As the country faces new restrictions because of COVID-19, campaign group We Own It is urging people to help reinforce the message to MPs that we need a proper, public test and trace system, instead of the ‘privatised shambles that the government seems intent on’.
The group – which campaigns for public services to be run for people, not profit – wants you to invite your MP to a quick online meeting this Friday, 25 September, where they can join you in raising a toast to the NHS and public health teams, showing support for public test and trace.
After last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of ‘Operation Moonshot’ – relying on untested technologies, the private sector and a budget equivalent to almost an entire year’s funding for the NHS – We Own It points out that, without a functioning test and trace programme, there is “little hope of these restrictions on our lives being lifted for more than a short period.
“MPs need to pledge to do everything they can to get us public test and trace now,” they commented.