Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Covid-19 and Loneliness

15 June 2021 · 6 other contributors · 8,997 words

Opened by Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

Responding minister: Not recorded

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Liz Twist raised concerns about covid-19 and loneliness in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • Loneliness is a common issue in the UK, particularly affecting young people aged 18 to 24, with the pandemic exacerbating the problem.
  • Before the pandemic, around 8% to 18% of adults in the UK reported feeling lonely often, with 200,000 older people regularly going without conversation for over a month.
  • During the period from October 2020 to February 2021, approximately 7.2% of adults (3.7 million people) felt lonely often or always.

Key requests to Government

The Government must commit to a connected recovery from the covid-19 pandemic, recognising the need for long-term work to rebuild social connections following periods of isolation. The Minister should meet me and representatives of the British Red Cross and the APPG to discuss how we can take this important work forward.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

Loneliness is a common issue with wide-ranging negative effects, impacting individuals of all ages but particularly affecting young people aged between 18 and 24. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem, leading to increased isolation and loneliness for many, especially those who are less digitally savvy. Before the pandemic, around 8% to 18% of adults in the UK reported feeling lonely often, with an estimated 200,000 older people regularly going without a conversation for over a month. During the period between October 2020 and February 2021, around 7.2% of adults (3.7 million people) felt lonely often or always.

Other contributors (6)
  • Darren Henry Con Broxtowe

    Mr. Darren Henry highlighted the impact of loneliness during the pandemic, noting that almost 40% of UK adults are more concerned about their loneliness than a year ago and over one third are worried about connecting with people in person post-pandemic. He also mentioned that young people aged between 18-24 consistently report higher levels of loneliness compared to other age groups.

  • Jamie Stone Lib Dem Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

    The MP highlighted the impact of loneliness on elderly individuals during lockdown, particularly through an anecdote about a constituent named Sally Cartwright. He suggested that music and regular communication via technology could help mitigate feelings of isolation in future lockdowns.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Emphasised the devastating impact of social distancing on vulnerable individuals, sharing personal stories about grieving in isolation. Highlighted the importance of mental health support and community rebuilding efforts post-pandemic. Recommended initiatives such as mother and toddler groups, afternoon tea dances, and face-to-face parent-teacher meetings to combat loneliness.

  • Marion Fellows SNP West Dunbartonshire

    The SNP Scottish Government are committed to tackling social isolation and loneliness, investing £4.3 million in digital inclusion through the Connecting Scotland programme which has helped 5,000 older and disabled people get online. The government will develop a new five-year social isolation and loneliness plan backed by £10 million over five years.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op York Central

    Ms Maskell highlighted the pervasive issue of loneliness, particularly exacerbated by the pandemic. She noted that 41% of adults feel lonelier than before the first lockdown and stressed the need for a community-based approach to combatting loneliness, with adequate funding from the Government.

  • David Amess Con Southend West

    Sir David Amess congratulated Liz Twist on securing the debate and echoed her remarks about Jo Cox. He highlighted that loneliness was a complex issue, noting that people with long-term disabilities and widowed homeowners were more likely to feel lonely pre-pandemic but now many more are affected due to lockdown restrictions. Sir David also praised carers and charities for their work during the pandemic, mentioning initiatives such as the St Vincent de Paul Society and Trust Links which offer support to vulnerable individuals. He advocated for raising awareness of loneliness and eradicating its stigma, stressing that it affects people of all ages.

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