I feel a little conflicted about the glaring contradictions in this week’s Letter from Westminster. Firstly I am thrilled to see that (at the last count) there were well over 50 businesses in the constituency signed up to Eat Out to Help Out. This scheme is available from Monday to Wednesday and gives 50% off a bill up to £10 per person. This should be a real help to the local pubs, restaurants and cafes who have been closed during the pandemic and are now working incredibly hard to get their customers back.
Hampshire Fare (who promote the Farmers Markets) are having a great Stay Loyal Stay Local campaign at the moment, which encapsulates the way I am feeling about local businesses. We can all play our part in the economic recovery by keeping our shopping trips local, backing the great businesses we have in and around Romsey, and using the opportunity to eat out more cheaply in local venues. I have made a point over the first week of recess to pop in to see a number of local businesses, including the wonderful Reena at Mayaju who inspired me to raise the plight of the beauty industry in Parliament recently and have more visits scheduled for the coming weeks, including to Solent CrossFit now that gyms can re-open, which will probably be painful the following day.
Which brings me to the contradictions, because we have also seen this week the launch of the new “Better Health” campaign. There can be no doubt this is sorely needed and we know from the PM’s own encounter with covid that being overweight does not help recovery. But we have to make sure the strategy is for everyone, embraces well being not just weight, and is not too narrow. Cycling is great, but it is not for everyone and does require expensive equipment, so the news about vouchers for repairs and discounts on bikes is excellent. Walking, however, has many benefits and I have used the last few months to concentrate on walking more. On which note I will be joining Rachel Cardy on Friday (other appointments permitting) for her last charity walk in aid of Jane Scarth House. Rachel has walked hundreds of miles and raised hundreds of pounds since lockdown began back in March and it has been a real privilege to join her for some of them.
