‘It would be a tragedy to lose loved ones with the end just in sight’ - MP urges people to remain vigilant over Christmas

On the floor of the House of Commons last night, South Lakes MP Tim Farron made the case for people to stay vigilant over the Christmas period, saying it would be a 'tragedy' if it led to loved ones dying of COVID-19 just before they were able to be vaccinated from the virus.

It comes as the British Medical Journal and the Health Service Journal have joined forces this morning to call on the Government to reverse their decision to allow household mixing this Christmas, describing it as 'a major error that will cost many lives'.

Speaking during a debate on COVID-19 in Parliament, Tim said: "Here is the thing that concerns me: we are close, potentially, to seeing light at the end of the tunnel and we can almost sense people beginning not to dip for the tape but to just let their guard drop. On behalf of everyone in this Chamber and beyond, I just want to say that this is the moment for utmost vigilance.

"My dad was sharing that very thought with me the other day and he made the analogy with those tragic people who fell in the hours before the guns stopped on 11 November 1918. What a particular tragedy it was to be those who died at the end when the end was in sight.

"That is what we have ahead of us now, which is why if we need to tighten up restrictions over Christmas, miserable though that may be, we must think, for pity's sake, don't we want our loved ones to see summer? Aren't we prepared to make some restrictions now?"

"We know we are not going to have to live with this for years and years. We know that the light at the end of the tunnel is now visible. That is a glorious thing we can cling on to, but it is not an excuse - in fact it is the opposite of an excuse - to let our guard down."