AS Ealing Liberal Democrat group leader, earlier this week I attended a meeting to discuss some important COVID related topics with Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government along with other London council group leaders.

Also present was Nadhim Zahawi MP, the Vaccine Deployment Minister.

I am here to report back to the Ealing community on the two important issues that concern many Londoners: the vaccination programme and May London elections.

On Mass Vaccination Programme

In Ealing, the rate of vaccinations is generally very high and I asked a question about whether we can move on to other groups sooner than other areas of the country to protect more people in West London.

The answer I got was sadly, not encouraging.

I was told: "Parts of the country have made very significant progress and gone faster than the average in delivering the vaccine.

"We're putting more supply into areas that have more to do, to ensure vaccines are distributed fairly across the UK to ensure the most vulnerable are immunised first."

Once again, London has got the tough end of the stick, especially given how much this city has suffered including the jobs lost, the businesses that might never reopen and more importantly, the lives - family members, loved ones, friends, colleagues - that will never be brought back.

However, despite the faster vaccination rates in London, it seems strange to not help the city do more - especially due to a double whammy of higher infection rates and higher population density.

Furthermore, there is a significant BAME community in Ealing - third highest in London with over 53% - who are more likely to be key workers, and hence having a higher risk of catching coronavirus.

Another significant area of concern is that less than half of care workers have taken up their offer of a vaccination.

This high level of refusal, given those key workers look after many vulnerable people, is deeply worrying.

Liberal Democrats believe local councils and the national government both need to do more to persuade anyone who has refused a vaccine to get one - and soon - or even more people may die than is needed.

There is widespread confusion about the gap between the first and the second jabs due to mixed messaging from the central government.

The Vaccines Minister said that they have reserved adequate portions of vaccines coming in, so people can receive their second jabs 12 weeks after their first.

On Upcoming May Elections

Relating to upcoming elections, it was confirmed that all local and Mayoral/London Assembly elections would take place on May 6 2021.

It is likely though that Councils will be encouraged to have fewer polling stations at schools.

Schools are discouraged (but not banned) to be used as polling stations, so that more children do not have their schooling disrupted on election day.

As a result, the polling station on the day might NOT be your usual polling station.

The Council will need to report back once the many polling stations in Ealing are confirmed.

Therefore, I am urging residents to register for a postal vote now.

By doing so, we can participate in a hugely important democratic process in a safe, socially distanced manner.

If you would like to vote using a postal vote then please contact me so I can help arrange one for you via [email protected]

A few final thoughts from the meeting

Ending this, I urge anyone to book a slot when you are notified for your turn to receive a COVID vaccination.

As soon as I get the vaccination text I will book a vaccination slot as soon as I can.

The more people vaccinate, the sooner the lockdown might end and quicker we can get to having a normal life.

None of us like being shut away from friends and family.