Dear Dean Russell MP,

Whilst I and many of your constituents are still waiting to hear the thought process and justification for your votes on their behalf in Westminster, and we can now add voting against a VAT cut on their eye watering energy bills to the list, I do feel there is a far bigger issue for you on the horizon.

I was shocked and appalled to learn that a “Bring your own booze” party was organised by Boris Johnson’s private secretary on May 20, 2020. This would have been just five days before I emailed you my disgust at Dominic Cummings driving to Barnard Castle. Owing to the volume of emails you probably receive, I will forgive you for not remembering its content.

These questions that I put to you on May 25, 2020 are very relevant in hindsight following this latest news:

How many of your constituents have been afraid for their child’s welfare but stayed indoors to stop the spread of the virus?

How many of your constituents have stayed indoors for over ten weeks now as they are vulnerable?

How many of your constituents have had to avoid contact with loved ones as key workers?

How many of your constituents have not been able to attend funerals due to the lockdown restrictions?

How many of your constituents died alone in a hospital bed as their family stuck to the lockdown restrictions?

Please ask yourself these questions over and over again when thinking about whether you are going to stay silent, support your government, or bravely call them out like your colleague Johnny Mercer MP did last night.

Time is of the essence Dean - your majority is just 4,433 and before you know it it’ll be 2024. I am afraid an indirect tweet will not make these questions go away; we need a statement from our elected representative in Westminster.

To quote Creedence Clearwater Revival, I see a bad moon rising, and I see trouble on the way.

Dennis Watling

Callowland Councillor