An untrustworthy Government

M y Labour Group colleagues and I have noticed that life is slowly returning to our city; lockdown has been eased. I have seen instances in which social distancing doesn’t appear to be at the forefront of people’s minds. Use of masks is a bit rarer than one would hope, writes leader of the Labour party on Peterborough City Councl, cllr Shaz Nawaz.

It’s important to note that the coronavirus is still killing people. Peterborough, and by extension the East of England, have been relatively fortunate in having as few deaths as we have. This is not to say that it isn’t still dangerous. However, I worry about lockdown being viewed as more like a switch than a dial: it’s not either on or off, but rather it is increased or decreased in intensity.

It would be easier to convey these messages if the government hadn’t wrecked public trust.

Few things are more pernicious than a government making rules for everyone which it does not abide by itself. Durham Police made it clear that Mr. Cummings’ venture to Barnard Castle was a violation of the lockdown rules. His sojourn to Durham has certainly abrogated the spirit of the rules if not their letter.

In a situation where the rule makers are subject to a different set of strictures than the rule takers, it is a natural response to not take the rules seriously. Besides, there are voices arising from the darker corners of the internet saying that the coronavirus is not more lethal than the flu, it’s only old people and the vulnerable who should be stuffed away. The summer is warm, let’s go live our lives.

There is a problem with that: it doesn’t match the science. Professor Jonathan Van Tam perhaps expressed it best when comparing the coronavirus to a coiled spring held inside a box, you ease the box open with the greatest care, lest it jump out. We should take note as our schools open that South Korea, a country with a far more established grip on the disease, has shut theirs down again because there was a spike in infections.

If indeed our release from lockdown has been too hasty, I am concerned that the government is not going to speak with as much authority as it once did. What if we have to return to lockdown conditions as strict as those were in force in March? Dominic Cummings is a social media joke; but the laughter dies when people don’t take social distancing and other rules seriously because of him.

Strangely, our Conservative colleagues had an opportunity to increase trust by sacking Mr. Cummings; the Prime Minister could have binned him and said clearly that the rules apply to all.

No doubt the tabloids would have run headlines proclaiming him the “Iron Prime Minister” and praised his fairness and sharp decision making. His authority in the party and the country would have been enhanced. Instead, trust has been wrecked, authority drained, and popularity declined. This is quite a price to pay for retaining Mr. Cummings’ services. Let’s hope any further costs aren’t paid by the British public.