We’ve more sheep than people, but we’re still in Tier 3

I Am living in one of Her majesty’s newly opened prisons, previously known as County Durham.

There are far more sheep than people here, yet we are trapped in Tier 3, effectively a lockdown.

One of our largest conurbations, Durham, may have britain’s third oldest university, but it is comparatively small, with around 48,000 citizens. You can drive through it in a matter of minutes.

Durham City itself has a handful of infections, but apparently this equates to a rate of 55 per 100,000.

The rates are supposedly arrived at through computer modelling by independent groups at universities and the muchcriticised public Health england. These go to a sub-group of sage.

If population numbers are less than 100,000, the algorithm simply multiplies the number of those infected to create a comparison.

If you have a population that’s half of 100,000, such as Durham’s, the number infected used to establish the rate is doubled.

This nonsense way of calculating data can be seen when looking at the figures for my home town, which has just 10,000 inhabitants.

It is split in two, with North Crook having 12 infections in the seven days to December 14, equating to 127 per 100,000, and South Crook’s 22 infections equating to 227 per 100,000.

It is time the Government treated us like adults who can recognise when our actions may put others at risk, particularly the vulnerable or those with underlying health issues, and let us get on with our lives the best we can. BRIAN WARD, Crook, Co. Durham. NOW I am living in a Tier 3 area, can the so-called experts explain why it is still safe for my wife to go to the hairdresser, but I can’t go to a socially distanced pub? RICK EMERSON, Bagshot, Surrey. My Friend who lives on the Hampshire/berkshire border is still in Tier 2, but the hens at the bottom of her large garden are now in Tier 4!

S. BROWN, Basingstoke, Hants.

Safe but lonely

Christmas is about family and friends. As far as I am concerned, they have to be protected.

I have not spent nine months keeping safe to put not only myself but everyone I love in danger.

I have postponed my family Christmas until it can be celebrated without risk.

Have a safe Christmas, even if it is lonely, and look forward to a brighter new year.

CAROL POWER, Doncaster, S. Yorks. IT’S your choice: Christmas, Overindulge, Virus, Illness, Death. STEPHEN SHERRINGTON, Ashton-in-Makerfield,

Gtr Manchester.

EU has a lot to lose

WHY should the EU worry about us leaving? It’s not as if Germany sells us many mercedes, Volkswagen or Bmws. We don’t buy many Fiats from Italy; hardly any Seat cars from Spain; or peugeots, Citroens and Renaults from France. Flowers from the Netherlands are never in great demand.

That’s to say nothing about the number of us who take holidays in those countries.

Just imagine the trade they will lose by higher tariffs being imposed on their goods coming into britain.

If there is No Deal, it will be up to us to start buying more cars from Japan and South Korea, fruit and veg from Africa and, of course, british products. GEORGE HATCHMAN,

Cheshunt, Herts. The problem with the brexit talks continuing ever closer to the deadline is that, even at this late stage, businesses do not have certainty about the future.

Some will hold off No Deal preparations hoping for an 11thhour deal. If it doesn’t materialise, they will have no time to adjust.

If certainty, even of a less-thanideal scenario, trumps uncertainty, then we should have walked away from the table months ago.

ADEYEMI BANJO, London SE15.

Verily, he’s funny

Verily I sayeth that Disciple Littlejohn should be forthwith lifted on high to the exalted position of comedy scripture scribe for that which is knowneth as Television.

I cryeth in huge receptacles of my flakes of corn when I read his latest epistle.

His scripture is most worthy of being enacted by this medium that containeth mighty repeated donkey droppings that passeth for humorous.

A. ASHTON, St Austell, Cornwall.

Bankrupt Britain

IT DOES not take a financial genius to see this country is heading for bankruptcy. by extending furlough until may, we are paying people to stay at home when we desperately need them to get back to work. With reduced income tax and VAT receipts, we are surviving on fresh air. What will happen in April? Thousands of people will be made redundant and need to claim unemployment benefit.

How is the money to be repaid and by which future generation?

Our leaders should start acting like a Conservative government and give us some hope or they might never get back into power.

CHRIS SHARP, Leeds.

China syndrome

HOW can boris Johnson implore us to buy british? Does he not realise almost everything in our shops comes from China?

As well as Christmas decorations, they sell us tools, clothes, household items, light bulbs and even toilet brushes.

While britain and the rest of the western world is in lockdown, the people’s Republic of China is doing very well, thank you.

BILL BRUNO, Ottershaw, Surrey. The issue is not only the countries where our food comes from, but how it has got here. You may think you are buying green beans from Kenya, but a lot of imported produce comes overland through the EU or via its airspace. PAULINE LYSEIGHT-JONES,

Iver Heath, Bucks.

Save our crumpets!

WHY in this winter of Covid misery do we have the health police warning us of the salt content of crumpets (mail)?

They are a british institution. What’s next on the danger list: cocoa or digestive biscuits?

On a miserable wet day, nothing beats a hot, buttered crumpet topped with jam, marmalade or marmite (not all at once!).

Don’t we have more important things to be concerned about? A. ARMSTRONG, Broadstairs, Kent.