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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular update No 130 in which I bring SW Surrey Residents up to date with the latest on the pandemic alongside other local and national issues that have caught my attention. Been forwarded this email? Subscribe by emailing [email protected]. Enjoy it? Forward to a friend!

PANDEMIC IN NUMBERS As of today, we have had a total of 4,421,850 positive cases of COVID-19 with 127,539 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 5,864 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 246 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 14 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

50 MILLION MILESTONE We have now administered a total of 50m doses across the UK ([link removed]) , including 15.3m second doses – that’s one in four adults. Locally, 59,133 people in South West Surrey have now been vaccinated with at least one dose and 23,942 people have received their second. In the last week in the UK: coronavirus cases ⬇️7.8%, hospital admissions ⬇️11.2%, and deaths ⬇️35.2%. Meanwhile, the UK government is sending life-saving support to our close friend and ally India ([link removed]) as they battle with an increase in COVID-19 cases.

FUNERAL UPDATE From 17 May, more than 30 people will be able to attend funerals ([link removed]) as part of Step 3 of the roadmap. The limit on mourners has been extremely painful for everyone across the UK, including most famously the Queen in arguably the saddest photo of the pandemic ([link removed]) . Even better it looks like restrictions on care home residents ([link removed]) have been relaxed with walks and visits to family gardens allowed without having to self-isolate on return.

NOW OR NEVER FOR SOCIAL CARE REFORM The 2019 Conservative manifesto clearly states that ‘we need a long-term solution for social care’ ([link removed]) and after seeing the heroism of those working in the care sector during the pandemic, it really is ‘now or never’ for social care reform. In March Boris Johnson told me that it was ‘highly likely’ social care would get a mention in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May. My piece written jointly with Sir Andrew Dilnot in the Telegraph here ([link removed]) but today’s Times suggests I may have a battle ([link removed]) .

SIR SIMON STEVENS announced last week that he’s stepping down as the Chief Executive of NHS England. Simon is a formidable operator and we had an excellent partnership leading, amongst other things, to the £20 bn uplift in the NHS budget agreed in 2018 before I moved on to the Foreign Office. Simon took more trouble to be briefed on key facts ahead of meetings with ministers or the PM than anyone else I met. But his skills as an operator should not be allowed to conceal his deeply-held passion and support for everything the NHS stands for and he will be remembered for giving the world's 5th largest organisation strategic direction at a time of great challenge. He also made sure every patient that needed a ventilator or ICU bed got one during the pandemic and the NHS rolled out the best vaccination programme in Europe. My full Twitter thread here ([link removed]) .

The key number to remember for anyone with pandemic-related difficulties remains 0300 200 1008 the Surrey Helpline run by Surrey County Council (Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm).

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

HILLARY & HAGUE At 4pm today, I will join former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Lord Hague of Richmond in a discussion about the future of liberal democracies. The event, in collaboration with Chatham House, will focus on foreign policy and is bound to be fascinating. Sign up to the livestream here ([link removed]) .

GIRLS’ EDUCATION Amidst gloom over aid cuts there is some good news as the UK, along with the G7, have announced $15 billion of funding to boost girls’ education and women’s employment ([link removed]) as we begin to recover from the pandemic. Check out my 2019 article ([link removed]) co-written with Dr Amina Mohamed, the former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Education on the why all girls around the world require at least 12 years of a good education.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

RUBBISH WEEKEND and by that I mean we literally had a great litter pick on Saturday in Farnham ([link removed]) , Haslemere ([link removed]) , and Milford ([link removed]) . Our enthusiastic County Council candidates Simon Foale, Ali Fitch and Nabeel Nasir joined me in Farnham, Ged Hall did so in Haslemere and Kirsty Walden, Frank Young and Kevin Deanus came along to Milford. Thanks to all for coming - but my goodness there was a lot to pick up.

COUNCIL CAMPAIGN I also delivered about 700 leaflets ahead of Thursday’s election in Ockford yesterday with three junior leafletters and a puppy ([link removed]) ... thanks to the kind couple who helped pick up some leaflets that got caught in a gust of wind. It was a slightly hairy moment with three kids running out into the road to try to grab them so I was very grateful.

iST SCIENTIFIC is a company based in Farnham, which has been working determinedly throughout the pandemic to ensure global laboratories’ demand for supply of testing consumables are met for essential research. More information on their excellent work can be found here ([link removed]) .

See my list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents here ([link removed]) .

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

HOUSEHOLD HOTSPOTS BT will offer fibre broadband at less than half price to UK households on Universal Credit. The Home Essentials package will launch next month and over 4m households are likely to benefit from the deal. More information here ([link removed]) which I know will be welcome to a number of people locally.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

RAVENOUS RATS No this isn’t about the Downing Street ‘chatty rat’. The British Pest Control Association have observed increased signs of rat activity during the COVID-19 pandemic ([link removed]) . While restaurants were closed and humans were hiding away during lockdown, rodents were out exploring and attending mousewarming parties…

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Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

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South West Surrey Conservative Association . 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road . Hindhead . Surrey, GU26 6TD . United Kingdom