Well done to NHS, army and volunteers

THERE is a steady stream of letters to this newspaper criticising people for criticising the government.

Whilst I have some sympathy for the view that in times of crisis we should rally behind our leaders, that does not mean they should escape censure.

Indeed, it is the criticism from young footballers, Labour politicians, nursing representatives, local authorities and others which have forced the government into changes of direction, which have been for the better for the country. And the Prime Minister should not escape responsibility for his Government’s mistakes.

The facts speak for themselves. When you have just about the worst death rate in Europe and by far the worst economic performance through the pandemic, then you have got things wrong. When a football team languishes at the bottom of the table, the manager may have dozens of excuses to explain their poor performance, but he is still sacked !

Thankfully, the Government seems at last to be learning from its mistakes. It moved early and speedily to secure vaccine supplies, and instead of spending hundreds of millions of precious taxpayers’ money on their cronies in the world of private consultants and business, they have entrusted the logistics of the roll-out to the NHS and the army, who are making a fantastic job of it.

Well done, and can I in passing just mention that most days I drive past a local vaccination centre and see outside in the freezing weather the volunteers marshalling the car park and queues so efficiently.

God bless them.

Paul Thomas Somerset