Positive Money - Written Evidence (LBC0158)

Positive Money is a non-profit research and campaigning organisation working towards reforming the money and banking system to support a fair, democratic and sustainable economy. We are funded by trusts, foundations and small donations.

We have 25,000 supporters and a network of local groups around the UK, who are interested in reshaping our economy and the opportunity that the COVID crisis presents to do so.

In the table below, 2,039 supporters of Positive Money have individually answered the three key questions posed by your inquiry: Are there any positives you would take from this pandemic? What are the things that you are most worried about? What do you most hope changes for the better?

Please note, the Positive Money research and policy team has submitted a separate document responding in greater detail to the inquiry’s questions and providing evidence in support of these recommendations.

Question 1: Are there any positives you would take from this pandemic?

First name	Last name
Zack	Livingstone	For a time, there were no plane trails in the skies and no cars on the roads. I found perspective on what was more important in my life right now, and what had been a source of stress and distraction. Nature took a few free breaths.
Elizabeth	McMahon	There seems to have been more of a sense of community appearing. Also more people have been supporting local businesses and discovering their local area
Martin	Holden	I believe it made us think about how fresh the air outside was during full lockdown.
Gary	Gilden	I think folks have had to think more about whatâ€™s importing them stop wasting resources, use less and only buy what you need
Pete	Varty	Non, Its the biggest con in living history, All involved have to be arrested fo4r crimes against humanity. If you think this is harsh then do your research.
Janet	Carter	More time to be creative, observe, reflect
Ollie	Parham	We do not meet to commute, pollute, consume nearly as much as we thought. Most things that cannot be done, can be done.
Martin	Drummond	Chance to reassess priorities
richard	eccles	less travelling, more time for more important things, less focus on work and feeding the capitalist machine, making governments think more, more care for the environment, more creativity, more generosity and care for one another, even the Tories are giving out money....
Martin	Bazeley	More flexible working have become normal.
Stephen	Rowland	The realisation that the State has a central role to play and that, conversely, the privatisation of essential services (qv PPE provision) is inefficient.
Matti	Rogers	not really
Stephen	Elliott	There seems to be a greater sense of community with more people helping each other out.
Mark	Collins Cope	Austerity is not necessary at any time.
David	Farrelly.	That prior preparation and planning for all risks facing 5h3 country is a necessity. Those at the top in government can be euphemistic be described as inept and incompetent.
John	O'Donoghue	I use Zoom for play readings, crosswords and quizzes. I've had more contact with my friends and my daughter, even though it's all on screen.
Gary	Moore	Being isolated has been refreshing. Society is falling apart.
Andrew	Culley	Reduction in pollution and temporary minor alleviation of climate crisis.
Wilson	Logan	The realisation that the true "workers" in our society are hardly valued.
Nicola	Jordan	Proof that we need a green revolution
Gillian	Dransfield	None whatsoever
Jim	Hughes	Relationships are iimportant
Maureen	Smith	A chance to reset public life and the economy when it was totally out of control and heading for environmental and social disaster.
Daphne	Norden	To look at what is most important for us
Ian	Bower	Some people have proved that they have the ability to be stoic and care for others.
Andrew	Carey	It shows that people and governments can think outside the box of habit and convention and be innovative and resourceful.
Tony	Weekes	The clamour, at many levels, for a â€œnew normalâ€
Tom	Killick	Greater social solidarity, at least initially.
Amanda	Root	We saw a huge decline in traffic, fewer planes in the sky, many people enjoying nature more, cleaner air, lower CO2 emissions and many people reflecting deeply on their values and what really matters in this world.
Stephen	Orr	Reduce commuting need by increased work from home
Keith	Walton	I've learned that we don't need so many things or so much travel. Relationships with people are what matters
Simon	Ball	Well we've discovered how incompetent and crooked our politicians are...and how their algorithms (UniversalCredit, ALevelsResults etc) are skewed to protect the governmnent, not the claimant or student
Sara	Millard	neighbours have talked to each other lots of extra voluntary work
Ann	Driver	Maybe opened people's eyes to the elitism, capitalism and fascism that is polluting our society .
Hannah	Greep	It has reshaped the discussion around inequality and what is deemed 'essential work', putting those who work hard but still struggle to get by at the forefront of that discussion. Those people who are seen to be working 'on the front line' are often those paid the least, and also generally appreciated very little - but the pandemic has shown how much we rely on them, and therefore it has given momentum to movements, such as increasing the pay for nurses and care workers.
Michael	Chaloner	More people are expected to work from home. Aviation has contracted so cutting air polution.
Bernadette	Meaden	We've realised many more people can work from home, some things have become more accessible for disabled people. We've realised that many essential jobs are grossly underpaid. The environment has benefited from less traffic and airline flights.
D	B	The money is there for proper public investment Companies who have been able to send workers to work from home have been successful Hayek was wrong
Mike	Burke	Community spirit and local help came to the fore. Would like this to continue.
Louise	North	Lockdown helped nature/environment have a chance to heal.
John	Perry	The potential to change society for the better; a recognition of the 'common good'. The willingness of the population to support 'lockdown' - until members of the government, and advisers, decided that it did not apply to them.
ROMEL	HABASESCU	there is too much hypocrisy in this society
Robin	Stafford	It highlights: - the vital role of well funded and effective public services - the need for resilience in businesses and their supply chain - demonstrates how governments CAN 'create' money to fund what society needs
Jan	Green	It is a chance to change many things for the better
Sue	scargill	changes in my skills set
Si	Egan	The return of wildflowers, no unnecessary mowing, peace and quiet, crime reduction, housing the homeless, financial help for those that needed it, a stop on evictions, and working from home, much better for the environment.
Marit	SjÃ¸vaag	Having worked mostly from home for weeks it seems clear that I have wasted an awful lot of time commuting and not having to do that increases my well-being
Angela	Smith	A chance to green the economy. A chance to offer unemployed training for jobs in a doughnut economy
W Elizabeth	Coleman	Quietness, birdsong, people learning not to consume so much, less use of cars (at least initially).
Bart	Ricketts	Government funding is important for Economic stability..
Susan	Kelly	Community and family support
Geoff	Telfer	The strength of the NHS
Tobias	Kaye	Slowing down of our rush to natural destruction
Chris	Hall	Living a simpler life, not buying things that are wanted not needed, spending time reflecting on what is important.
Lilian	Ryan	Some people are thinking about others and pulling together to help! Many kindnesses from strangers!
Margaret	Graham	We are lucky to live in Scotland with a caring Scottish Government
Jon	Ashe	More people seem willing to consider different (and more equitable and sustainable) lifestyles than previously.
Safir	Ahmed	People willing to help others.
Hugh	McMichael	Working from home really does 'work' for many, improving quality of life and reducing environmental pollution. Facing threats of death has focused many minds in what REALLY matters in life. An index of happiness (the sum of many but identifiable factors) can and should be more important than GDP
Paul	Howard	Much more support for the NHS and not so many people just turning up at A & E, when they could go to the doctors or chemist instead!
Roderick	Thirkell-White	Greater community solidarity Possibility of radical change in future
Cyril	Wheat	The growth of awareness of how money functions in society. The deficit myth exposed. The recognition of the need for change.
James	McCumiskey	Not really. It is a disaster for the real economy, particularly SMEs and hospitality sector
Stephen	Bamber	We can reduce greenhouse emissions & still work. People still care for the planet. When will government join in??
Sonia	Hopkins	Nature seems to of flourished and I take more care how I spend my money and appreciate people more
James	Sherburn	That when necessary huge change can be implemented speedily. The peace and quiet and the clean air.
Hilary	Easton	it presents an opportunity for radical change - possibly
Fran	Adams	None.
Lilian	Ryan	Some people are thinking about others and pulling together to help! Many kindnesses from strangers!
Alec	Connah	Less people flying.
Roger	Allingham-Mills	From an employment point of view, there is the opportunity to reset efficiencies, but I doubt that it will be effective where most needed, in senior and middle management.
John	Mulvaney	The realisation that some work can be done from home. Nature is more noticeable with less noise pollution
Paul	Robison	Covid-19 has clearly shown those who are the most valuable in our society, and they are far from being the best paid, or even properly paid. On the other hand, many of those on the highest salaries have been shown to be useless parasites when the chips are down. Post-covid, we need to reflect on this reality and equalise our society as soon as possible.
Paul	Furey	yes- the period to reflect on the type of world we want to see in the future and what we should deem to be important has been great.
Marcel	de Klerk	Yes, many positives. People go out and walk and cycle more. People now realise who go the keyworkers are. We appreciate more what we have, we've come to realise what's important. The world has come together more (apart from Britain)
Margaret	Morris	Decreased cars traffic and more cycling walking. Greater contact and friendliness between neighbours. No flying. Increased use of local green space
Niall	McGuiness	No , I feel itâ€™s been over hyped with a disturbing trend to purely vaccinate the whole of the world
Mark	Burton	Life with lower overall levels of consumption. Re-valuation of the things that make for a good life: family, clean air, time in green spaces, walking, gardening, doing craft work.
Alison	Stopher	The chance to pause and reflect, and for everyone including government to look at doing things differently
Carole	Griffiths	No
Duncan	Reed	Some people began to realise how much the Conservative Government care about big business.
Janet	Bakelmun	The environment improved with less traffic pollution, water at Hollow Ponds looked cleaner, I could hear birdsong and nature thrived. Also it was good to slow down and re-evaluate what is important. I read more books, did loads of gardening and walking and got to know my neighbours through the weekly clap for the NHS
Kate	Griffin	Many cities are redesigning their public space to be more friendly to walking, cycling and using wheelchairs (rather than just prioritising cars all the time) We all appreciate the NHS more than ever Businesses and learning institutions have rapidly got to grips with working and learning online Theatres have been putting plays online, making them accessible to more people - I've seen more plays during lockdown than ever before.
Anna	Jones	Time to reflect and be of help to vulnerable friends.
Professor John E	Merritt	Massives of goodwill and intelligent local initiatives - more of these from the public than from government! We need to build on this by inventing a new political system. Let's call it "Democracy"!
Steve	Strong	An increased awareness that we can change priorities and not allow inequality prevail
Sarah	Early	Communities coming closer together More people realising how much we need the NHS! And for the Govt to stop privatising it.
Judith	Forrow	Local communities support
Mary	Southcott	It has shown up how this has shown to affect people differences: differential wages or unemployment, related differential body sizes, differential algorithms, differential dependencies, differential worth, differential geography (centralisation versus local), differential voting systems, differential ethnicity, differential ages, so intergeneration, transparency, values, devolution, proportional and first past the post, availability of good food, in essence how society could be different.
dennis	harvey	the reduction in carbon emissions due to no aircraft, reduced trains, busses, taxis, private cars
Sheila	Fisher	It has made us re-evaluate which are the important jobs. It has improved air quality by grounding planes and closing some polluting factories. Some are reminded that money is a means to the good life and not an end in itself.
Susan	Bartley	It has highlighted the importance of local community. Not only in support for those most in need but in support for local knowledge, businesses- the undervalued recognition of care in the community. We need to find more local answers and solutions.
Roger	Gimson	It let everyone see that a world of much reduced travel (including commuting) leading to less CO2 and air pollution is possible, while doing much more to care for each other. People have realised that major changes are possible, and can be done quickly if it is important enough. It does not mean the end of the world!
Hazel	Henderson	Accelerates the global transition to cleaner, greener, knowledge-rich economies , leading with electrifying all transportation to clean up the urban air pollution which contributes to 9 million excess death annually worldwide.
ANGELA	DALGLIESH	There should be a protocol to deal with any pandemic or national emergency set in place to be operated immediately. There has been to.many people interfering and they made a big fool because of indescision
Adnan	Chowdhury	I think this pandemic will make people use or depend more on technology. This is good for e-commerce and talented people who knows how to use technology will build new products and services.
Ann	Masters	Yes how ppl have been bought together at last we know our neighbours through apps like next door. We are all busy with work and dont no who lives in our area
Sarah	Gooding	Becoming more confident cycling on quieter roads; consuming & travelling less; having family time we would not otherwise have had with our 3 teenage sons
jacqui	Butterworth	Research what gov and scientists are stating. Especially about doing more research into Viral/bacterial disease especially Covid and Lyme disease
Tay	S	Yes I feel that it has broken consumerism a bit and made people focus on more important things...
William	Low	Have spent less money. Not that I bought many non-essentials, but we now we only buy essentials and shop with more care.
John	White	Those within the community who still have love and compassion for their neighbours.
Mandy	Thompson	No
Carol Lesley	Simmons	There is hope we can be nicer/kinder to each other Hopefully more people's see how corrupt everything is and wants to change it
William	Nicholls	Toughen up the under 40 year olds a bit
Bruce	Obermaier	The public are more friendly and helpful towards one another
Michael	Munn	Solidarity but thatâ€™s all for me in answer to this question
J C	Swindells	People now have an understanding that working from home is a viable option providing they have decent internet sevice.
Griff	Roberts	Quieter roads & less noise generally. Having more time and sleeping more.
Fiona	Murison	Initially there was more nature
Paul	Martin	No
John	Tippins	Yes, the increased sense of community and the recognition that the people of most value to society are not the bankers, the hedge fund managers or the currency traders (who are paid far too much) but those people, often in the public sector, who do the necessary and most socially valuable tasks (and are paid far too little).
Therese	Holmes	The realisation that it is possible to live differently - that we can, in fact, do without things; slow down, be quieter, travel less. In other words, we can without much pain reduce our impact, environmentally and socially.
Paul	Hammond	It has shone a light on the inequalities in our society giving us the opportunity now to resolve these issues.
Roland	Pascoe	yes there are several.
Alec	Duthie	The peace, quiet and clear skies at the start of the lockdown were so beautiful that it made me want to keep them.
George	Moss	The only one in my opinion is people looking to help each other which has sadly been missing for many many years.
Alberto	Brealey-Guzman	I think it is now clear that governments can take swift action when faced with an emergency. They won't be able to say that they don't have access to a "magic money tree" anymore. It is a question of political will, and hopefully, we will all realise this and stop believing their austerity lies.
Russell	Hewitt	That we can all make a cleaner planet
John	Doran	Our govt, politicians & medical establishment have revealed themselves to be blathering incompetents recommending ALL the wrong policies: lockdowns, masks etc & especially vaccines. Look up Ron Paul's Liberty Report.
Susan	Andrews	How much we care for NHS, care workers and keyworkers. Now we need to pay them properly
Corinne	Brewer	That fundamental change in the way we live is possible - eg reducing pollution from air and road traffic. Inconvenient, unpopulat but it would save lives.
Penny	Johnson	1) The community feeling and all-in-it-together (until Cummings broke trust) 2) Quiet roads, making it feel much safer and more pleasant for cycling. 3) Quiet roads - this time for being more aware of wildlife, less pollution, etc.
JoÃ£o	Granchinho	Society gets to see what jobs are really essential for humans to operate together, and what is superfluous.
Fred	Macranoni	Yes; it has exposed certain individuals who will exploit anything in order to advance their own agendas.
Linda	Topping	That we now know how important our key workers are; that we have connected and helped each other out, better air quality during lockdown
Rachelle	Corker	Slower pace of life is enjoyable and beneficial for humans. We don't need to spend money to be happy, and getting outside and enjoying England is a joy. Societal change is possible very very quickly and we can change when we need to extremely easily...we just need Governments to step-up and implement laws that benefit everyone, not the 1%. We've come to realise what matters is looking after one another and investing in our public services and respecting our key workers.
Nicky	Ferguson	Improved community spriti and support. A glimpse of how the country could be without the plague of private motorists and reliance on road transport. The fact that we can make sudden and dramatic changes and find money to to make massive changes. So if we can do it for COVID why not to improve the lives of the thousands in poverty? why not for the improved infrastructure it is now so obvious that we need? why not to restructure society so that the country is a world leader in moving towards carbon-neutrality, creating climate-friendly industries and technologies? Why Not??
Rose	East	The need for a basic Universal income
Brian	Major	Government action should be faster, more strict, and clearer when we have asi.ilar position.
Christine	Clifford	That commuting to City centres to work isn't necessary for productivity
Sean	Fairbrother	Not having to commute 1 hour to work reduces my carbon footprint and gives me a better work/life balance.
Paul	Eastwood	There has been a tremendous sense of community
Tony	Kime	Yes. It has become obvious that it's time to stop all kinds of air travel. It is entirely unnecessary and hopelessly polluting. It has also become blindingly obvious that rich folk are still fleecing the poor by using the dirtiest of money manipulation - hedge funds.
Ray	Powell	It's worth noticing that lockdown dramatically reduced noise and air pollution, showing that we can live differently than we have been. I would say that noting the fragility of our current economic system could provide impetus for creating a fairer, more transparent and functional way of trading, particularly with more transparency and accountability from government and less pressure and forced control on the public. All in all, the possibility has been brought forward for positive change in many areas, including who and what we value in our society and how that value is rewarded (case in point: the NHS and it's staff, who are hugely valuable but don't seem to get rewarded).
Rev Peter	King	Restoring investment in green energy.
William	Newall	Local people have worked together well - Localism is better than centralisation. It has been shown that the "magic money tree" does actually exist, so it is now clear that the government can create as much money as is required and necessary for the best operation of the economy.
Mark	Woodhead	increased appreciation of the NHS
Ian	Richardson	The power of local communities Able to get things done at community level Central government is good at some things (Central Command and Control (CCC) has a destructive side) - one side does not fit all in a VUCA world Our democracy is broken - we new that - time to change
Nicola	Gouldstone	The pandemic proves that we can eradicate homelessness - it is a political choice. It also proves that capitalism cannot provide for the many in a crisis, only socialist policies can help everyone in society to survive.
Philippa	Elmhirst	People looking out for each other and the dedication of the health workers.
Eric	Marshall	It has shown who is actually important in our society. NOT the bankers for sure.
Michael	Bankare	Lost a lot of weight because I can't afford food.
Shirley	Wardell	People are really willing to help each other if they have the time. We have seen many more people donate to the food bank and help each other with gardening and shopping.
Tim	O'Connell	Yes ,The Tory party is not a goverment to take control of a crisis like this pandemic
Phil	Kerr	Yes, less emissions for the environment, more community, and Government showing us they are not fit to run the country.
Michael	Landon	Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and pollution generally. More hygiene awareness. Greater appreciation of the National Health Service and other key workers. Cycling safer.
Graeme	Harrison	Office space will become defunct as employers now know they can work from home
Alan	Wall	Very little, the population seem to want to learn the hard way. 'Rights' take precedence over common sense and the common good.
Susan	Cruttenden	Nice to see people pulling together during lockdown
Mark	Thomas	Yes, several. We have seen how vital to our lives many jobs that have been considered 'low value' really are. See: https://99-percent.org/who-are-the-high-value-people/ We have seen -- eg through Independent SAGE -- the quality of British scientists and their willingness to give of their time and energy for the benefit of society. We have been reminded that, when it really matters, governments can create the money they need. See https://99-percent.org/inflation-hysteria/
Adam	Pitharas	Very few to date. The Tory government has shown us it is either unprepared or unwilling to do protect it's people. There were so many missed opportunities to reduce the number of deaths
Linda	James	Iâ€™m hoping that people have realised that â€œshop till you dropâ€ is not the way to live.
Sue	Carter	When we were in lockdown, the reduction in traffic, noise and air pollution. The possibilities for people to work from home so we all have more time to spend with family and friends. The exposure of what is important such as key workers and the inequalities within our society. The potential to look for new solutions to bring about a more sustainable future for everyone.
Peter	Evans	The lengths the dedicated members of the NHS system will go to in order to provide the best health care available in the world today, despite their obvious undermanning, and underfunding.
Roseanne	Gough	Yes that if humans do modify their behaviour, we can achieve a better planet! Clean air & water, thriving nature & wildlife..
rosangela	magee	More working from home where possible, freeing up areas of the city to pedestrian / bike / scooter access only, maintain Bus routes and frequency and where possible the underground unchanged (but less congested) make streets in Zones 1/2 more people friendly with attractive living spaces above or instead of some shops. More pavement dining.
Laraine	Berry	Less people tracelling therefore less pollution. No rough sleepers they now need to be accommodated permanently if possible
Diana	Jones	Clean air and neighbourliness
Edward	Lander	People's respect for nature. The community spirit, especially around supporting the NHS. The relaxation of employment rules, meaning more people can now work flexibly and, in particular the large transition to working from home, which is (generally) better for people's mental health and cuts down on huge amounts of energy used for (physical) commuting.
Pam	Stevenson	Being able to spend time reconnecting with myself and living life in an unhurried way instead of always rushing around from home to work to the shops etc, and not actually having time to enjoy life
Sarah	Vaughan	Fewer cars on the road (initially at least) = so better air quality, less noise, easier to walk and cycle Many meetings I otherwise would not be able to attend as too far away moved online - greater participation in groups I am a member of, greater contact with friends I only met occasionally (although not as good as face to face, Zoom or equivalent does at least make contact more frequent!) Has exposed the many inequalities and shown the welfare system - universal credit in particular - to be woefully inadequate Hope given to the possibility of improving society and addressing Climate Change with New Green Deal (NGD) and #BuildBackBetter (BBB)
Helene	Ryding	The value of a properly NHS, free at the point of service
Cecil	Armstrong	Working at home is possible for many people. Could reduce congestion, traffic, commuting and enable better family life.
Mary	Morris	Quieter streets and skies, more room for nature to thrive, a fall in the global carbon footprint. People have been willing to help each other out.
Julie	Preston	Yes. People are all that matter and seeing people creatively coming together is wonderful.
Sten	Grahn	That work from home van be highly productive and resource efficient
Julie	Shackson	The environment has responded positively to less travel with wildlife returning and reproduction rates increasing. Air is cleaner. Councils and home workers have saved a fortune on petrol costs.
John	Wood	Yes - it showed that an all-too-brief pause on 'business-as-usual' gave the lucky ones a chance to take stock. A recent survey showed that only 6% want to return to 'Business as Usual'. To reduce indefinite economic and existential misery we must re-build societies based on cultivating local diversities-of-diversities, so that we can feed and shelter the global population without fossil fuels and to minimise global energy-miles.
Warwick	Downes	A massive reduction in pollution, atmospheric and sonic.Traffic levels low. People taking time to get to know each other in the village, along with offers of support. A Government making a complete fool of itself, hopefully leading to the Tories being out of power for a generation.
David	Hardy	No none what so ever
Paul	Reddy	That people really seem ready for real change to our massively corrupt broken system of so called democracy, 'emphasis on mocracy'.
Judy	Coleridge	I can make do very well, with less.
Mary	Snow	The willingness of everyone to accept lockdown and then to support each other. The peace and quiet with less traffic pollution (including no need for the ambulances to use their sirens since traffic did not obstruct them) A chance to enjoy sitting and watching all the insects and animals among the flowers and trees
stanle	reyhnolds	yes we need to be better prepared
Christine	Oliver	Appreciation for the NHS, and key workers, sent of togetherness and being all in it together
Pauline	Esson	How we saw the air clear and the quiet with lower traffic levels
Jason	Fowler	Wildlife seems to have thrived as people stayed indoors and drove less, people seemed to have treated each other a little better during the pandemic and ethical funds seemed to have done quite well (probably because they don't invest in fossil fuels).
Pauline	Roby	I enjoy having less to do. But I do like having a routine to help motivate me, including work, walking, meeting friends etc. I am lucky to have a home, garden, friends nearby and lovely places near me to walk. I like having space to myself, uninterrupted, sometimes.
Peter	Challen	That there be a profound reappraisal of the nature of cosmic laws, such as Quantum Physics is now defining ever more eloquently as co-operative and all life enhancing, in order to compare that with the man devised system founded in competition. We must rethink money as a measure of value to the Common Good, not a commodity for rentier capitalism.
Fred	Macey	Iâ€™m positive this government are a pack of lying, self serving, bureaucrats.
Colin	Butler MBE	Our NHS and other emergency services have performed magnificently despite being understaffed, under-resourced and and undervalued for the last ten years.
Chris	Miller	Clean air. Remote working. Fewer commutes. A general sense that the pandemic marked not only a crisis but an opportunity, which was particularly associated with the 'advantages' of lockdown and their coincidence with the goal of reducing emissions and reacting to the threat of global warming.
Mark	Batten-Carew	Increased awareness of, and consideration for, a guaranteed basic income. The pandemic has brought into sharp relief all the ways society is broken.
Jackie	Taylor	That people have had an experience of living life differently. For many people this has been a positive experience, to work from home, to work reduced hours, to spend more time with their children, to spend more time outdoors, to walk and cycle more. For some people the xerience has not been so good, but the positive aspect of that is that it's been made very clear that the 'austerity years' has critically wounded many of our essential support services for vulnerable people in society.
Trevor	Hines	Yes. Flexible working is now more mainstream. People are leaving overcrowded cities to live & work from the countryside. You can now work from anywhere. You do not havebto waste time or use your car so much commuting.
Rod	Dowler	People and organisations have discovered new positive aspects of digital technologies and have made lifestyle changes that can bring better quality of life (by working more at home) and better treatment of the environment by reducing emissions from physical transport.
Hazel	Abel	People have been given an opportunity to stand back from the rat race and to reassess their lives and to think about changes they may want to make. Society has also been made aware of how it is the essential workers who we should be valuing and paying not people who sit back and make money out of money.
Philip	McCann	Working from.home to help combat climate change. Acknowledgement that low paid workers are essential. Hopeful increase in wages.
Iain	Moore	Demonstration of how quickly air quality can improve when carbon intensive industry and aviation are significantly curtailed; better relations with neighbours; appreciation of local area and our garden.
Gwyneth	Saxton	Absolutely. We have learnt that some people in a pandemic act selflesly: helping elderly neighbours, being considerate to others, obeying travel restrictions and social distancing and other people acted as greedy, selfish morons, disobeying the rules set in place for everyone's safety. It is valuable to know this.
Steve	Brown	Yes, more time at home, far less pollution.
Colin	Blundell	It offers a breathing space in the turmoil of war & capitalism. It ought to make people think about what they really need and what life is all about, to ask questions like WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?. Change ought to happen - revolution even. The old systems are being shown up for what they are - shams and swindles organised for the sake of the rich & powerful.
Paul	Fletcher	This government have proven themselves to be enemies of the electorate.
Philip	Morton	Less commuting
Edward	Birch	Reduced pollution and the clear evidence of the rapid ability of nature to readdress the balance. The need of implementing a national income system.
Daniel	Rainsbury	The corporate media is being shown as not balanced or impartial. Politicians going on holiday after not preparing for a pandemic muddling through the first wave ramping up fear for the second is telling. "Experts" have been more discredited and blaming a bat for all the nations problems shows thi government can't be trusted to have a paper round.
Nigel	Harper	Yes, the rat race has been shown not to work. A general countrywide feeling of cameradrie spread through the Country in support of all workers who kept the country moving. Obviously the NHS and Nursing Homes were at risk. The Government were shown up to be in the majority useless. Government by the Press was the order of the day. False news from BBC was plentiful. Totally untrusted. Working from home has to be more prevalent. Urban and City decentralisation must happen.
Valerie	Langfield	Yes! We don't need all those aeroplanes in the sky. We have managed very well without.
Elena	Lee-Stark	Anybody who can work from home should do so. Uni should also be taught from home. Most of ,at least sixform college should also be taught online. More peace and quiet during the lock down when some neighbours couldn' t go out and harass us. Much better air when less cars was around.
Andrew	Bonser	No
John	Theman	Yes Sweden got it right! The lockdown was and is a crime against humanity. Mask wearing is a detriment to the immune system.
R	B	No
Claire	Morris	Less traffic originally and since everyoneâ€™s release safer local road schemes and proposed town pedestrianisation schemes.
Bonny	Horvath	Yes, we have all experienced more time in quietness instead of rushing around - maybe leaning the value of rest and silence as the basis of all useful activity. Time to appreciate nature, to be with our families and take stock of our lives. This experience has strengthened communities, how we value those closest to us, both emotionally and physically - our neighbours, local farmers and shopkeepers who provide for us. The value of LOCAL rather than GLOBAL.
Diana	Collingwood	No.
Sara	Salyers	We can house the homeless. We can support local business. We could bail out the people and not the profit margins of big businesses. We do need to stop cronyism - the pandemic proved how disastrous it really is. People do, largely, pull together and look out for each other and should be involved in decisions affecting everyone.
Alf	Littler	The concerted world-wide effort to understand the virus and develop a vaccine
Rien	van den Hondel	Chance to change many things for the better such as the financial system, fairer distribution of wealth, green economy
Simon	Grant	People are ready to help each other when there is a real need. And we have seen some of the fault lines in society more clearly. The government IS able to offer financial help to those in need.
Douglas	Lawrence	Yes, forcing management to allow people to work from home will hopefully teach those managers that people are as productive at home as they are in the office, maybe more so. It saves traffic congestion, pollution, traveling expenses, reduces the stress of commuting and improves quality of life.
Una	Ruddock	Greater focus on quality of life not quantity! Greater awareness of our dependence on the natural world. Greater care for people.
jo	mcnamara	Importance of connection to family,friends and community. Simple pleasures - low tech, low energy consumption, being creative are satisfying. They found the magic money tree!
Marc	Martinot	many.
Elizabeth	Gough	The fact that communities did come together for the good of all.
Anne	Eager	Yes. We now know we have far too many restaurants, coffee shops etc. If our economy is in trouble because these businesses are closed and not paying taxes, we have a useless economy. We need manufacturing, especially medicines, PPE and medical machinery, e.g. scanners etc. We need much more manufacturing and much less importing of things we can produce ourselves. We used to make and export lots of necessary things all over the world. Now we can't even manufacture goods for ourselves.
f	rawcliffe	The chance to show how clean the air can be as during lockdown ; that and reduced consumption production which should be the way forward. Flight and holiday restrictions.. all good. Why should the richer be able to pollute more? People realizing the value of teachers and hopefully not opting to have so many children which they then assume that society will educate/ health costs etc.. If you have 2 plus children in a one /2 bedroom flat you are making yourself overcrowded. Take some responsibility. Increased emphasis on health issues, diet, weight, general hygiene etc..
Maurice	Cronin	The hard working NHS doctors, nurses carers and support staff have shown me that despite putting their lives on the line they worked non stop to keep the virus at bay.
Tim	Vialls	Better for environment when less traffic on road.
David	Puttick	Yes understanding who really creates value for society. E.g. the delivery driver, shop workers, food producers, health care workers. And the ones who donâ€™t rentiers, financial services, industries that pollute and externalise their costs, big corporates that use tax avoidance to unfairly compete. I could go on.
Josh	Appignanesi	demonstrates possibility of radical change around environment climate and economics
Stuart	Conheady	Increase in working from home is good for both the environment and the individual. The post covid dire state of the economy should increase change for the good faster ie we have to get rid of the economy only working for the very rich.
Geof	Hughes	Closer communities,
Emm	Brown	Probably I can work from home more, and not do my 5 hour daily commute as often.
Rick	Jewell	The effectiveness of the payments to workers and companies to ensure employment continued. Universal Basic Income would be a similar long term solution to address mass unemployment. This would ensure some businesses would continue especially in agriculture and food services. Health Services need to be funded properly as demonstrated by the unpreparedness of PPE etc and sufficient beds. These cannot be fully provided by privatised commercial services.
John	Wilks	The state has the ability to intervene massively when it needs to. There is a magic money tree. There is a very strong community aid network (foodbanks etc) - people generally care and want to look after each other. The NHS is massively popular. Increased provision for cyclists and pedestrians. Greater numbers of cyclists.
Cherry	Samuels	Working from home and less rush on the roads
George	Cartwright	There's been a larger range of businesses such as pubs and restraunts offering delivery on a lot of their goods. Also, local breweries offering a home delivery service have been great.
Jenny	Skelton	For the first time people with so called low skilled jobs have finally been valued by a wider section of society. The true picture of inequality in Britain has been seen for what it really is. Enormous numbers of families going without stable homes without suffient food, warmth or being able to live any kind of meaningful life because of government choices imposed upon them. The gig economy ruining people's lives the upsurge of low paid casual zero hour contact jobs
Barbara	Atherton	Have not spent so much on unnecessaries like taxis everywhere but mostly the environment is cleaner, the air clearer and fewer cars/aeroplanes.
Rosanna	Rabaeijs	Cycling improvements and increases, my discovery of a local community.
Nic	Lee	Community spirit. A significant reduction in air pollution and a small reduction in carbon emissions
Susan	Bagheri	No
Peter	Leonard	There are no positives!
Peter	Lang	When there were fewer motor vehicles on the roads, cycling was much safer and the air was cleaner and within legal limits. Fewer goods being built meant less pollution and waste. People in my locality were both friendlier and more helpful - more community feeling. Many people rightfully questioned the treadmill they were on.
Katy	Willett	Clean air, quiet environment, wildlife proliferating, time to reflect
Brian	Grimshaw	The way the NHS ad pulled together and shown it's well worth the money and more we spend on it. The deserve a pay rise.
Denise	Darroch	There has been time for many of us to reassess spending and income needs. Also, hopefully, to become more aware of inequalities. I have become acutely aware of the extent of food poverty and the extent of housing inadequacy. Many of us are not getting basic needs met whilst others clearly have far more wealth than anyone could ever justify.
Tony	Cooke	No
ANDY	MEIKLE	NO
Matthew	Richards	More quality time with the kids at home.
Amy	Orr	Connecting with nature more and spending less money on many things including travel, going abroad or on holiday. Being more eco conscious. Being more aware of my local community and itâ€™s needs and supporting small businesses to keep thriving. Joining more local community groups and petitioning more for greener choices in local council etc.
Fabienne	Chausson	We are happier, spend more quality time with family without having to commute
Elizabeth	Anderson	Spent time studying climate change and deciding how to make my lifestyle greener.
Janet	Courtenay	The best thing about Covid is that it has brought communities together. The support and help has been there. People are more concerned about each other and more aware of the needs of others.
Patricia	Roud	I really appreciate my environment more now, and local community.
Bruce	Nixon	Enjoyment of a quiter world in which we can enjoy nature and its sounds and smalls. Being more connected with neighbours. Working from home. Attending ewebinars Travellig less Walking more. Time for more gardening and diy jobs Enjoying the company of my wife iiiiiiierco
Adam	Byfield	Drop in emissions
Padraic	Boocock	The issue of relief money by the BoE on the authority of the Chancellor without recourse to borrowing, which provides a precedent that illustrates the fact that there is no real necessity for money to be created by banks and "borrowed" by the BoE to fund central government spending, which paves the way for a more intelligent and modern approach to the management of state spending. The resilience of the public and the care and health services in the face of the deliberate exacerbation of the effects of the pandemic by the Cummings/Johnson government core to help them to pursue their political and ideological agenda.
Shirley	Simms	There is still co-operation and kindness within communities.
David	Gilmour	The Tories have at last conceded that there is in fact a money tree when it suits the City of London.
Paul	Hoyle	The chance to bring communities closer together. Create community hubs with appropriate services for community served. Raise awareness of poverty and money management. New perspective on work - eg; working from home, micro- jobs, acceptance of leisure time as a positive pursuit. Free WiFi all... Appel
Sheena	Vigors	Most people are kind, and are willing to help those who need it. The lockdown produced a cleaner environment.
Sylvia	May	Working from home has been a very positive experience - the learning curve has been steep, but I am all the more rounded for it.
Lyn	Antill	We can do things differently if we put our minds too it. Most of us in the west could live happily on less.
Manuela	Soares	NO.
Neil	Carter	Only that most of the public are more cautious about Covid 19 than the Government appears to be.
Gabriel	Parlour	I hope it has made "ordinary" people value the things that matter more - like how iportant the so-called "small" people are: support workers, dustbin men, shopkeepers and the every day people they may not have noticed or respected who have shone out through this. My fear is that, despite the verbiage, the current government do NOT value them. They pay lipservice in their rhetoric then cut whatever they can from under their feet. Personally I have enjoyed (to some extent) a slower pace of life. However, now I am missing the groups I belonged to and being able to see loved ones on a regular and spontaneous basis. Sorry, but this pandemic has, for me, shone a light on how much I loath most Tories in this governement and the shocking effects they have wreaked over the past decade and changed this country to one that is money grabbing with no morals. I have looked to the Lords to act as a balance to the worst excesses of this Tory government and I hope they will do that in a big way now. What I seem to see are a cohort of people around the PM who are either sycophants or waiting their chance to "get" him. How can we, so called "ordinary" (and, frankly, I know no-one who is ordinary) keep hope alive when acceptancing lies and deceit and ignoring important questions seems to have become the norm. Dominic Cummings needs to be brought to book as a symbolic event - public attitudes changed with the PM's shielding of the man. I could go on.
Lyn	Antill	We can do things differently if we put our minds too it. Most of us in the west could live happily on less.
Lucy	Green	The solidarity that has emerged from neighbours/ friends, community.
John	Todd	It was handy to cover up the Government incompetence on Brexit
Jim	Boucherat	An unlikely chance for nature to regenerate and flourish due to the dramatic termination of air travel, industrial pollution and temporary curtailment of auto based emissiions. Due to the extreme and generationally anomalistic conditions of a national lockdown, a necessary refocus on a simpler life, where the primary focus is no longer on rampant consumer fetishism but rather, the primacy of social and community bonds, a moment to reflect and reconsider our priorities in life.
Susan	McHale	Appreciated the slower pace of life, hearing birds and wildlife in spring thriving without as many cars.
Richard	Moore	Truth is needed from ALL those in power - there has been too much PROVEN lying and misinformation by those in power AND in the media. Trust is at an all time low.
Rory	Short	Community pulling together.
ian	thomson	An increased level of trust between employer and employee as to the responsibility and effectiveness of working from home and how productive it can be if simple resources are provided to do so. This will enable a re-think of those businesses with large head offices an a hybrid solution in future where a proportion of staff work from home or most staff work part office-part home every week. It allows greater personal flexibility but doesn't threaten job performance.
Nick	Hudson	That it was shown that we have a choice in the direction our society goes in. The "normal" is not fixed. Other values are there for us to choose.
Doug	Golding	Less air pollution and noise. Roads much safer for cycling and walking More community spirit More natural habitat regeneration
Tony	Wilson	We can be a hopefully and intentionally co-operative society
Wayne	Arbon	No
Robert	Shaw	Working less hours, spend more time in nature, living minimalist, buying less, buying less plastic, stopping treating shopping as a hobby, caring and helping neighbors.
Philippa	Reid Dalglish	People caring for each other, and that being more highly valued when it is a profession. Reduction in fossil fuel usage: transport etc Reduction in levels of frenzied activity Many well off people realising they need less than they thought and simplifyiig our lives accordingly Sense of calm and space and nature getting some priority
David	Calvert	We need a better government
Geoff	Foster	Yes - its shown us how useless the Conservatives are ( unless you're a corporate boss) and it gives us chance to reboot the economy and the environment
Richard	Smith	We all know how to wash or hands now and a majority of people will realise that the benefits system was highly inadequate.
Jef	Smith	Yes, the widening recognition that this is rare opportunity for a fundamental economic system reset. Previously fringe ideas such as GND, MMT, UBI, SWF's (with associated rebalancing of income/asset taxation ratio and wealth distribution) can go from being plausible, to possible then desirable and actual.
Sue	Romanik
James	Ross	None
Pam	Wortley	The marvellous NHS workers and public service staff who kept going under very difficult circumstances
Mary	Boucher	For a brief time the level of air pollutants, worldwide, was reduced very slightly. It benefitted individuals, and perhaps more importantly, demonstrated that with a huge commitment, the climate changes we are experience now, and which are predicted for the future, could be halted. We should not waste this glimpse we have seen. Climate catastrophe does not have to be inevitable.
Joan	Keane	No
John	Meek	Local mutual help groups
Simon	Mollison	Not really. It might have been a time for correcting some of our false and damaging directions but that isn't going to happen. I am also appalled at how useless the government has been and yet they get away with it.
John	Smout	Improved air quality and huge reduction in urban traffic. Many people having the opportunity to walk and cycle for local transport.
Jacky	smith	For myself, yes. I've rather enjoyed the excuse to be solitary. And the on-line-farmers-market I volunteer with made a lot of new friends - rather too many, in fact. It had to close to new customers and limit order size for a few weeks, and quite a lot of those new customers have stayed with us. For the planet? Well, less flights has to be a good thing. And less trust of government. And maybe enough people have realised that they didn't need to buy so much "stuff" after all to make a permanent change to our economy.
Mark	Bevis	Yes, more people have realised that neo-liberal economics is a complete failure for all but the 1% of the nation. There was a glimpse, completely shutdown by the mainstream media and Starmer, that there is an alternative to the obsession with unlimited growth on a finite planet. For a few weeks there, the air was cleaner, the birds were more audible, the roads were quieter, and life was a bit less rushed. For a dew days there, the idea of a UBI had an amount of traction. For a couple of months there, we realised that the employees critical to the running of the country are some of the poorest, most marginalised and despised in the country. For a few weeks there, GDP was suddenly not so important after all.
John	Light	Given the need people will help each other.
Roger	Bayston	Working from home wherever/whenever possible: better working environment, no time wasted in travelling, better for physical and mental well-being. National/international conferences can almost always now be conducted on line, cutting time spent travelling, cost of travel, and as with home working, much much better for the environment.
Malcolm	Henry	A lot of economic activity that is generally disregarded by the public and policy-makers has been shown to be absolutely essential (e.g. care; cleaning; shelf-stacking; driving; etc.). The inadequacy of our current methods of distributing essential spending money throughout the economy is becoming apparent to more people.
Les	Wilkins	Locally many people have gone out of their way to help others, which I am sure is the case in much of the country.
Emma	Spurgin Hussey	I think there have been points during this time when people were kinder and more sensitive to one another, and more appreciative of, for example, the NHS. (This feeling has not been shared by everyone, and seems to have evaporated a bit lately.) I think it's given some of us the chance to re-assess our priorities, and I like it that the natural world had a bit of a break from the constant battering it gets from us and our egocentricity!
Jo	Otero	The air pollution levels were down, people became good Samaritans.
Simeon	Hope	This is an opportunity for us to make national changes that previous seemed unfeasible, such as a Universal Basic Income and democratic control over the police and prison system.
katherine	simmonds	It is possible for things to be done extremely fast (eg building hospitals) which everyone would have thought impossible. So maybe this can be applied to the changes we need to make urgently to lessen the effects of climate change.
Jane	Bateman	The community spirit that initially prevailed when the pandemic started - sadly beginning to lapse now. Good to see the Government listening to scientists and putting money into things when in the past they said there was no 'money tree'.
Penny	Remfry	More appreciation of community, people looking out for each other. The most important people keeping our society functioning are in the main the lowest paid and most marginalised workers - BAME and women - and we should be valuing them all more. So many very highly paid people, when the chips are down, are worth nothing and shouldn't be paid so much. The knowledge that the government can actually do anything it wants including closing down the economy - it just takes political will.
Clive	Semmens	A timely reminder that humankind is not invincible.
Rob	Hails	The way some people have helped each other within communities.
Mark	Kaenzig	No.
Ildus	Rafikov	Sure. The pandemic made many people to adopt a more philosophical outlook towards life in general. It also clearly showed how businesses and education could be run/done from home. The air became cleaner and less noise pollution.
Claire	Cochrane	That when society needs help the government found the money to step in - furlough for example. People came together to help more Other governments stepped up and showed what could be done but it seems the English government stalled somewhat, but I was inspited by what was happening elsewhere in terms of the public being informed well.
Brenda	Peacock	That a Labour Government with Jeremy Corbyn would have handled the pandemic entirely differently
Bon	Langton	Yes. Society has in many ways learned how interdependent people are, and specifically recognised the amazing contribution made by people in employment roles that have so often been seen as of little value. The fact that they are often so poorly treated and badly paid, whilst fulfilling roles that are vital to the functionning of society must surely now change. Equally, very many people have learned how important the natural world (of which we are but a part) is both to the whole of humanity and to themselves as individuals - we cannot go on treating it as an afterthought to our human schemes
Paul	Davies	Time to have a good look at myself.
Isobel	Macfarlane	No
Louise	Drinkwater	The slowing down of the pace of life. More time for family.
Steve	Lowe	Society can identify those roles which are essential, health care workers, cleaners, postal workers etc. those identified as key workers and show appreciation by paying them more.
Sarah	Groszek	Awareness of the importance of a vibrant local community. Less consumerism and travel is good for the planet
paul	o'keeffe	No
Glen	Park	It's making us stop and think. The hamster wheel has paused
Ben	Anthony	Clarity about system breakdown
Deborah	O'Reilly	The glimpse of a world less frantic and busy and more appreciative of nature.
Jenny	Rust	Home working. Fewer cars on the roads. Reduced pollution. Thriving wildlife with less people around.
Jonathan	Marshall	I already have confidence issues about places with lots of people, largely due to high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, so having to shield has in some ways been a relief & taken the pressure off; I've also read more; so in these ways, yes. But taken as a whole, how can the death of over 40,000 people, including NHS & care staff have anything positive to it? Or the life changing injury to body and mind during rehabilitation for thousands of others who have recovered? Or the mess the government have made of Track and Trace, placing us all in a position of greater danger? Or the reliance on the private sector to take control of things they are singularly unqualified to do so?
Ian	Henshall	Yes, people will change their behaviour if the establishment takes the lead. Similar changes will be needed to avoid climate catastrophe not to mention poverty war and starvation. Major cutback in aviation and reckless foreign travel
Gillian	Jones	Families seem happy to spend more time together. Also home cooking and baking has had a resurgence. Fitness levels are probably up because more people are walking or riding bicycles.
Paul	Izod	A legacy of more working from home and not commuting or flying so much. More use of small local shops and suppliers. Increased cycling. Speed with which air quality improved (and reverted, unfortunately). More community support.
Anthony	Garrett	The increase in home working during the lockdown has been a benefit and, of course, the outstanding devotion of our NHS workers whether originally from within the UK or elsewhere, and in the face of inadequate government support, must be recognised. The patent insanity of leaving the EU at any time, but especially now, has also been thrown into sharp relief by the pandemic so there are now no excuses for pursuing Brexit.
Richard	Umpleby	People learning how important the NHS is
Allan	Porter	Yes, society and more especially politicians began to value the people that really build our nation. Working people.
Meredith	Spokes	Flexibility of small businesses finding solutions. Change of priorities from consumerism towards activities.
Philip	Kingston	1. That it has exposed many injustices in our society arising from cultural prejudices which also permeate institutions such as the police, state justice institutions, political parties, civil service and local and central governments. These relate to race, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, religion,place of residence such as a care home and also to geographical location and standards of accommodation with associated heating and other costs. Some areas are in effect regarded as separate ghettos. It seems that social class differences are still an important factor in these processes
John	Puntis	It has highlighted the importance of a national joined up health service and showed weaknesses inherent in fragmentation that has come about through outsourcing of services, for example in relation to provision of PPE. It has raised huge questions about the direction of travel of recent health service reforms and the 10 Year Plan for the NHS giving us the opportunity for a rethink on service design and the value of a publicly funded, delivered and accountable service. Also made everyone aware of the social importance of many people in low paid jobs and how they are crucial to the welfare of the rest of us. The initial moves to furlough workers and protect jobs was welcome.
Saskia	Baer	That environmental progress can be made if there is sufficient public will. Additional cycle lanes and fewer cars can be the beginning of more progressive measures to become carbon neutral.
Andrew	Beswick	There are still many, many community-minded people in this country. Many families have re-connected and spent more quality time together. The natural world has thrived, pollution is less, air quality higher. I could hear birds singing instead of traffic. More people now want to work from home and focus on quality of life. Health and wellbeing has been put before the economy.
Suzanne	Fallon	Unfortunately none
Adrian	Sargood	1. It has demonstrated that dramatic change with financial support is possible, something we sorely need to address the climate issue 2. It has given the opportunity for the issue of Universal Basic Income to be discussed as a serious possibility 3. It has raised the possibility of post-Covid financial support for business being conditional on moving to a sustainable agenda
Tony	Lansdowne	Reduced traffic means better air.
Jon	Beamson	Less air pollution. Better organisation in shops. More home shopping deliveries. Fewer people eating junk food. Fewer handshakes, thus reducing the transmission of germs this way. People are more in the habit of washing their hands now.
Root	Cartwright
MARTIN	HARRIS	We have learnt that direct money financing is possible without interest added.
Sue	Cason	Getting to know my neighbours in the street much better and helping those out who were unable to get out. No traffic meant birdsong was more audible, air cleaner and not as much manic activity of people going backwards and forwards to work
Sue	Wailoo	Less stress, pollution, from rushing around, commuting. Better work/ life balance if able to work at home. Time for family, doing other things for pleasure. Realising how fragile the systems are we live under when something like this pandemic hits and how much we are interdependent.
Suzanne	Edwards	The recognition of the huge contributions made to our society and economy by key workers from all sectors
Belinda	Phipps	Slower pace of life Less noise and pollution from planes and cars - felt much better as a result More time as no commuting. Able to shop locally and cook - better health as a result Time to grow things - better health as a result More time for family - happier Zoom meetings tend to be more focused so more productive Less work interruptions so more productive Lower costs as less eating out and less spend on travel and work clothes Being able to cycle on the roads without being terrified by cars Less stress Delighted to see COP2 emissions fall Delighted to see nature recover a bit
Tineke	Robinson	Hopefully more people will realise you can have a good time at home with family and that it is important. Less need to travel the world and create damage to the atmosphere. More volunteering needed.
Stephen	Durose	Remote working is now a viable mode of work - so infrastructure spending can be better targeted (i.e. fast broadband instead of HS2) Government may begin to truly value NHS/care workers - although little tangible evidence of it so far Amidst all the selfishness, there is the germ of a re-emergence of true community and mutual care/assistance
Diederick	MagrÃ©	People are closer together
Max	Shepherd	Some people have been re-evaluating what is really important to them.
Fuad	Al-Tawil	Allowed some people to stop and think, or at least slow down and consider. Anything is possible in an emergency.
ISABELLA	DUFFY	Yes that SCOTLAND will be better off with IndependenceWestminste
Linda	Stewart	I enjoyed taking life at a slower pace. We went out for daily walks and explored different paths around the village that we have never ventured down before despite living here for over 20 years!! The village same together to support those vulnerable and shielding families/people and I was part of a team who would do their shopping or collect medicines etc. Thank goodness for the internet and zoom quizzes which enabled us to spend time together with family across the UK virtually. I had time to look through recipe books and definitely cooked more healthily. I also enjoyed spending more time with my husband, so am very lucky.
John	Mulford	Only we need a economy based on green (environmental) policies. The utmost importance of maintaining the NHS as a public service.
Eric	Rowley	Yes, Social Isolation has made many re-evaluate their priorities, e.g. Relationships, Finances & Future
Raymond	Reid	Being aware of other people's disregard for safety
Bob	McKinney	It has shown me that working from home is feasible, reducing the numbers commuting vehicles, pollution, fuel usage,
Alan	Thomas	It is possible to make big changes quickly. We don't need so much long distance travel. Lots of local businesses have great creativity and resilience. Local community spirit is very strong.
Lindsay	Brindle	I love the quieter roads, I love the slower pace of life & the fact that wildlife is regenerating.
Valentina	Aversano	Privatly: increased solidarity, a focus on what is really necessary (which conference trip is really necessary to do in real life), digitalization of work and remote working, national borders became less relevant for my work, less flights and job related travel, a healthier lifestyle to balance the lack of daily movement, Society: A realization of what sectors of society are really crucial and undervalued (agro-food system, health &care sector, educational sector), less CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts due to reduced mobility and industrial activity, less trash, less car accidents, increased health and hygene literacy /awareness
Caroline	Paxton	We have saved money and are paying off debts credit cards etc and have realised you donâ€™t have to be out spending all the time we are happy living a more simple life and being less materialistic. Also my husband works from home now so we have a better work life balance and itâ€™s better for the environment.
Philip	Trevelyan	Yes. As a modest sized / on farm Flour Mill (www. Yorkshire Organic Millers) our supplies to local shops were quadrupled (or far more). We can supply 15-20,000 people with enough flour to keep them for a year, and hundreds of new home-bakers needed flour thanks to empty supermarkets. Many people have stayed with us despite our higher prices. We do not wish YOM to get bigger........just hope to replicate our model across Yorkshire (& UK!)
Ian	Gibb	It has highlighted that the lowest paid workers in the health-care sector are indeed a valuable asset and work for little more than the minimum wage. reflection on this fact should allow a re-assessment of the care sector in terms of being " essential workers" in times of a National Emergency.
Peter	Baggs	Declining use of fossil fuels, increase of renewables
Andy	Blackburn	yes, a sense of greater community involvement. more local produce available
Susan	Hannis	Several. People are reviewing their lives and their life choices. There is also questioning of the whole of the UK political system and the sad effects of too much centralisation, which I take as a positive. We are asking the Big Questions, how to make UK society better and fairer. On a smaller scale, people growing more of their own food, cycling more, talking to their neighbours more, are all good.
Michael	Shaw	The government's move to spending. Less pollution during the "lockdown"
Richard	Cope	Communities and individuals have been very generous with help and support and volunteering and the Treasury have been very nifty in adapting existing systems to help provide an income out of the public purse to many private sector workers.
Jane	Powell	Itâ€™s our last chance to save humanity from total destruction as a result of our own greed and stupidity. Itâ€™s given us time to stop and think as well as reducing car and plane pollution so wildlife can recover a bit. It is not yet too late to turn things around but we have less than 10 years to do so.
Helen	Ampt	It made us slow down and revealed the treadmill life we have been leading. The air became clean, the cities quiet, it ended the movida and the droves of tourists, the skies were magnificently clear and the stars were bright. It showed how many plane flights are "voluptuary" and considering the state aid to aviation (no fuel tax, no VAT on tickets) that has made the sector grow in a way that nothing else has, not population, not the economy, so other sectors, and is responsible for enormous air pollution and carbon emissions, there is a strong argument for withdrawing state aid to aviation.
Doug	Carr	People discovered the area where they live for the first time. Clean hands help stop the spread of disese. Politicians should not be making decisions about public health it's a specialist subject. How law abiding and patriotic are the vast majority of people. How volunteers make a difference.
Anne	Stone	Highlighted the most important workers in our society.
Jonathan	Hooker	Yes. Personally all my work translated online and not being on public transport saves me time and money and plane flights save me more, so I am one of the fortunate ones. However there is something very truthful about this virus because there is so much fudge and BS in the world and you cannot play with this, it exposes weakness in individuals and leadership at every level, it is up to us to see what we are being shown.
Jen	French	The positive way everyone rallied round and took care of friends, family and neighbours. The chance to be a community again, working for others not just yourself.
Ian	Dicks	The extraordinary professionalism and kindness of our Public Services and ordinary folk.
Leon	Raftopoulos	THINGS WILL BE WORSE FOR THOSE UNWORTHY PEERS OF POLITICS
Trevor	Dyson	Not yet.
Janyce	Hawliczek	Being able to breath air that was not polluted with traffic fumes (and presumably other forms of pollution from factories etc). I live in Bournville - a garden suberb of Birmingham and as soon as lockdown ended sadly the air began to smell of traffic fumes again even though the traffic was still quite reduced from previously normal figures.There was much less noise pollution as well which meant that we could enjoy the quiet and hearing birdsong and seeing more birds.
John	Wattis	The only one for me has been it has stopped our headlong rush towards growing inequality of wealth and climate catastrophe
alex	elphinstone	A more sustainable economy for example lots more investment in a green economy and therefore more jobs which are more secure than a low paid insecure service economy
Sheila	Cross	It's given people time and space to reconsider the balance in their lives
Felicitas	Van Gent	I had a great time with my family, being together so much. I enjoyed being at home and spending lots of time in my locality.
Simon	Foster	Yes, it has revealed to a a lot of people the fact that party political representative democracy is a sham and needs to be binned.
Alan	Davis	Trump's insanity hit home to many traditional Republican voters, which made his chances of re-election slim. Pollution levels dropped for a while. Roads were quite. Proved that many roles can be done from home rather commuting to and from the office.
Sarah	Tuck	To recognise that we ARE a society and we can work together to care for each other.
Victor	Ball	The chance to examine life values and reflect on how much our culture is based on satisfying material wants at the expense of human needs
Christopher	Bassinder	None what I can see
Richard	Salsbury	There seems to be a heightened awareness of our relationship to the world around us. That what we do has an effect on the world in which we live. These are positive developments from which we can learn patterns of behaviour.
Henry	Islo	It has taught us that we need to work together and help one another.
Patricia	Sutherland	Attention has returned once more to the idea of a universal basic income, which would help all those struggling to cope with the financial demands of everyday living. I'd like to see that adopted. Fossil fuel, and its absence at the beginning of lockdown, is another topic that could be re-examined; there must be curbs on its use. Shelter was found for the homeless during lockdown; if it was done then, why not in the future? The old and disabled were supported by free groceries and shopping deliveries. That should continue too.
Kayleigh	Woods Harley	I have enjoyed working from home. I feel less tired, less stressed, and I have found more time for family (more time with my husband and frequent calls to family living further afield) and for my studies (I have completed a part-time Master's degree begun before the pandemic). I have spent less money on travel and takeaway lunches, and more on enjoyable things such as books
Martin	Jones	Yes: 1) We gave nature a brief respite from the inexorable rise in the impact humanity is having on the environment. We saw how almost immediately, nature started to recover and reclaim lost territory. That gives hope that it is not too late to turn towards living in balance with nature. 2) We prioritised saving human life over increasing GDP. When the need was great enough we were willing to prioritise something else over growth. We need to understand that infinitely-increasing GDP is not even possible, never mind a priority - just a threat to the planet and all of us. 3) There has been a veiled threat from nature that we can't ignore - mess with things too much, and there will be consequences. It's time to change.
B	McKenna	Community spirit/assistance. Government help to safeguard people's jobs.
Diana	Stockford	It was a calmer and less distracted time. I increased my walking and spent more time in nature - which was grounding. It upset routines and gave us all the opportunity to re-think how we do things, and that we can take big decisions. Zoom was a bonus and shown we can work differently.
Mary	Murphy	Yes Scotland and her mps show what twats the westminster govt were. It quite probably helped indy movement.
Bob	Clifford	The members and officers in the national social club (www.ivc.org.uk) that I am webmaster for now know that not everything has to be done in person. This will hopefully mean there will be more opportunities to engage between the officers and members in the 38 clubs around the UK than only at the National Conference. Zoom has now become a key tool for keeping everyone in touch with each other. Without the pandemic this change would have been much slower to become established.
Darren	Pasque	We have clearly seen how government incompetently prioritizes large, often failing business, over SME's and the general public.
Kay	Densley	Yes. Working from home. Less traffic. More emphasis on family and health. Most importantly speeding up of the medical system and trials, international cooperation on drugs and knowledge, using repurposed drugs - this should continue - particularly with regards to other illnesses like cancer where 'off label' drugs have been shown to be useful but are not often used as there is no financial incentive to do clinical trials on these drugs.
Helen	Hart	The fact that there are many people willing to help, shopping for those shielding etc
Rob	Anderson	None
Michael	McCarthy	People being supportive of others.
Susan	Craig	No fear of missing out Cleaner air and peaceful environment. I have been living an isolated life before covid so I was fully equipped to cope.
Paul	Strike	Improved community spirit. More staycations. Working from home is more acceptable/preferable. Meetings and events being held virtually. GP appointments now available by phone/video. Improved home delivery services.
Zelah	Pengilley	People are kind and support their neighbours and communities Thereâ€™s a big opportunity to hugely reduce commuting by allowing more flexible working, with benefits including spreading opportunities across the country and reducing the pressure on commutable housing, environmental benefits from reduced travel and a better work-life balance for some Increased public support for the NHS at a time when we need to protect it from privatisation and interference from the US
Janice	Illingworth	Appreciation of nature. Communities supporting each other. ApprÃ©ciation of the work of all key workers
Bryan	Crunden	Quick change can happen
peter	newton	the need for for a better government
Graeme	Bruce	A quiet life can be better
Martin	Weller	Masks, sanitiser, 2m distance, magic money tree
Chloe	LEwis	Seeing how effective home working is - and the positive impact home working has on mental health and the environment
John	Bowen	New ways of working out of office and working from home. No commute and less pollution. less if we go back on 50/50 work from home and office.
Michael	Leckenby	That with pre-planning and quick actions once alerted Nations can get on top of, lock out and beat viral infections so long as they put people first. Sadly not the case here.
Jane	Garner	An emphasis on green issyes
Jim	Robinson	It has finally exposed the myth that deficits are morally wrong and we must strive to avoid them. If we can increase our deficit as we have in response to the pandemic, then we can spend to transform our economy, our banking, land ownership and the social structures of our society to make them fairer, more equitable, more democratic and more truly supportive of the developmental needs of everyone. This is not about material development, it is about satisfaction and meaning and community. Which happen to be some of the qualities that this pandemic has widely evoked.
Michael	O'Keefe	yes ~ that we are a society, not a collection of individual agents.
K	MCCARTHY	The realisation by governments are that socially desirable initiatives (eg furlough schemes) are desirable.
Martyn	Greenaway Rowe	None
Paul	Hinves	Slowing down of life: reduced traffic; less noise; more people walking & cycling; helpfulness of neighbours; considerateness of most people with regard to social distancing in shops; many more cultural events available online; innovative formats of those cultural offerings.
Norman	Booth	NHS staff and all staff involved
quentin	seddon	The local is political
Lee	Jealous	People are more active
Margaret	Bevan	Greater realisation of the importance of family and friends. Realisation we donâ€™t need to buy as much stuff as we thought we did. We have become more self sufficient as a family: homeschooling, growing our own veg, baking our own bread.
David	Carpenter	Not really, the handling has been dire and reactions have been dangerous
David	Chadwick	1. In future, I would like humans (and businesses) to care more about the environment and nature. Rather than raping and pillaging the earth of everything it has got, wiping out dozens of species in the process; caring for the environment, nature and wildlife should be a mandatory part of every development project. 2. I would like a more equal world in future, one in which the rich are poorer and the poor have all their basic needs attended to, instead of a world in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. 3. I would like a world with less people in it. We are an invasive species, and we take over everywhere we go, displacing what was originally there. Fortunately when people become richer they tend to have less children. So this "like" should follow automatically when 2. above is fulfilled.
Hazel	Cameron	The positives have been the ability to keep in touch with friends and family by using Video chat, Zoom etc. The helpfulness and kindness of neighbours and sometimes complete strangers. My television, watching documentaries that support my interests, some classic and entertaining films , music and well made series.
DOUGLAS	BOLTON	A confirmation and re-enforcement of our need to keep the NHS safe and funded properly.
Ocean	Love	yes. as far as reasonable adjustments for disability go. it's proven that it's possible for huge swathes of people to work from home. It's also proven that schooling from home is a possibility
Nigel	Skayman	Yes the dedication of NHS staff putting themselves in the firing line of a disease that no known cure for .
Peter	May	It has shown once and for all that government creates money out of thin air and we can always have sufficient money for whatever we require - there is indeed a Magic Money Tree. What we do always have is sufficient real resources to spend money on. But what we can never again be told is that there is no money. The economy exists because , together, we can better provide for and enhance the welfare of all the population. Labour or â€˜workâ€™ produces the value. Money is the method we use to distribute that value so how it works is important.
Dave	Quayle	With good competant leadership Americans could have come together to beat this pandemic No chance of that with Trump
sylvia	Clare	yes we need to consume less and connect with each other more positively
Gillian	Statham	Fewer cars on the road and less air travel, this is better for the environment
Ian	Crouch	A lot less environmental impact , during lockdown.
Daniel	Brown	Perspective on goals and direction in life
Penelope	Farmer	Hopes that a new normal will reduce car travel in cities in favour of bikes - and in general more awareness of climate change and the need to adapt. The reluctance of people to return to life as before was encouraging. I hope that doesnâ€™t fade.
Sean	McAdam	No.
Vincent & Jenny	Green	Working from home greatly reduces costs and improves productivity. We are a society with responsibilities to each other. It illustrates in spades the incompetence of this brexit government.
John	Schofield	we may improve our response to any later pandemic the shock may allow us to improve the financial system
Dilys	Cluer	people have started to notice nature more, and there has been quite a lot of volunteering to help people
Steven	Harper	During lockdown, less cars, planes, noise, pollution. Better air quality. Clearer skies. Better for cycling, walking, nature, environment. More support for local businesses eg local bakery, reduce food miles etc. Spent more time on allotment. Slower pace of life. Got to know local area better. A chance to reflect on whatâ€™s important etc.
Charmian	Larke	more clean air more reaching out to others and caring shown by many people
JILL	WHEATLEY	less pollution so a chance to take better action on global warming.
James	Barling	That communities have rallied around and helped each other
Jakob	Handerek	Focus, think, meditate on what you really want/need. Homeoffice, less travelling. More resilience instead efficiency
John	Lipetz	None
Martin	Stephenson	More emphasise on hygiene in public. Opportunities for flexible working patterns.
Neil	Phillips	Working from home, flexible working, saving on travel time and costs. For many people working from home will equate to a substantial pay rise.
Beryl	Watts	It shows who we can live without & certainly who can keep a Country going in a crisis Also I think it makes us stop & thinkmore of want life is really about I believe this has been awake up cal from God Almighty to turn back to Himwhile the day of Grace is still with us
Andrew	Payne	Public realisation that not everyone needs to travel into work on a daily basis.
Kathleen	Charles	I have realised how corrupt the wealthy are!!!
John	Nightingale	Simple lifestyle. Meetings without travelling. Social solidarity. Somewhat greener.
Umapathyganesh	Palanisamy	No
Richard	Forsyth	Not really. The government has seized the chance to funnel public money to their corporate cronies, Serco among them, and has made various desirable outcomes, such as Universal Basic Income, Citizens' Assemblies & a Green recovery, less likely. Public money has kept public transport going, but people are more scared of using it, so car use will probably increase when so-called normality returns.
Nick	Miller	Change is possible, and rapidly, in society/government, if the will is there The important things - like proper social services, search for a vaccine, come from cooperation with science and people before profit Recognition of the importance and need for people driven, nationally organised and controlled systems out of the hands of big business and dogma driven politicians Life does not have to be so hectic and fast Bigger, faster, newer is not always better
Jacob	Heringman	Slow down. Focus on living a good life rather than an overachieving sort of life. Sort out the things you really value from those you don't.
Kay	Tasker-Smith	Working from home is much cheaper and more productive than anticipated
Stefanie	Steurer	this pandemic forced us into facing the existing uncertainties, it showed what we have and what we lack, people stick together, people understand what is really importatnt to them, people get out of their comfort zones, changes is enforced
Caroline	Ewens	Seeing how communities come together in crisis and how we cared for the most vulnerable
David	Ward	It dramatises the urgent need for a root and branch reconsideration and reorganisation of the economic system
Mal	Colman	Sitting quietly In the garden and enjoying the sound of insects. The peace we all discovered and that humans make too much noise.
mike	north	more time to engage with nature and to reflect, a slowing of the pace of life
Donald	Saunders	I think it has brought people up sharp to see the inequalities of our financial system , often the most essential worker receiving the least recompense and the opposite for less important financial work.
MIKE	Andrews	Some people have helpd the less able but the Governent just appeared to help themselves.
Linda	Dempsey	Time to relax, garden, sing.
Charlie	Graham	During the "lockdown" there was a greater sense of consideration for others. However, when this was eased, it seemed that the worst of us came out first and selfishness quickly re-established itself! There is less reliance on unecessary material and consumer spending since the pandemic.
Clare	Krojzl	We all need to recalibrate our understanding of which aspects of the economy are 'important' and which are less important. The pandemic has shown that carers, drivers, shop assistants and other service industry employees are essential to the functioning of a healthy economy.
Susan	Bosley	The fact that governments can respond quickly and we can adapt when there is urgency. People have experienced doing things differently ...cycling, walking, being at home, gardening and so on. Maybe realising life can be lived more fully by slowing down, being considerate and caring.
Robert	Drover	That there is just a small chance that all harmful emissions into the atmosphere from human activity can be drastically reduced
Rose	Scott	I have got to know my local environment better, found new walks and cycle routes and, with the swimming pool closed used the sea more. I also got to know some friends better.
Jen	Chapman	HUGE reduction in air pollution in Manchester during total lockdown and hardly any cars on the road. So quiet you could here the birds sing. It didn't last though.
Donald	Baldwin	The way the NHS responded, schools and those in essential services.
Margarette	Norman	I live in a very rural area so I didnâ€™t experience it personally but it would seem that people supported each other and looked after the vunerable.
Sheila	Brook	That we can change pollution levels very quickly, that some parts of nature can restore itself without us, that commuting can be a thing of the past and lead to better family life for some, more awareness and respect for others
Mike	Tyzack	People realise they can work from home. We discovered there are many non-essential businesses.
Renata	Taylor-Byrne	1. People all over the UK have been awakened to the importance of their families and their welfare,instead of being distracted by advertisements to buy more and more possessions. 2. The fantastic work done by health care workers and social care workers, on very low pay, has been realised by many people. This awareness needs to be taken on board immediately by the government, if it has any sense of decency. 3. People have had the time to look very closely at the way the government has handled the Covid pandemic, and get enough information to see the reality of how it has been handled, with their own eyes, compared to the public relations bulletins put forward by the government ministers..
Pau	Navarro	Being able to spend less time commuting and driving children around
alina	ascari	More time for prayers , meditation and family. Time to stop and realise that the way the world is going is unsustainable and basically wrong.
Rachel	Bosler	The recognition that socio-economic deprivation kills and should be taken more seriously
Carol	Nixon	The slower pace of life, which enabled us to watch the natural world to which we belong with more attention. The reduction in engine noise, whether it be cars, lorries or planes. The temporary halt in our despoiliation of our only home, the Earth.
Joan	Homewood	People helping each other
John	Connell	That people can get by without consuming so much. That people can work from home and support local businesses.
Amanda	Leon	Less traffic and less pollution = better health
Val	Harvey	The quiet roads allowing people freedom from the oppression of motor vehicles. A relaxation of the pressures of time. In the early days, there was a friendliness - a sense that we're all together in the community.
Linda	Priest	To rely only on myself
F	Seymour	How important our NHS is to Britain and how precious are all the people who work within it. It was be returned to a proper national Health Service and protected.
Sheila	Wilson	I have now got to know more of my neighbours, who have been very kind
Lesley	Kazan-Pinfield	I hope enough people will have reassessed the important things and decided against consumerism and constant growth and for living more simply and empathetically with each other and with the natural world.
David	Haswell	None unless the government learn from their failings. Long before the virus spread from China in January PPE stocks should have at least been checked an replenished. The PM boasted 3rd March of having shook hands with Covid patients and would continue to do so as only hand washing was required. Strict rules and the lockdown should have taken place before they did. Austerity has meant there are insufficient police or operators at stations or shops to implement rules. Many will have died missing hospital operations these last 5 months.
mari	hollander	We ( ie our civil society and culture - world wide ) and make drastic and sudden changes when the need is felt . Lockdown and coming out of lockdown presents stark contrasts between public health requirement and our aggressive economic system reliant of unsustainable growth. Many found they could live with less consumption. ( and many went hungry - the inequalities were highlighted ) Noting that the short term thinking/ planning of government is a......... crime.
Michael	Brundle	Parents being able to spend more time with their children
Adrian	Spurrell	Changes in ways of working that cut down on travel - both cost and time; and massive reduction in vehicular movement Increase in local community support Reduction in consumption Increase in home activities such as cooking and gardening
Nicola	Packer	People have come to appreciate community and the natural world more.
Vincent	Butler	We can see laid bare the utter incompetence of this current Government - they could have hidden if the pandemic hadnâ€™t come.
Tamsin	Abbott	The positives we should learn from this pandemic are how important key workers are and that they should be paid properly for the work they do, we should also value community and think more about helping thevulnerable as well as shopping and living more in our local community. We should reward those that care about community and environment over and above personal profiteering. We should also value how much everyone appreciated nature and open spaces as well as creativity and the arts.
Paul	Trimby	Less air travel and sea cruises
Walter	Anderson	Yes illegal migrants crossing the channel and being allowed to enter the UK and being paid benefits to which they have contributed absolutely nothing
Kevin	Leigh	No
Alan	Smith	No. Government handling very bad. "Guided by the Science" is not a valid excuse for not thinking, but ministers seem to think it is.
Christopher	Loxley	Clean air.
Jane	Bovell	It has given us the opportunity to take stock and think about what really matters at both the personal and national/international level.
Frances	Ryde	Cleaner air with less traffic and aeroplanes. More people finding they can work from home also helping with cleaner air and less stress.
Fernando	Mendoza	The pandemic has clearly shown the loopholes and areas for improvement in a country's public health, environmental protection and economic resiliency programs. We could all learn from our weaknesses to have a better level of preparedness for future contingencies.
Vince	Richardson	Its been a levelling experience, one that affects all parts of society on a global scale, making us all realise that we basically face the same challenges wherever we live. This may be a unifying wake up call.
Liz	Corbett	That the government were pushed to do things how we wanted, not how they chose to do them. I think we the public will be determined to make our voices heard. Also community has become more important and most of us have become less selfish.
Ruth	Milsom	Society is not dead! The rapid organisation of 'mutual aid' and other community help groups in response to the pandemic has been inspiring. Communities will pull together in a crisis. If we allow citizens a bit of time in their schedule to be citizens, we have healthier communities and healthier lives.
Zoe	Stirling	Lower pollution during lockdown.
William	Tingley	Well there was untill the stupid ineffective Mask Law a great deal of politeness and respect for peoples personal space eg social distancing. The Mask law changed all with rudeness and holy than thow attitudes from people!!!
Martine	Frampton	That people are capable of quite profound change if circumstances demand it and the understand why it is necessary.
Nadia	Batool	For those able to work remotely, there are some benefits such as increased work-life balance due to decreased travel time. But this is not certain, as Iâ€™ve also been doing more hours due to the changes required to move everything remote! But I definitely appreciate not going in to the office every day. I also think people have realised the benefits of shopping within their community as theyâ€™ve been absolute lifelines for the vulnerable and those without transport who donâ€™t live near supermarkets / arenâ€™t travelling to work now. I know Iâ€™ve used them a lot more and some of them have been so responsive to local needs. They really are unsung heroes! Another benefits was the quieter roads - though they now seem almost back to Pre-COVID levels. But it encouraged me and friends to start cycling again. A final positive is appreciating the things we used to take for granted, and the way local communities have pulled together to help the weakest.
Richard	Stephens	That collectively we have seen that community is important and valuable, and consumerism and material wealth less so. It has been demonstrated that changes can be made, that we are adaptable when the situation demands, and that generous resources can be found when necessary. Our flawed political system has been exposed, along with the dishonesty, ineptitude and incompetence of those who lead and succeed within it.
Ron	Green	Become accustomed to ordering groceries on line and having them delivered.
Patrick	Owen	It has taught humanity a lesson that it cannot continue to exploit natural resources,abuse wildlife and destroy the natural habitat without consequences. Also, the present free market, deregulated capitalist system that enriches a few at the expense of many and the dismantling of the public realm has made it more difficult to address Covid. Public services, not individual private enterprises are the glue that holds society together.
Elizabeth	Newton	People began to come together as a community, were friendlier and more generous. Society is so crucial, not only in times of pandemics but at all times.
Mick	MIles	no
Christopher	Boyle	Cleaner air and less noise pollution.
Andrew	Ashurst	It has demonstrated that government can significantly increase spending without necessarily causing inflation or currency risk.
Gwen	Clark	Yes. Making more effort to get in touch with people. Less pressurised giving a sense of freedom to enjoy nature. Cleaner air, quieter roads, fewer planes, less pollution.
Zahidullah	Khan	We need economy that is based on manufacturing than highly concentrated on finance or services. We need local small and medium size factories producing real physical things. In national emergency situations, you can't rely on other countries to produce the things you need. We also need to focus on the rural economy. They have been neglected for so long, they don't have good job opportunities. The job opportunities are concentrated in big cities.
Louis	Whaley	Two positives come to mind; 1) the benefit to the environment when in lockdown, thus helping to prove we can make changes to provide a more stable future for the climate. 2) the ability of the Government to react to the pandemic, thus showing it can be done to influence/shape the future of our society in a positive manner.
Michael	Gopfert	Probably not a chance realistically: But one can stop and take stock at such junctures. Unfortunately those in power seem to be doing so differently from those who are most affected, and there seems a discrepancy. A whole-sale review of our health system could take very seriously into account what people really want.
Alison	Isaac	Less traffic. More birdsong. Caring in the community.
Andrew	Capel	Like many people my daily life stopped and it gave me a chance to appreciate how much I like doing what I do as well as discovering new things like gardening and how that helped me stay grounded and happy and sane
Thomas	Gibbs	Less traffic on roads, more people working from home, a greater awareness of the environment and world around us, a sense of community and compassion.
Chris	Parker	It was good seeing what life might be like if road & air traffic were hugely reduced. Walking & cycling were hugely safer, pleasanter & more widely enjoyed. People have seen that for many, commuting is not essential, they can work from home much of the time.
Nathan	Jowett	Perhaps this was a warning shot to show that we could alwaysbe wiped out by a Superbug especially as Antibiotics wontprotect the human race for ever.I say this as I dont know of anyone in my direct family who has died I'm sure People who have loft relatives will still be being affected.
Robert	Masding	People do care about each other, when there is a chance to show it. We have found out that we don't need to travel so much. We can work from home. Some of the least valued jobs previously, are now seen as much more important - care workers, farm workers, hospital cleaners, delivery drivers, supermarket workers ETC!
david	croydon	Not really.
Barbara	Ellis	Being able to work from home and help reduce my carbon footprint. The reduction in traffic and thus carbon emissions. That communities have come together to support one another.
Michael	Warren	The ability for people to cope and help others less fortunate than themselves.
Penny	Gray	Improved environment from less road, rail and air transport and use of fossil fuels, leading to cleaner air. Increased awareness of natural world as many people spend more time outdoors and/or gardening and/or with their children. Slowdown of growth/economic growth. Increased appreciation of low paid 'key' workers. Fantastic efforts by carers, and by doctors and nurses in the NHS, as well as scientists, researchers and academics to get a handle on the crisis. Local community building. Neighbours offering to help and support each other via What's App. Quicker attention from GP. Could speak to doctor same day rather than having to wait and visit surgery.
William	Tyler	We have information on what has happened. We have more information on the foul regime in China.
Millie	Guest	-less traffic on roads, more cycling and walking -hearing birds everywhere -later mornings for my teenage children, leaving them a lot less stressed -more working from home -using less plastic -with extra time, able to shop in plastic-free shops and use less lunch takeaway plastic -less shopping for rubbish that is soon to go in landfill
Paul	Wright	The re emergence of a society that naturally helps one another. There is such a thing as society, and it is alive and well.
Gillian	Woon	The chance for Nature to reinvigorate and us to appreciate its benefits. The fact that people pulled together and supported each other.
Peter	Winfield	U find out wots really matters and important
Judith	Allinson	1. The lack of traffic on the road outside my house was .. heaven. It really was. I could sit on a chair on the pavement in front of my house. The stress that is caused by the noise and grind of approaching cars then retreating cars from morning till early evening was removed. It was horrible once the cars and lorries started coming again. I manage to live with it but it must be causing my stress homones to have an effect on me. (I am actually away from home today typing this up in a quiet place 2. THe UK carbon footprint went down by ??7% (don't know the exact figure.) We need to reduce our carbon footprint year on year by 7% to avoid intolerable global warming, and all the problems that will come from mass . migration.
John	Bale	No. I had hoped that this would lead to a better world, but, I expected it to business as usual as quickly as possible, infact it is worse as we go ever politically right and even more xenophobic.
Paul	Melvin	The Government are lying cunts
Linda	Cornall	Learning to appreciate the simple things Community spirit
June	Bains	That communities have all come together to help one another.
Claire	Williams	Lack of traffic
Roy	Smith	It might make the public and policy makers wake up to the underlying problems associated with human beings
Richard	Saddington	Less population,less air pollution
audrey	compton	Our big drop in climate wrecking emmisssions The improvement in the natural world and in our love for wildlife Our discovery that, for the most part, we care for each other Our appreciation for key workers, including badly paid people and foreign workers
Pat	Walmsley	less aircraft noise, less pollution, extended time at home, getting to know immediate neighbours better
Jamie	Marsh	Slower pace of life, greater sense of community.
Neil	Adams	The reduction in traffic and its resultant effect on air quality has been wonderful in my home city. Many of my friends have begun working from home and enjoyed a better work/life balance as a result. There has been an increase in the rate of volunteering and many people have displayed good community spirit.
Stephen	Godfrey	Greater awareness of community and people.
Donald	Beal	No. Everything about the pandemic was bad. Maybe decades later, this will be a case study that future generations will learn from from. Perhaps there will be eventual positives in medical understanding, but in social, governmental and financial consequences I suspect there will be as much misidentification of what went wrong and what should have been done, as there will be correct identification, so no net positive there.
Valerie	Wilkinson	Time to think about whatâ€™s important.
Lynne	Lomond	Yes, definitely. Slowing down, no deadlines, some things working just as well on line, choosing whom I spend time with, not being allowed to have people in my house so l spend less time tidying superficially but more time reorganising. And wildlife benefitting.. I love all the pictures of animals emerging into villages, etc., and streams and waterways clearing of pollution.
David	Kemp	Much cleaner air and quieter roads meaning less congested towns and cities
Linda	Whitebread	Many examples of community spirit. Some (but not nearly enough) acknowledgement of environmental imperatives. More people getting out into the countryside. It may be a good dress rehearsal for the much greater crises to come.
Nicole	Stinton-Wilson	We can act quickly together on urgent matters, and we can see the true value of migrants and key workers (including those who are poorly paid). Also the way that local government and the NHS have coped with the pandemic despite years of cuts.
Donna	Houston	I am very open to more job opportunities working from home, more things on virtual to continue to have choice between staying in (if you have health issues) and going out. I am definately more to the introvert end of scale. To continue support the more vunerable people in the community, disabled, elderly and peole with mental health issues.
Peggy	Frith	The value of time and space to reflect and ponder. Appreciating the value of supportive family and friends.
Mark	Felton	A greater focus on the local, neighbours and people in my neighbourhood. A new routine that has meant I have engaged with people around my home more, got much fitter as I have not used my car as much, and enjoyed cooking from scratch more, because of more time and fewer distractions to be busy.
Peter	Kahn	The chaos and stress that this pandemic is creating, and will continue to create, for maybe many, many years, gives us a wonderful opportunity to lay the seeds of a fairer and more humane economy and society, both for this country and internationally. Having said that, our leaders and politicians need to learn to â€˜take people with themâ€™, and to be aware that sometimes one needs to â€˜take a step backâ€™ so one can take â€˜two forwardâ€™.
James	Greville	It's been shown that more people can work from home or flexibly, without loss of productivity. It's made people appreciate the little things a bit more, like the company of friends in your local pub.
Rwth	Hunt	People are finding they can work from home at least some of the time. We as a nation value the essential public services, health and shopping
Carl	Arthur	No not really I think it has been Miss handled and to many advisors with not enough information about what the virus was or is about , and a lot of mis information has been doled out , their have been other viruses that have had a much more serious consequences.
Gordon	Wilson	Forcing a look at the way we were being made to live, including the private debt-based money system that hardly anyone knows about.
Marie	Brooke	With luck it will finish the Tory government. It shows how important it is to have public owned services as opposed to contracted out to the or private companies running essential services It shows how important nightingale hospitals are and could now be used to relieve the NHS over the winter and beyond . They could be a means to freeing beds by being for patients who are not well enough to leave hospital but need less medical treatment
Ray	Spooner	Yes its opened our eyes up to what sheeple people are and how we are being misled by those in power who really run this planet.
Antony	CHallenger	When government truly needs to act to solve a problem, doing "everything necessary" suddenly becomes possible. Government should be applying that to tackling climate change and the mass extinctions crisis
Charlie	Bell	That it has given everyone a chance to pause and assess what are actual essentials in their lives, and what is dispensable; that it has highlighted the flaws and inequalities in our current systems; that it has prompted people to question established ideas and accepted norms, and start exploring viable alternatives that would be more sustainable and beneficial for all.
Angela	Pooley	I believe it's made a lot of people think about how they travel and are cycling and walking more, hopefully this will continue. I also believe it's brought communities together with people looking out for others in their area that are vulnerable.
Gillian	Barnes	Less traffic and therefore pollution
Bob	Britain	Re assessment of life. Stop buying rubbish Stop doing useless jobs
Laurel	Arnison	Yes. The chance to stand back and consider how we would like society to be. To have more time through working from home to do other things and relax. To see homeless people bought inside and given shelter. To see unemployed people having a break from being hounded and psychologically abused. A break for the environment. Having a walk around town and its peaceful without the roads clogged with traffic.
Mark	Selby	For many, entrenched ways of working have been challenged. Families have had more time to spend with one another. Some people (at least initially whilst furloughed) have become more community minded. Some people have been able to use the time away from work to study, read improve their homes.
Kevin	Campbell	Many, but basically the shake up of ossified environmental, social, economic and political attitudes
Jean	Woodley	It's given us a chance to realise what is truly important in life
John	Marshall	We need a properly funded publicly owned NHS. Not some kind of disastrous American style private system. Politicians need to start listening to scientists and making science based policy. The complete failure of the UK to get the pandemic under control, when other countries such as S.Korea New Zealand have all but eradicated it, is a direct result of Boris Johnson and the tories ignoring scientific advice.
margaret	Holloway	People seem to be much nicer Never to vote Conservative
Christopher	Noakes	The seeming fact that many people are realising that business as (previously) usual is neither inevitable nor desirable.
Mary	Anderson	The government can take decisive action with massive impact on lives when deemed necessary. More people valued all sorts of key workers, such as cleaners, supermarket staff, delivery drivers - as well as the more obvious NHS personnel. On a personal level, I have valued time at home with my partner, enjoying local walks, and our garden - a luxury as I am retired and financially secure.
Andrew	Clayton	Using computers to work from home has to reduce commuter congestion.
Chris	Kilby	I am mostly housebound with COPD and can't get out without taxis. I used to be quite active politically. Since lockdown many groups have been doing meetings and webinars on-line. This has enabled me to join in.
Gillan	Garland	That we cannot continue to pursue profits at the expense of everything else. We must put in place a new financial system as this one goes belly up!
Jules	Dickman	Sense of community increased. Preparing for a future that is sustainable.
Lisa	Parkinson	I have, like many people, had the opportunity to reflect on the things that are really important to me. It was an absolute pleasure to cycle on virtually empty roads for what was, in the end, far too short a time. It was good to see the sky free of aeroplanes.
Angela	Stewart-Park	Cleaner air when there is less traffic Community engagement - Mutual Aid The value of the NHS The value of a very good local council engaging with community endeavours and looking out for everyone.
Christopher	Baker	It has shown that there is the scope for people who can work from home to be able to work efficiently from home. This should be an option for people past the pandemic to improve work life balance (gets rid of long commutes) and flexible working. It has also highlighted the importance of nature and how business as usual is contributing to climate change.
Martin	Jackson	Local communities helping each other
Paul	Robertson	Working from home, the sense of community, use of online shopping.
Heather	Papworth	Greater productivity by working from home, better mental health, minimal pollution, quieter, financially better off for not travelling to and from work.
Sten	Hubinette	Saved money by not going out, completed / completing much work around the house, realizing definitively how many stupid people are out there.
Ian	Pye	The protection of its citizens by the State
		Working from home was great, not having to commute saved me a lot of time
Matthew	Cox	It was a real time to think about the future- the planet- money- life - fitness, so for us a real time to consider life and the future, we usually work flat out and don't consider why . Money and debt- having
Joan	Lawson	Yes. Reduction in traffic and more people walking and cycling
Robin	Frith	Contact with family and friends - more than usual in several cases.
R D	Dalgleish	We have all witnessed that nationwide radical change is in fact possible. "It can't be done" is now meaningless. This discovery brings positive opportunities for a fairer society.
James	Paton	It shows largely the willingness of the public to act in a crisis, despite the lack of, and appalling, leadership throughout, especially for England and Wales. That our carers and frontline NHS staff are exceptional human beings and workers despite being hugely under, and deliberately under- resourced and appreciated, by the current Government. People are incredibly resilient and cope under the most demanding circumstances in very ( over) complex situations. The lack of simplicity and clarity and consistency from Government has been very seriously left wanting by comparison.
SUe	Johnston	we need to take care of the planet, the untouched areas of the globe and protect the NHS
Anne-Laure	Mersier	Slow down of life, less traffic, blue skies, less pollution
Paul	Dumbleton	Less travel leading to less polution and carbon.
John	Wood	Yes! The pandemic has provided a reason to stop and reflect on what we want and need in our lives. What adds yo our collective happiness and what brings suffering. And above all, how interdependent we all are. We saw people coming together to support each other and start to rebuild a sense of community and co-responsibility.
Charles	Boisvert	By slowing things down, the pandemic has forced us to see certain things in contrast. We should take from it - the desire for cycle lanes that work (and aren't interrupted at the busy roundabouts...) - the major information that levels of premature births have come down with a reduction in stressful activity. Premature babies, and long-term care, is a very high price to pay for a busy active life in late pregnancy - the success of people, even young people, in remaining productive in work-from-home environments - the importance of family networks
Ken	Kirk	The value of key workers, health staff, carers, shop workers, delivery people,
susan	wood	Environmental issues - less pollution - wildlife - birds in my garden. The recognition that it is quite possible for a lot of work to be done from home, avoiding all the commuting (wasteful in both time & congestion/pollution). This was something I tried to persuade my then boss to permit around 40 years ago (a request that fell on deaf ears).
Richard	Williams	The reduction in motor traffic and the resultant cleaner air was a visible difference. Activities such as walking and cycling were briefly more enjoyable. And the sense of connection with our local community felt stronger with many great supportive initiatives happening generated through the goodwill of local people and small enterprises.
Madeline	Nestor	I have managed to do a lot of work in my garden. I have kept the rules as have my family and no one has caught the virus.
John	Humphries	Signs that a Universal Basic Income could save the taxpayer from operation and administration costs of Universal Credit; could improve people's lives, reduce NHS costs for physical and mental health services, improve the overall economy
William	Kerr-Smith	Less money is being spent on ephemeral goods that add nothing to basic well-being
John York	Skinner	The awareness of the ability of many to work from home with a consequent improvement on the environment and personal experience.
Morgan	Dalton	We could have a better society with more home time.
Adam	Colton	A chance to cut journeys and reduce emissions and perhaps embrace a more caring society (sadly undone by the invective aimed at desperate people in dinghies by the right wing puppets of Murdoch and his cronies).
Martin	Stokes	Cycling, there was a massive increase in the number of people riding cycles when the pandemic started. It has fallen off now because the roads are not as safe and quiet.
Ian	Sharp	We have been shown there is another way. It is possible for people to stop commuting, to fly less, to contribute to the economy in different ways. Community is always there and it gets buried too often.
Mary	Robertson	The pandemic has surely provided a wake up call and an opportunity to rethink our priorities. To paraphrase Dickens' memorable line: 'It's the best of times; it's the worst of times'. 'Best' because we now know for certain that co-operation is key; we have had a glipse of how to nurture thriving, resilient communities.
Rod	Wood	Yes. The lockdown unlocked a lot of fixed habits and ideas about work and the economy. The fetish that most economists and politicians had with reducing the deficit was blown away and, hey! the world didnâ€™t end after all. And the insanity of everyone commuting to work every day - whether it made sense or not - was ditched and, again, the economy carried on with people working at home. We need to learn from the changes that were forced on us.
Barbara	Penny	People will hopefully see that this Government doesnâ€™t have the welfare of the people at heart. They are more interested in their rich friends/donors
Kevin	Barclay	Air pollution is down and road traffic down to 1970 levels
Stephen	Treacy	The considerable reduction in pollution, particularly air pollution; the obvious fact that the country didnâ€™t come to a grinding halt because there was no football, sport generally, theatres or cinemas, areas in which over inflated salaries are endemic. Had underpaid frontline workers, however, not been available, we would have lasted about three weeks!
David	Kearns	Having the time to readdress what is important to me and getting back in touch with nature.
Paul	Friend	Great community spirit. Selfless effort from NHS, carers, shop assistants. delivery drivers etc.
Patrick	Ainley	No. The GOVErnment are taking advantage of it to force through their Bexit coup.
Jo	Millett	That people are quick to work collaboratively and communally when needed (and this does not have anything to do with government). The vast majority of us will take actions that show we care about each other.
Robert	Crabtree	The clear message that local responses are the better solution to the current one size fits all.
Jonathan	Chiswell Jones	I am fascinated to discover that governments have a money tree, despite their previous protestations to the contrary that such a thing does not exist, and when they want to they can shake its fruit and distribute it as they see fit. This discovery makes me see that so much of what we are told about economic 'realities' is political invention. Is that a positive? Not quite!
Dave	Bean	Yes during " Lockdown" we had less pollution in terms of Greenhouse gases and noise. Less traffic made it better to get out and about without feeling hassled.People rallied around to help others who could not get out.
Sue	Brock	I could hear the birds sing in my garden and enjoy a beautiful silence for a while. I could walk and not inhale awful car fumes for a while. It was like having a little glimpse re how things could be.
Martin