriously we were still learning about the virus, so it was all so new to me.

“Personally, I adapted

quite well, and not much had changed for me work-wise.

“But then during the Christmas break, I contracted COVID-19 from my workplace, and it took me time to fully recover and had set me back with CAB and assignments for university.

“Also, being dyslexic made it really difficult, I’m still playing catch-up today because of my downtime with COVID-19.

“The main problem I have now is that I have put a lot of stress on myself, with the pressures of university, being a support worker and training at CAB – it’s a lot to take on in your final year.

“I am finding it difficult with managing my time with the workload.”

However, Hasnain was also pleased with all that he has achieved and viewed the whole experience as a chance for positive selfgrowth.

He said: “Honestly, I am looking at the pandemic as a reset, time to reflect on things.

“Yes, it has been difficult

at times, really difficult, but that’s the real world - you get ups and downs.

“I see it as character building.”

It is only because of the critical work carried out by keyworkers like Joyce, Hasnain and Varaidzo that countless vulnerable people were still able to receive life-saving assistance during such a demanding time, where they would have perhaps otherwise been forgotten about.

Students like this are an inspiration to us all for their selflessness and tireless sacrifice to help others during this time and they are undoubtedly a credit to the University of Bedfordshire.

If you would like to see what opportunities are available for you to help out the local community, you can follow @VolunteerLuton on Twitter or visit the volunteering section on Luton Borough Council’s website at: luton.gov.uk/ Page/Show/Education_and_ learning/youth/jobs/Pages/ volunteering.aspx.

9

FOCUS

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @FOCUSUOB

UoB secures National Lottery funding for new Heritage Project

By KATY LELLIOTT

T

he University of Bedfordshire has secured a grant worth a quarter of a million pounds to fund a thirty-month capacity-building and skills development project for the communities of Luton, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

The project will be funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and will launch this spring before running for approximately two and a half years.

It will expand upon previous TestBeds activities, which is the banner under which the Arts and Culture Projects team develop

10

and deliver a range of projects which have the aim of supporting local cultural practitioners and organisations to develop and enhance their skills and partnerships.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund provides grants to fund projects that sustain and transform the UK’s heritage.

The Heritage Project will be split into two parts, starting with a Heritage Impact Accelerator programme, which will launch in April 2021.

This part of the project will provide support for Luton entrepreneurs and

creatives, pushing them to discover what ‘heritage’ means to their community, therefore developing events and increasing community engagement.

The second part of the project is a Heritage Enterprise Hub, which will launch in summer 2021.

This will be a programme of needs-driven training sessions and events for people in Luton, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and across wider Bedfordshire.

Arts & Culture Projects Manager, Emma Gill, played a huge part in the University’s successful application for the funding.

MARCH 2021 She said: “I am grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund which has supported the realisation of this project.

“COVID-19 has illustrated how vulnerable non-tangible and community heritage is if not supported.

“This is especially the case in Bedfordshire, including in Luton, where we have rich community heritage that is nationally and internationally applicable.

“But without local support and investment, stories will continue to be untold and practitioners will seek opportunities elsewhere.”

Emma also spoke about the plans for the two parts of the project and getting the local community involved.

She said: “As an infrastructural educational partner with specialisms of teaching, research and outreach in culture, heritage and community, I am passionate about the role the University of Bedfordshire can provide in delivering capacity-building programmes such as our Heritage Impact Accelerator and Heritage Enterprise Hub. “Equally, local communities have knowledge and specialisms that we as an institution can learn from, and the local ecology as a whole can be enriched through transactional dialogue and partnership-working.

“I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started!”

During the project, the Heritage Project team will work closely with the University of Bedfordshire, including staff from the Faculty of Creative Arts,

FOCUS Technologies and Science and its School of Art & Design.

Amanda Egbe, Lecturer in Media Production, will assist and provide support to the Heritage Project team throughout the duration of the project.

She said: “What’s exciting about this project is that it will allow us to explore how we can diversify and take note of our heritage in a collaborative, inclusive and non-discriminative way.

“In areas such as Luton and Bedford, so much of the culture and creativity that has played an important part in the development of their communities has been overlooked, partly through lack of preservation and archiving but also because people haven’t acknowledged these artworks, happenings and moments as important – but they are.

“Through the University’s Heritage Project we will help participants exchange skills and develop approaches in identifying and preserving Bedfordshire’s diverse heritage, to make it accessible for future generations.”

Professor Alexis Weedon, UNESCO Chair and Director of the University’s Research Institute for Media, Art & Performance, also spoke about the opportunities that this project will bring for the University and the wider surrounding community.

She said: “This project is going to bring about multiple opportunities for the University to research the heritage around us and

find out what is meaningful to locals and the wider community.

“This new project will enable us to get to know our cultural heritage anew in all its energising and empowering diversity.”

Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £8bn to more than 44,000 projects across the UK. They give funding aiming to demonstrate and highlight the critical role that heritage can play to help people, communities and places, with emphasis this year on helping them recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

Anne Jenkins, the Area Director of National Lottery Heritage Fund Midlands and East, also spoke about the new partnership.

She said: “We’re really excited about this new partnership with the University of Bedfordshire.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will enable more opportunities that connect people with Luton and Bedfordshire’s rich and vibrant heritage.

“As we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, this project will contribute to bringing people back together over the coming months, inspiring pride in communities and boosting investment in the local economy.”

You can find out more information about UoB’s Heritage Project, and other cultural community activity, here: beds.ac.uk/arts-andculture-projects.

11

FOCUS

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @FOCUSUOB

(Credit: Gospoda Luton)

Local restaurant turns to take-away option amid Covid lockdown

By BARTOSZ ROMANEK

A

new national lockdown has meant that restaurants have been forced to close their doors for the time being.

The Gospoda, a Polish restaurant in Luton, located two minutes away from the University of Bedfordshire, is successfully fighting lockdown thanks to an attractive take-away offering.

With the UK back in another lockdown, businesses continue to suffer and take-away has been left as the only service

12

option for the hospitality industry.

Artur Piotrowski, the owner

(Credit: Jeremy Segrott)

of Gospoda, has lifted the restaurant’s profile with take-

away only, offering various food choices and competitive prices, alongside professional social media advertising which has attracted new customers.

The restaurant’s take-away offerings include traditional Polish food – sorrel, beetroot and chicken soups, Russian style dumplings, pork chops and fried cod covered in spinach sauce.

Artur had to make six people redundant and it’s only him and a chef who are trying to cover all the duties.

He said: “Take-away service is the only thing we

MARCH 2021 can still do as a restaurant in the UK at the moment.

“We advertise a lot on social media, because this way we can rely on our dedicated customers and attract new ones.

“We’ve got money to survive - we don’t give up.

“In terms of staff, we had to let six people go, the Government’s financial support helps us to pay our bills but in terms of making money we need to forget about it for now.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of restaurants and coffee shops across his native Poland have opened their doors to customers, despite the potential risk of large fines.

The #otwieraMY (#WeAreOpening) movement was first conceived in the mountainous part of southern Poland, which is normally very busy especially in the winter season.

The movement describes itself as being an answer to a “crisis provoked by politicians” that it says is much more dangerous than the pandemic.

It has seen thousands of business owners opening their restaurants, hotels and other similar businesses to avoid permanent closure due to the financial impacts as a result of the prolonged social distancing and lockdown measures in Poland.

FOCUS A lot of coffee shops, clubs and restaurants have joined the movement since it was

(Credit: Kafejeto Białystok)

first introduced by a group of business owners.

The owner of the Kafejeto coffee shop said: “We’re using a loophole.

“People are tired of staying indoors.

“All you need is to sign a membership form for the

(Credit: Mikhail Nilov)

‘Business Owners’ Strike’ political party and you are legally in the coffee shop.”

Business owners in Poland who fear the loss of their livelihoods under lockdown refuse to follow the Government restrictions.

They think that measures are illegal as long as the Government does not introduce a constitutional state of emergency.

Business owners now feel cheated by the lockdown rules and have lost trust in the Government’s false promises about financial support.

Speaking about the situation in Poland, Mariusz Bidzinski, a Law professor, said: “Restrictions on conducting business activity were introduced without any legal basis.

“History has seen a long list of rebellions, uprisings and other forms of social opposition to power.”

UK businesses are very well supported by the Government’s financial shields, including the furlough scheme which pays employees placed on leave up to 80% of their salary, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.

Meanwhile, the situation in Poland is the complete opposite, and we shall see in the near future if that is going to change.

In the meantime, you can find the Gospoda restaurant on JustEat, as well as on Facebook (Gospoda Luton) and Instagram (@gospodaluton).

13

FOCUS

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @FOCUSUOB

Academics publish book looking at the history of Cinderella

(Credit: Church of the King)

By KATY LELLIOTT

T

wo University of Bedfordshire academics have published a book looking at the development of the tale of Cinderella, and how the story has been adapted to modern-day culture.

Dr Nicola Darwood and Professor Alexis Weedon have edited Retelling Cinderella: Cultural and Creative Transformations, exploring how the story remains active and has developed in different societies around the world.

The book takes inspiration from a collection of texts and items sourced by the Research Institute for Media, Arts & Performance that are related to the iconic fairy tale.

The book goes back in time to trace the fairy tale’s various interpretations and influence throughout history.

The reason for the fairy tale being told all around the

14

world is largely attributed to the universal appeal of a transformation from lower class to high society, as depicted by the journey of the titular character.

Because of this, Professor Alexis Weedon, Director of the Research Institute for Media Arts and Performance, believes that Cinderella can be used as a way to explore women’s rights and class prejudice.

She said: “Retelling Cinderella is a fascinating documentation of how Cinderella’s story can be socially transformational, and speak to us about class prejudice, the rights of women and of the challenges of step-relationships.

“Cinderella documents the feelings of rejection within a family, either through having step-parents or siblings or simply through being the least highly-regarded and

the most put upon within the social structure of the household.”

Dr Nicola Darwood, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, explained how much she enjoyed working on the project and discovering how the fairy tale has been retold.

She said: “It’s been great to work with colleagues around the world as we uncovered the many ways in which the Cinderella tale has been told and retold.

“Working on this project, from the early planning of an international conference in 2017 at the University of Bedfordshire through to this collection of essays, has been a great deal of fun.”

Retelling Cinderella: Cultural and Creative Transformations is available to buy from the Cambridge Scholars website now, with a free 30-page extract also available for download.

MARCH 2021

FOCUS

UoB Law Clinic opens for business remotely

By KATY LELLIOTT

T

he University of Bedfordshire’s legal clinic is open for business remotely this spring, providing free legal advice to the public.

The Law Clinic is a student-led service that has been running since 2015.

It offers members of the public free advice and legal support on matters of housing, consumer and employment law.

While the service is usually offered in person at both the Luton and Bedford campuses, the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has meant that the Law Clinic will now operate as a remote service for the time being.

The general public can email their queries to lawclinic@beds.ac.uk or contact 07702 338684.

Those seeking legal advice should provide full details

of their query in the email or voice message, including supporting evidence and a contact number.

These queries will then be addressed and responded to on 10th and 24th March.

Samira Hussain, Senior Tutor in Law and the University’s Law Clinic Coordinator, hopes that clients will make use of this service.

She said: “The Law Clinic offers an invaluable service to the community, allowing our students the opportunity to practically apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their Law LLB (Hons) courses to help others.”

The clinic allows students studying Law to gain important practical experience of handling public queries on matters relating to housing, consumer and

employment law, supported by a team of trained staff and other local service providers.

Steve McPeake, Acting Head of Department of Law and Finance, believes that one of the great things about the Law Clinic is the way it encourages students to engage with the local community.

He said: “I feel it is imperative for the Law team, students and department to engage with the community in which it is set.

“Being able to continue that contact and engagement online during the pandemic is crucial so that we are there to support our community on issues that still impact and effect everyone regardless.”

To find out more information about the Law Clinic and the services they offer, visit: Beds.ac.uk/ lawclinic.

15

FOCUS

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @FOCUSUOB

Does celebrities breaking Coronavirus rules encourage fans to do the same?

(Credit: Anna Shvets)

With a recent rise in celebrities breaking Coronavirus lockdown rules, Holly Brown looks at whether their reckless behaviour could inspire their fans to do the same...

I

n March 2020, as the Coronavirus pandemic began to take hold, beloved personalities live-streamed from homes, reiterating the message: stay home and stay hopeful.

Their persistence that “we’re all in the same boat” was amusingly ignorant then, as they paced their 6-bedroom paradise, while others sat in studio

16

apartments alone and feared for their financial future.

Now, in 2021, these celebrities are done pretending.

Without masks, and apparently without care, they’re back in the limelight partying in super-spreader events, conveying a nonchalant attitude towards the ongoing pandemic.

Since the pandemic

began, we’ve seen singer Lana Del Rey hold a crowded meet and greet in Los Angeles, posing for selfies whilst wearing an ineffective mesh face covering, meanwhile actress Vanessa Hudgens called Covid deaths “inevitable”, and social media star Kylie Jenner ignored her own social distancing advice and chose to visit friends and shamelessly post content

MARCH 2021 alongside them.

Television personality Dr Phil spread misinformation about the Covid-19 death rate, jokingly comparing it to swimming pool related mortalities, and we’ve all seen the headlines about Geordie Shore, The Only Way is Essex and Love Island reality stars who have been posting about their non-essential trips to Dubai, gloating about tricking the system.

A very cynical opening to an article, I know, but an interesting discussion nonetheless.

Their behaviour is frustratingly hypocritical and shows their privilege, but does the influence celebrities possess with their mass followings affect the behaviour of their fans during the pandemic?

What do University of Bedfordshire students think?

100% of students who responded to a circulated questionnaire believed that the behaviour of their idols would never strongly influence them personally to dismiss Covid-19 safety measures, although they all feared that others would be more inclined to disregard common sense in the pursuit of imitating their favourite celebrities.

One student said: “Celebrities breaking the rules just annoys me more than anything!

“I think it makes it quite confusing for impressionable fans, too, who might see them at parties or swanning off to Dubai on Instagram

FOCUS and think it’s fine to do the same.”

Another student said that this divide is what is contributing to the hostile environment on social media.

They said: “When you are seeing someone like an influencer living a completely different life to all of us at the moment it has the effect of ‘well, why can’t I?’.

“It really does create this divide which has made social media an even more hostile place.”

Some students defended

the influencers, though, suggesting that they are simply doing their job.

Continuously rejecting sponsors would be abandoning their known way of accumulating a substantial income and possibly cut off future endeavours with those companies.

Accountability is an interesting topic being disputed online - with many influencers being so young and the brands they usually endorse being so powerful.

One student said: “Some are working for sponsors, so they are doing a job,

helping to sell and promote a brand, meaning certain influencers are having these amazing shoots in Dubai and elsewhere.”

Another agreed that they were just doing what they can to get income.

They said: “I don’t particularly agree with influencers going on holidays right now, but I can understand when travel is for their job - they’re probably still adjusting to the pandemic rules and the public’s new expectations of them.”

However, the majority of students concluded that their opinion and support of an idol would ultimately decrease if they continuously and publicly neglected the rules that the rest of the public are expected to adhere by.

One student explained: “It has definitely made me raise my eyebrows at certain influencers when they are posting content showing a completely normal life.

“I have for sure questioned and changed my support and following of certain influencers.”

Another student agreed, saying that their opinion of a celebrity would decline if they continued to flout the rules.

They said: “If celebrities are been taking unnecessary risks and directly endangering others with their actions, I would have a much lower opinion of them.

“But if it was just a case of someone who wants to visit their family once a week and can’t do so outside for whatever reason, I can understand that.”

17

Bi-den, Donald!

*All views and opinions are Jake’s own

Welcome to the last edition of our monthly US Election column from UoB graduate Jake Nichol.

Now the US Election is finally complete and Joe Biden has ousted Donald Trump from the Oval Office, Jake says farewell to this column and prepares to launch a new one next month, looking at the wider political world...

N

ow all the fun of the Presidential election is behind us and Washington D.C. returns to the normalcy some in the capital have craved for the last six years, it seems right to also leave behind Bi-den, Donald.

As much as I would love to write about the mundane goings on at Capitol Hill, from budget meetings to the on-going confirmation battles for members of President Biden’s cabinet, even I realise that that is a step too far, and something that is very hard to make exciting.

Who’d have thought politics as usual could be this boring?

That is not to say this column will neglect events on the other side of the Atlantic.

Just recently the Supreme Court threw out a challenge from one D. Trump trying to block a New York grand

18

jury from accessing his tax records.

Normally, such a hot issue as refusing to release your tax records for public scrutiny would be curtains for a politician - but not Teflon Don. Although he was cleared in the second Senate trial for inciting the riot on the Hill on January 6th, that doesn’t mean he was cleared of fraud, tax evasion and God knows what else he and his mob got up to in New York.

The battle between Trump and the District Attorney’s office will be quite something.

I’ve always thought US politics is easier to understand and write about than those here at home.

Perhaps the US system is simpler, but it is time to turn our monthly focus to what is going on in Westminster, and beyond.

As Prime Minister Boris

Johnson unveiled his roadmap to ending the third lockdown on Monday, one thing in particular caught my attention whilst scrolling through Twitter.

The radio station TalkRadio had tweeted out a clip of a listener ‘Joel’ calling in to host Julia Hartley-Brewer to offer his take on the current restrictions and how they have affected him.

Joel, who lives in southern England, runs a sales business and has a comfortable home life with a wife, two children and a big house.

He describes himself as a person with lots of friends and a frequent gym user.

Great - a typical middleclass bloke from the Toryshires.

Nothing to see here.

Except Joel was calling in to say how the first lockdown had left him with

MARCH 2021 no income for months and how his friendship group had been obeying the current restrictions honourably whilst he is struggling having missed holidays and birthdays, saying he needed his “life back.”

I am certainly not here to take Joel apart for struggling in lockdown and missing friends and family.

That is something we have all experienced in the last 11 months, but the sympathy for him must end there.

Why does this plank think he is different from the rest of us?

We would all love to embrace our grandparents or be with family after a bereavement.

I know, in my case, I want nothing more than to give my Nan a hug after Grandad passed last year (not from COVID, thankfully), but as I have said to her, until she is fully dosed up it is not a risk I can live with myself for taking.

These restrictions on our lives make nobody happy.

But we are enduring them in the knowledge that the vaccine will make it possible to have plenty more birthdays and holidays in the future.

A lost couple of these events is surely a price worth paying for a lifetime of happy memories.

It reminds me of the saying about people who think it is a good idea for taxes to be higher to fund the NHS, but think it should only apply to other people, not themselves.

FOCUS It seems as if there are those in the country who think the way out of restrictions is for them not to apply in their case.

To be frank, that is b****cks.

As this country and certain aspects of the population like to bring up the Second World War at every opportunity, it is like some people living in London during the Blitz walking around with a spotlight during blackout conditions in a Luftwaffe air-

(Credit: Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street)

raid, just because it is what they’ve always done.

We have all had to adapt to our learned way of life, and maybe done things we never thought we would, but the one over-reaching goal has been a magnificent collective effort for the greater good – something sorely lacking in the 21st century.

Locking the country down three times is anathema to every fibre in Johnson’s being.

He holds his Libertarian ethos close and it is an overriding feature of his politics.

But he has done it for the greater good.

Yes, the Government’s handling of the pandemic, the cronyism in awarding contracts and everything else has been an absolute s**t-show.

But, in its defence, this is a once-in-a-generation event, which caught the planet offguard.

Governments around the world have been trying their best to keep their population safe, with varying degrees of success.

Johnson and his cabinet obviously did not set out to oversee 100,000+ deaths, but they have saved hundreds of thousands of lives by temporarily locking us all up at home.

It is the promise of a better tomorrow that has kept us all going during the long winter months and we are nearly there.

The Prime Minister’s roadmap predicts life will be back to some sort of normal by June 21st.

When the clock strikes midnight to begin that Monday morning, hopefully it is the start of a great recovery and summer.

Until then, or whenever it does come, as a country we all need to gather our efforts for a final big push and continue to block out idiots such as Joel who would threaten to throw away all the sacrifices of 2020, just because they temporarily have been unable to go on holiday, have a barbeque or go to the gym.

19