This is a defining period for this country and one which will be remembered for generations to come.

We are all in it together but in recent years it has not been like that has it.

It is all very well clapping our health care staff and making ourselves feel better that we have in some way thanked key workers for their efforts.

From the store workers to delivery drivers each and every one is clearly a hero.

But why are we only doing this now?

Why all of a sudden do we feel the urge to thank those real workers who are helping us get through this crisis?

When this is all over why don’t we encourage our government to spend more on health care and less on billion dollar defence systems and illicit foreign wars.

Maybe we have in fact been fighting the wrong enemy all along.

It wasn’t the migrants and foreigners who were the problem at all. It was this unseen virus which has turned all our lives upside down.

What I find a little repulsive is that the national newspapers and media personalities who engineered a campaign of hatred against ‘foreigners’ are now openly applauding their efforts.

It is funny how we want to share this new spirit of ‘Britishness’ when we need people to help us.

The first NHS casualties in this fight against coronavirus were Muslim.

It is strange how attitudes can change when we need someone to take care of us.

The fact is if it was not because of the collective efforts of immigrants and descendants of other immigrants we would be at the mercy of this virus more than we already are.

Only months ago people were at each others throats talking up threats from ideas and theories as if their lives depended on it.

‘Left’ or ‘right’ – none of that matters anymore.

I would like to think that after this is all over some of us will change our attitudes and realise that we can’t carry on thinking we are only British if we choose to support one political idea over another.

Britishness was never about colour. It wasn’t about if you could speak English. It had nothing to do with what religion you were or how integrated you were.

It was about standing up to be counted and doing the right thing when your country needed you most. It was about putting yourself in harm's way to make sure others who are more vulnerable live to see another day. In a few months, when this is all over, it might be good to remember that.