Arts graduates have failed us

Ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the UK has repeatedly failed to implement an effective test and trace system.

But the recent revelation that thousand of cases were missed because the whole system was being run using a spreadsheet was a shocking national embarrassment.

It demonstrated a mind-blowing level of incompetence at the heart and in the head of the process.

It would be easy to blame those in charge.

But they cannot help it.

None of them understand the science or the technology.

The PM’s cabinet is stuffed with arts graduates, and they appoint their equally unqualified friends to run day-to-day operations.

Boris himself has a degree in classics, perfect if you want to travel back in time a few millennia but not much use in the

21st century.

The fault for all this rests with the STEM community of scientists, technologists. engineers and mathematicians who have largely surrendered the world of politics and government to arts and politics graduates, lawyers and journalists.

As a member of this STEM grouping myself I freely admit that my generation has failed in our responsibilities to you all.

The younger STEM community now needs to step up and get involved.

And the electorate needs to remember how arts graduates failed us and instead cast their votes for those that do understand the science.

Meanwhile, to make amends, I have a working Sinclair ZX81 computer to offer the Government.

I might even be prepared to chuck in a 16k RAM-pack and a copy of VU-CALC on cassette.