MP Flick Drummond faces 'unprecedented' level demand as desperate families fear impact of pandemic crisis

Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond said she and her team have been overwhelmed by an ‘unprecedented number of constituents’ seeking help and advice.

Since the pandemic first started, Mrs Drummond’s office has answered more than 1,000 emails, ranging from fears over the deadly virus itself, to jobs, benefits and how to get food supplies while in isolation.

The former Portsmouth South MP claimed she was ‘regularly at her desk 14 hours a day, seven days a week’ dealing with correspondence, while continuing her parliamentary work lobbying for improved internet and phone coverage,

‘The number one email we are receiving is around jobs and some of them are very serious indeed with people losing all their income in a matter of days through absolutely no fault of their own,’ Mrs Drummond said.

And in a message of reassurance to those who did not vote for her during the December, the Tory MP added: ‘I would also like to clarify that I work for everyone in my constituency regardless whether they voted for me or not. I have had a few people who said they thought I wouldn’t help because they had voted for someone else. I can assure them that’s absolutely not the case.’

Mrs Drummond said she had been sign-posting people in need towards government support that’s available, including grants for businesses and benefit plans for the self-employed.

She added she was ‘in constant contact with ministers’ relying concerns of residents.

‘It’s a considerable workload but I am absolutely committed to supporting everyone in the Meon Valley through these challenging times,’ she said.

For latest business advice during the coronavirus and how to apply for support, see the government’s website gov.uk and search ‘coronavirus’.

For health advice about coronavirus and reducing the spread of infection, see: nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

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