Hitting a raw nerve over Tories’ Covid approach?

WHILST I realise how difficult and painful it must be for many die-hard Conservatives to come to terms with how badly the Government has handled the pandemic, it seems I have hit a particularly raw nerve with R.J.Bray.

I can’t say I am too surprised, but Mr Bray’s latest letter does not address at all most of the key facts I outlined in my original correspondence such as the very high comparative death toll from the virus in our country, or our failing Test and Trace system.

As regards what Mr Bray does say:

1. Sadly there were bound to be some people who were never going to follow any rules and there will be certainly be others who stopped bothering after the Dominic Cummings incident.

But the Government and their advisors have told us several times they believe most of the people do follow the rules albeit all the chopping and changing of them, and poor Government messaging, has obviously made for plenty of confusion.

That certainly fits with my own anecdotal experience.

I use public transport and it is rare to see any fellow passengers without a face mask (and some people are of course exempt from wearing them) and whilst I have seen more people without face masks when shopping, they are still very much a minority.

The simple fact is the virus is readily transmittable and many people are exposed to the risk of catching it simply by the nature of their work and going about their every day business.

This of course does not fit at all with the narrative Mr Bray would like us all to believe.

2. I only mentioned the circuit break lockdown as an example of where the Government has not followed the science, although it is worth noting it was only a few weeks after this became public knowledge that the Government was forced into a longer national lockdown.

Other examples of the Government clearly not following the science include the very well intentioned but totally misguided plans for Christmas and the Eat Out To Help Out scheme. I would love to know what Professor Chris Whitty really thought about that one.

3. I fully understand and respect people having their own views and know there are plenty who will profoundly disagree with what I say, but as I have said before, anyone who has letters published in the Examiner is potentially opening themselves open to challenge and debate.

Although there are lots of letters in the Examiner which I disagree with, I don’t usually make a point of replying to them.

Mr Bray has every right to air his views in the Examiner, and I of course have every right to reply to them if I disagree with him.

What a display!

FROM my lofty position in Oldfield I can see all across Huddersfield and on the stroke of midnight I was presented with a magnificent display of fireworks.

The most breathtaking was a display from somewhere in Honley.

It must have cost an arm and a leg but was very much appreciated by myself and I thank whoever put on the display which cheered me up tremendously in these dark times and lifted my spirits so for that I would like to express my thanks.

I recognise myself in two of the three groups which Jeanne Reid mentions in her letter of January 2, but I love fireworks and the beauty and awe they bring for a short time.

What’s on B side?

VINYL records have made a great comeback these past years but one of its pitfalls was the sticking needle.

The track would repeat and repeat very similarly to Messers Shackleton and Woolley with the continuous tracks they choose for the Feedback column.

Their album is now well worn out and another record label needs to be selected.

If the gentlemen’s angst was directed more towards Kirklees administration and their poor performances over the years, I could applaud their tenacity.