MSP hails 'inspirational' volunteers and key workers for coronavirus roles
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UNCERTAINTY, helping people left marooned by the Covid-19 crisis, getting used to homeworking and being inspired by the community response to the pandemic crisis are all in a day's work these now for an MSP.
The reality of the nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus has driven a horse and cart through the lives of everyone in the land, including that of Moray's MSP Richard Lochhead.
However, despite a skyrocketing workload, the efforts of those in the community, both volunteers and key workers, to help others has been described "inspirational" by the MSP, especially in the face of the likes of panic buying and essential personnel, including shop staff, being abused.
Mr Lochhead said: "Thankfully the majority of people are looking out for each other here.
"It's very humbling to hear about the sacrifices people are making every day for others.
"To hear of people going without to help others is inspirational. The pandemic has brought out the best and worst in people.
"Our key workers are keeping the country going in our hour of need and these are people often not in the best paid jobs – nurses, porters, paramedics and many others. I think society has come to see this clearly. Our NHS workers have been at the front line of the fight against the coronavirus and have been bearing the brunt.
"One of the things this crisis has shown us is how much we take things for granted. It makes you realise how fragile life is, things like going to work, going out."
While Mr Lochhead's constituency office may be closed and the staff working from home, but there is still an ever-increasing caseload to be tackled as the impact of the crisis throws lives and the economy into disarray and uncertainty.
"There's no aspect of life which hasn't been completely changed by the coronavirus, it's probably the closest we'll come to living through what it was like in one of the World Wars," he continued.
"At the beginning of all this we were trying to work out if it would be an outbreak which wouldn't reach this country but as events have raced by it's clear that we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation.
"There's been a dramatic change to people's lives. People are coming to us who are anxious about their jobs and the economy, how they're going to put food on the table and pay their bills. We've had an avalanche of casework from people seeking advice about their personal circumstances.
"I think a lot of people are still in a state of shock about the whole situation as it's all happened so quickly, not just here but globally."
As with many other people, Mr Lochhead has had to make many changes to his working life, perhaps the most obvious one being that, like most of the population, he is spending the vast majority of his time at home, a big difference to the normal politician's diet of attending engagements here, there and everywhere, plus going to Holyrood.
"We decided early on at the constituency office that we were going to have to adapt to the storm approaching and work from home. In a few days that decision was to become a no-brainer.
"We all soon learned to use things like Zoom, the video conferencing tool.
"Personally, working from home and being with the family has been a bit of a surreal experience. The four of us are spending each and every day with each other, which wasn't the case before. There're no engagements to attend and, of course, parliament won't be sitting for the foreseeable future.
"The lockdown has affected our two sons as well. Fraser, who's 11, was due to finish P7 in the summer and go up to the Academy while Angus (16) had been getting ready to sit his Highers, which, of course, have now been cancelled for this year.
"I really do feel for our young people who have had so many milestone events and experiences in their education denied to them by the current situation.
"We have to pull out the stops to make sure this doesn't permanently impact a whole generation."
On a lighter note, Fraser and Angus are discovering that it's not just helping out constituents that their dad is good at.
Mr Lochhead added: "The Wii has been brought out the cupboard and I'm getting better and better at it.
"I'm undefeated so far!"
While Mr Lochhead's constituency office is closed, constituents can still call (01343) 545077 or email richard.lochhead.msp@parliament.scot
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