Good evening

I would love to be bringing you good news.
It would be great to tell you that Covid has gone, restrictions are lifted, we are all immune from the virus and there is full employment throughout the country.
Maybe that day will come, but for the moment, things are looking a bit bleak still.
More than 8.2m people are living under Tier 3 restrictions (most in the North); scientists say any potential vaccine may not have long lasting effects and now it is being estimated that the prospects for finding new employment once someone becomes unemployed is “even worse” than after the 2008 financial crash.
That’s not a good sign for the one in five young people who were on furlough and have now found themselves out of a job.
While much has been said about the part played by young people in spreading the virus, many youngsters have acted conscientiously and responsibly - and yet still find themselves suffering the economic effects of the pandemic.
So while this is a tough time for us all, if we are careful we will get through this. Then the real work will start.