Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has today called for the city’s COVID-19 key workers to be recognised for their service by being awarded the Freedom of the City of Plymouth.
In a letter to Lord Mayor, Councillor Terri Beer and City Council leader Nick Kelly, Mr Pollard stated that those who served in frontline roles during the pandemic, including NHS staff and retail workers, deserve to be bestowed with the city’s highest honour.
The Freedom of the City of Plymouth has previously been awarded to ship’s companies, military units and Royal Navy personnel. Now Mr Pollard believes that this distinguished honour should now be used to acknowledge and value the outstanding contribution made by Plymouth’s key workers since last March.
Luke Pollard MP said:
“Doctors, nurses, care home workers, teachers, delivery drivers, shopworkers and so many other key workers have given so much to our city over the past year, it’s time we give something back to them.
“That’s why I want to grant the Freedom of the City of Plymouth to our Covid key workers. This would be the perfect honour to give to every single key worker in Plymouth. I think this would be an amazing way to show our city’s thanks and recognition”
The Freedom of the City of Plymouth is a historic title which would traditionally afford the recipient a number of special privileges. However, Mr Pollard went on to say that this need not be the case if the honour were to be awarded to such a large number of people, but instead “…represent the city’s thanks and recognition.”