NEVER in my life would I have thought I would be writing about a pandemic that would strike fear in to my family, friends and neighbours.

When disaster strikes a country then it is natural to expect your government to act quickly to safeguard its citizens. Sadly for the UK, that failed to happen.

We have four governments across the UK. Every one of them knew in January what was coming. They knew how deadly this pandemic would be, weeks before it hit the UK. They knew, yet they did nothing.

There was no need to seek advice on this pandemic. Every answer they needed in relation to acting was across the English Channel for all to see.

Yet they all wasted weeks sitting on their hands – time that should have been spent ensuring we built up our supplies of PPE, testing kits and ventilators. But we did nothing; vital time lost in inactivity.

When this is all over and we finally return to normal, our governments will spin what they did. They will pat themselves on the back at how brilliant they were, and maybe they will eventually act like true people-centred governments.

I hope they succeed in the end, I am sure they will, but the weeks of delay may have come at a terrible cost, and for that they all should be ashamed.

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As always in amongst frightening times, though, our communities in Clydebank have once again stepped up to the plate.

The Centre 81 steering group and Golden Friendships are just two of the many groups who are pulling out all the stops for the community, ensuring our most vulnerable have food and medication and are kept safe.

I am incredibly proud of our local groups, as we all should be. I would also like to thank all the shop workers who are risking their health to ensure we have supplies. You are all amazing; thank you.

As a care worker, I have to say how emotional I find the hand clapping of a Thursday. A huge thank you to all who participate; it is very much appreciated.

As for government ministers joining in? Again, thank you. It’s just a pity some MPs could not react in the same way when setting nurse’s pay levels in parliament. To them I say: not so funny now, is it?

Apparently, health workers can buy a badge – not get, but buy – that says ‘care’ on it. I don’t need to buy a stupid badge. I know we care.

When this is over, we don’t want nor need a badge, nor praise. But please, governments, show us respect and ensure we have a living wage. That’s all the thanks we require.