In our latest series of leadership quotations, we hear from Jacob Rees Mogg on anti-vaxxers, Tracey Crouch on remote voting, Colin Taylor on the construction industry, and from Jane Smith and Michael Goldie on the government’s Covid strategy.
Jacob Rees Mogg
‘There are a few nutters around, Mr Speaker - I'm sure you've never met them - who are anti-vaxxers, and they go around spreading rumour and causing concern to people. We need to put out the true information to reassure people and that is a reasonable and a proper thing to do.’ (The leader of the House of Commons responding to questions about a potential Covid vaccine)
Tracey Crouch
‘Given that hybrid proceedings have been extended, would he please stop thinking those of us at home are shirking our duties, in fact quite the opposite, and urgently reconsider virtual participation, even if just for general backbench and Westminster Hall debates.’ (The former sports minister asks Rees Mogg to allow remote voting for MPs)
Colin Taylor
‘I am very pleased with the way the government have treated the construction industry and whilst trying to keep sites open they have also allowed us access to the furlough scheme as a backup. I don’t think construction has suffered at all during this crisis and our suppliers inform us they have had a record year and are increasing prices, due to a shortage of supplies.’ (The Domestic Sprinklers managing director on how the construction industry has fared in 2020)
Jane Smith
‘We need to petition for a clean slate on decision making. They should be properly reasoned and promptly acted upon. These “one last hurrah before shut down” opportunities are farcical. In fact I will go as far as saying they are an insult to businesses who have taken more than reasonable precautions, and who could actually continue to trade safely with little impact to the ‘R’ rate.’ (The Jointine managing director on the government’s decision making processes)
Michael Goldie
‘I do feel quite strongly that Governments in all of our four nations have performed pretty poorly. As an island nation, we should have given people overseas a short timeline to return home and then completely closed our borders to all travel apart from essential supplies. This would have given us enough time to supress the virus with lockdowns and then gradually open our countries back up for business. I am also dismayed that, in a time of great anxiety and worry for a lot of people in the country, our leading politicians, first ministers and prime minister could not show a united front and get the same unified messaging across the whole of the UK, instead of political point scoring by running their own individual schemes.’ (The Portal Security managing director on the UK’s fragmented response to Covid)
Michael Gove
‘I can't think of anywhere better to put DCMS ministers than Stoke-on-Trent. A jewel in the heart of Staffordshire, home to industrial innovation for generations now and also boasting three of the finest members of Parliament in this House of Commons.’ (The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster responds to questions about a potential relocation of the department for digital, culture, media and sport)
