Cornwall’s MPs have written an open letter to everyone in the county thanking them for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cornwall’s motto ’Onen hag Oll’ (one and all) has never been more meanigful than now, say the six Conservative MPs, as they pay tribute to the health service, Councils, emergency services, farmers and fishermen, teachers, volunteers, businesses and constituents who have kept going during the crisis.

The letter reads:

Under the pressure of the greatest peacetime health emergency since it existed, our NHS in Cornwall has risen to the challenge – showing great adaptability, skill, courage and resourcefulness in dealing with COVID-19. We are all immensely grateful. And there is an army of support across Cornwall that has come together in partnership to work alongside and support the work of the NHS. From the carers continuing to look after the vulnerable in care homes and at home, schools who’ve stayed open, IT teams at Cornwall Council creating guidance and portal for cash grants, councillors responding to needs and every single volunteer helping a neighbour, fire officers delivering national food parcels, together with faith groups and community volunteers delivering food locally; and even companies like Healey’s producing sanitiser gel – all of these plus many more are playing their part. We want to recognise and cherish every example of love, sacrifice and community spirit, because if crisis determines character, it is that spirit seen in times of adversity, that makes Cornwall what it is, a great place to live work and grow up in.

Lastly, we recognise that this has been tough for every individual and family in different ways. There are physical and mental health consequences - and we must all be sensitive to these. Which makes the overwhelming determination of almost everyone to stick to extraordinary rules – to enable our NHS to be able to treat the sickest patients as we would all wish – worth highlighting and thanking you all for. You’ve heard our Queen say that ‘light and life are greater’. We know we will get through this. And how we do so matters – if we come through it well, this will be in large part because of our NHS’s dedicated service, and the unshakeable support from so many organisations and residents across every square inch of our Cornwall. Cornwall’s motto ‘One and All’ Onen ag Oll’ has never been so relevant as now. From the six of us and from the bottom of our hearts to you all - thank you. Yours sincerely,

Derek Thomas MP, George Eustice MP, Cherilyn Mackrory MP, Steve Double MP, Scott Mann MP, Sheryll Murray MP