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'Got To Get Our Entertainment From Somewhere' - Isle Of Wight Councillor On Anti-Lockdown Protest

‘We have to get our entertainment from somewhere’ — an Isle of Wight councillor joked about people who met up at the weekend to protest lockdown restrictions.

On Saturday, a number of people gathered in Church Litten Park, Newport, to protest against the start of the second lockdown, as Isle of Wight Radio previously reported.

Police were called to the protest and those involved, once identified, could face fines for breaking the restrictions.

Speaking about the protest, Cllr Stuart Hutchinson, the council’s cabinet member for the COVID-19 recovery, said he feels for any government, no matter what the political complexion, that has to deal with conspiracy theorists saying the virus is a myth.

He said:

“We live in a free society and there are always a few people that say the virus is a hoax, you shouldn’t be locking us down like this. We have seen this across Europe.

“You are trying to find the balance between keeping people safe and not allowing your health services to be overwhelmed yet still where you can allow folks to go about their business in a day-to-day fashion.

“There will always be people waving placards and banners around — we have got to get our entertainment from somewhere.”

The Island’s director for public health, Simon Bryant, said it is really important to maintain the ‘brilliant’ job the Isle of Wight has already done by following the guidance and maintaining social distancing, hand hygiene and mask wearing where required.

While in lockdown, until December 2, the latest restrictions mean you can meet only one other person outside your household in an outdoors public space.

By Local Democracy Reporter, Louise Hill

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