Carol McGiffin

‘The government just can’t stop exposing itself lately. Following the extended 21 June “Freedom Day” deadline, it’s getting more difficult for them to pull the wool over people’s eyes or convince them it’s justified.

It started with the perfectly staged G7 summit in Cornwall, where fully masked world leaders theatrically bumped elbows then all slipped off to enjoy a barbecue where they ditched all the pretence. No masks, no social distancing, no rule of six, no shame.

Various politicians tried to defend it all by claiming that “all necessary safety measures” were in place, with Dominic Raab admitting, “there have always been different principles for social entertainment or weddings than for government business”. And there you have it. In other words, the rules apply to you and me but not to them. Brilliant.

Then came the football, with hordes of fans descending on London from Scotland and, despite gathering in Leicester Square and at the game, with no social distancing or masks, they were allowed to carry on, singing, chanting and prancing around, unhindered. Which wouldn’t be a problem if all of that behaviour wasn’t still outlawed for weddings or socialising.

But the best example of their “do as we say not as we do” authoritarianism came with the decision to allow UEFA bigwigs to come to England from European countries for the final, without quarantine. Something no ordinary person can do – even if they’re “doublejabbed” or tested to within an inch of their life – unless they’re coming from a “green list” country, which these rule-dodgers are almost certainly not. All of which I think is a good thing. If only because it has helped to jolt people out of 15 months of rabid compliance into the wide-awake reality that the government can’t hide any more, that they are lying to you and it is obviously and finally over.’