Costly Covid mistakes - for some

THERE’S a great line in the BBC drama series Roadkill when justice minister Peter Laurence (Hugh Laurie), accused of fathering an illegitimate daughter who’s in prison, tells his spin doctor: “You can get away with anything if you just brazen it out.”

Here are a few clips from the real-life drama Covid-19: Breaking The Rules:

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s chief adviser breached coronavirus lockdown by driving 260 miles to see his parents. No apology.

Boris’s dad, Stanley Johnson, went shopping without a mask. Apology and no excuses.

Margaret Ferrier, Scottish MP, travelled from Glasgow to London with coronavirus symptoms. Apology but says she was forced into it.

Welsh MP Stephen Kinnock, rapped by police for visiting dad Neil on his birthday but insisted it was essential travel.

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader, spotted at dinner party for nine in breach of “rule of six”. Apology – “my mistake”, he said.

England footballers Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Phil Foden (among others) breached “rule of six” by attending birthday party. Apology and dropped from England squad.

Except for the footballers, one thing unites the rest of this bunch, apart from the fact they’re wellconnected: none of them have paid a penalty for ignoring the rules the rest of us are expected to follow. Unlike the four University of Nottingham lads who were fined £10,000 each for holding a party for 30 students.

Unlike the Jersey student silly enough to post a picture on Instagram of her visiting a restaurant when she was supposed to self-isolating and was fined £7,000.

They can’t brazen it out. Unlike the celebs, who’ll keep their wealth and positions of privilege, while the students will be plunged into debt and their university careers may suffer.

No wonder ordinary folk think there’s one rule for the rich and famous and another for themselves. And wonder – wrong as it is – that some see the disregard shown by powerful people as an excuse for them not to follow the rules either. All of which adds up to the risk of coronavirus being spread, leading to more pressure on the NHS and potentially more deaths.

Then BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire apologised for telling the Radio Times she’d break the rule of six to celebrate Christmas with her family. Amid the ensuing media storm, she said: “I was totally wrong to say it and I’m sorry,” but added that she was being “hypothetical”.

By then the damage had been done. Millions who’d also like a family Christmas had read her initial comments and some will probably be tempted to take a risk.