From the editor: 'Our politicians need to check themselves for greater cause'

It is quite clear that none of the political parties – locally or nationally – have received the memo about working together to get our country and city out of an extraordinarily difficult time. At every level there is backstabbing and arguing with the only clear winner a virus that claims more lives daily. There have been crippling disparities between north and south for as long as I can remember but this pandemic isn’t just making that worse, it is being aided by national politicians. We all know that their actions would have been completely different if the second wave had been highest in London first, rather than in the north. It is also tragically true that when things eased in the capital they joyfully eased restrictions nationally, without any forethought about whether the figures were right for that to happen everywhere. So here we are with a virus that thrives in disadvantaged areas for many, many reasons and political decisions that help it.

I have written plenty about Sheffield needing more influential leaders to push this city forward and that has never been more true than now.

However, wouldn’t it be better for the heads of all three main parties to get around a table to work together, backing each other up until we get through this mess?

What harm could it possibly do? Looking at where we are now, it would be a massive improvement. A ‘war cabinet’ if you like which is visible, impressive and fighting for every single one of us.

Anybody who says they go into politics to improve the lives of those they represent should seriously check themselves if they don't instantly agree with such a simple suggestion. This isn’t a time to care only about their own careers or even to be fighting for votes. It is about saving lives and giving our city a foot up when it is desperately in need. I realise such an idea wouldn’t sit easily with many of our local representatives but there is also something they all know … no council leader can do their job effectively when they are invisible to their city. That can’t be allowed to continue.