Interview with Member of Parliament for Watford - Dean Russell

Joining Vibe107.6 live on Friday morning’s Breakfast Show was Member of Parliament for Watford, Dean Russell

Joining Vibe107.6 live on Friday morning’s Breakfast Show was Member of Parliament for Watford, Dean Russell.

Speaking to Vibe presenter Miles Blumsom, the MP explained the influence of the Prime Minister, the importance of setting targets, the opposition, statistics and Colonel Tom Moore.

On the return of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russell said:

“Boris Johnson is incredibly important. The personality that he has is a real positive driving force.

“He’s relentlessly positive and in dark, tough times it helps to have someone with that vision. It’s really uplifting for the public. He’s my boss effectively so its great to have the boss back and it’s wonderful to know that he’s back in high spirits and back on form.

“He was very ill just a week or two ago. He’s come bouncing back and it shows the strength of the man. He has a fighting spirit that is truly second to none.

“I know first-hand that those at the top of Government have been working tirelessly so that they can protect the British people. Scientists won’t have stopped looking into this.

“It helps that Boris is now back, he’s a figurehead for the country and the Prime Minister. It’s really important for him to spearhead this. Now he’s back, it really does help.”

As testing COVID-19 targets begin to be hit, the MP explained the mentality that revolves around aim and ambition. Russell said:

“I am a former physicist, so I know the importance of statistics and the importance of understanding the complexity of them as well.

“The challenge is that, ultimately, we want to get to a point where the ability to increase the rate of infection is reduced massively.

“The catch at the moment is that during lockdown, the rate is not as high because people aren’t getting close to others. The sacrifice is incredibly high and I appreciate the challenges and how tough it is.

“The reality is, as we come out of lockdown, we must follow the guidelines. Ultimately, it won’t be a case of overnight life will return as normal. We have to be realistic about how we do this in the right way.”

Russell continued by saying:

“It’s important that to galvanise teams, tough targets are set. It was important for Matt Hancock to set an incredibly tough target. He was right to set the target and I am hopeful that we do hit it.

“The reality is that this is a political thing as well. If the Health Secretary set targets too low, then he would have been told he wasn’t ambitious enough. If he set them too high, then he could also be criticised.

“The important thing, the real message, is that testing is now available to so many different people. The ability for people to access testing has gone really wide and far.

“We have the testing onsite at the Watford General Hospital and it’s a reassurance for people out there that those who need testing can access it. I like the fact that we have ambition and such respect for health. Shoot for the stars and get to the moon.”

Firmly of the belief that it’s healthy to have opposition, the Member of Parliament for Watford told Vibe107.6 listeners that:

“I absolutely believe that you have to have a strong opposition. It’s really important to be held to account. I wish Sir Keir Starmer well and success. Strong ideas and scrutiny from the opposition is really key.

“We don’t want to be showing Party, point-scoring politics. I will put people before politics. It’s about working at our best and them working at their best.”

Painting Colonel Tom Moore and donating his artwork to West Herts Hospital’s charity Raise, Russell explained:

“It was a real pleasure to paint Colonel Tom. I contacted Tom’s team and they recommended that I auction it locally.

“The auction raised well over £1,000 and as an MP, I wanted to do something using the skills I have outside my job, to show my appreciation for Tom and through Tom, all of the NHS and front-line key workers.

“They are doing an incredible job.”