BRACKNELL MP James Sunderland praised the groups in his constituency which have “bent themselves out of shape” to support others during the pandemic.

The town’s Westminster representative took part in the first Prime Minister’s Questions session since MPs split up for Easter.

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Mr Sunderland asked his question to First Secretary of State Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he is still recovering from contracting coronavirus.

He said: “One of the striking features of the past few weeks has been the way in which so many public, private and voluntary organisations have bent themselves out of shape to deal with the pandemic, not least in my own constituency, for which a heartfelt thank you.

“Could I please ask the First Secretary to join with me in commending the remarkable resilience, initiative and spirit of the British people and also perhaps to outline what he sees as the essential ingredients for getting our country through this?”

Mr Sunderland was one of very few Members of Parliament actually in the capital, as a handful of politicians spread themselves out on the green benches in order to keep to social distancing guidelines.

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Other MPs listened in and asked questions from video calls.

Responding to Bracknell’s MP, Mr Raab replied: “We are facing a challenge we have not faced for decades or in recent memory.

“It is a national effort and a team effort.

“The critical ingredient is the country comes together as it has done in this incredible national effort and national mission to defeat coronavirus.

“I pay tribute not just to the NHS workers, the carers and those on the frontline but also to those in the voluntary sector and also to those who we are understanding more and more are also part of the key workers in our economy and our society: the delivery drivers, the people working in the supermarket.

“All of those who are steering us through this time of national crisis.

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“Together we can rise to the challenge and I’m absolutely confident we will to the challenge and come back as one United Kingdom stronger than ever.”

Watch the full exchange here.

Prime Minister’s Questions took place on Wednesday, April 22.