Labour criticise local MP over 'absence'

Hertford & Stortford Labour Party have issued a statement criticising local Conservative MP Julie Marson for her 'absense' during the current stage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Party have called on Mrs.Marson to take urgent action to support children, families and education staff in the community, as a further lockdown closes schools across the country.

"In order to stop the spread of the virus it's clear that schools need to be shut." Milly Lynch, Hertford & Stortford Labour’s Youth Officer, said. "The government should be planning exactly what it’s going to do to support those children most in need, particularly those without access to laptops." 

Tom Diamond, vice-chair of Hertford & Stortford Labour Party and a local primary school teacher, said, "The government’s plan to provide laptops for disadvantaged children doesn't  seem to have materialised. This needs to be a priority in order to support online learning and  a system to support those students at risk of falling behind needs to be devised. Nobody wants to be a in a position where it is necessary to close schools, but the government’s  catastrophic handling of the virus has unfortunately made it essential."
 
Hertford & Stortford’s Tory MP has yet to make a public statement on the dramatic rise in COVID-19 infections or on the need to close schools and has  not been active on social media since Christmas Day.  

"Our local MP, Julie Marson, has been all too absent on this crucial issue," Milly added. "Staff and health officials have made their stance on this matter clear. Rather than abdicating responsibility the priority for the government should now be delivering on the promises made  to schools to deliver laptops and support online learning before they experience disruption. Our MP should be fighting for these resources on behalf of our community. Students need  stability now, not in the months to come."

As of 6pm on Monday 4th January, the last Tweet authored by Julie Marson was on 25th December 2020. In the intervening period she also posted two retweets.