This government was elected by people who do as they please. No wonder the UK’s lockdown is a joke

Medics have warned anti-vaccination conspiracy theories could hamper attempts to end the Covid-19 pandemic: EPA
Medics have warned anti-vaccination conspiracy theories could hamper attempts to end the Covid-19 pandemic: EPA

In my view, the UK government was elected by people who believe they should be free to do what they want. They see any constraint as a personal affront. This has led to a government that is blinkered in its dealings with Covid-19 and Brexit. They will not accept that the virus and the EU have their own course of action.

The result is a lot of wishful thinking and damage to the UK, driven by the desire not to be criticised rather than an effort to understand the issues and find the best solution. It is no accident that the virus has done less damage to lives and economies in the countries that see the individual as part of a society, subject to what is best for that society, and is wreaking most havoc in countries that do not value the rights of a cohesive society.

I believe implementing a lockdown a week earlier would have halved the burden on the NHS and saved a considerable number of lives. A stricter lockdown for a week or two longer would have brought new cases down to a level that trace and test could have easily addressed. An obligatory app that builds an encoded database of all contacts within Bluetooth range of a smartphone would allow algorithms to tell people when and where they must test without revealing any personal information to a human. Alas, we have been told that so-called freedoms were given priority.

Without an understanding of the rights of societies in Europe, it will be a hard Brexit and further weakening of a damaged UK economy.

The only hope is that it will be so bad that a new political force emerges that puts society as a whole first rather than the vested, and misguided, interests of the current political parties.

Jon Hawksley
London EC1R

No deal means Nissan goes under

As someone who grew up around the corner from the Nissan factory, I know just how important it is to the region. With the news that the plant may not survive in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it beggars belief that this government is not going to ask for an extension to the transition period.

This increases the risk of a no-deal Brexit and thus Nissan leaving our region, taking its 7,000 jobs with it (and thousands more if you include the supply chain). Whichever way you voted in the EU referendum, it was probably not for this scenario. In the middle of a pandemic, it is utter madness not to extend to prevent such a no-deal scenario.

The north-east is currently the worst affected by Covid-19 and will soon be the worst affected by a no-deal Brexit too. Please let us not revisit our economic disaster of the pit-closure past and extend the transition period to save the region from ruin.

Louise Brown
Gateshead

Mandatory face masks

You report that face coverings will soon be compulsory on public transport. Of course, I have no qualms with this announcement, but I do condemn the amount of time such an obvious policy has taken to materialise. Face coverings should have been made mandatory not only on public transport, but in supermarkets and pharmacies too, months ago. I am left aghast at this incomprehensible delay.

This government, throughout the Covid-19 crisis, has been slow, inept and inefficient. Its incompetence will have cost lives and its callous and cavalier disregard for Dominic Cummings' rule-breaking will also have sent the wrong messages to the public. When, oh when, will our government start to behave like a decent administration?

Sebastian Monblat
Sutton

Black lives matter

The British media reeks of smugness when it comes to Black Lives Matter issues.

Claims of British superiority vis-a-vis immigrants were treated as a “national virtue” during the Brexit campaign. Such immigrants have saved thousands of lives here in the last two months.

Mike Bor
London W2

US-imported food

We’re hearing that a trade deal with the USA could result in a law banning country of origin labelling on imported food. Where does this leave "taking back control" of our laws? Surely this couldn’t require a ban on labelling food from here or other countries? In effect, would any food without a country of origin label be presumed to come from the USA?

David Buckton
Cambridge

Natural history GSCEs

Caroline Lucas writes supporting the introduction of a GCSE in natural history. It is an important and welcome development in the curriculum in our schools. Our natural British heritage is under threat as a huge number of species are in rapid decline. It is in everybody's interest to protect our wildlife. A future without bees, who help pollinate many of our vital crops including apples, cranberries, melons, broccoli, almonds, blueberries and cherries, is unthinkable.

I look forward to a time when children will learn about our native species and begin to learn to love and protect hares, swallows, hedgehogs and other iconic creatures.

But with the lockdown easing, now is the time to teach our children about British wildlife by going on long walks and talking about what you see. The Wildlife Trust has a wealth of information to help hard-pressed homeschoolers to find out more.

Judy Carruthers
Carlisle

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