Exercise caution not rule-breaking

■ WHEN is a crisis not a crisis? Possibly when Boris Johnson is in charge. When there are in excess of 500 deaths on a Sunday due to Covid-19, yet our erstwhile Prime Minister is busy, not running the country, but out cycling seven miles from D owning Street, seemingly oblivious to his own guidance to stay at home, and that if you must exercise, stay local. This man is a living embodiment of the privileged elite, believing they have a God-given right to lead but without the intelligence or talent to succeed.

I find it difficult to believe that this is 2021 rather than 1421 when, without any education, peasants could be excused their ignorance. There is no such excuse today.

Alan Mercer, Chorley, Lancs

■ The current lockdown is failing to deal with the new variant of Covid-19 and the Government is once again blaming the public for its spread when it is their own mixed messaging to blame.

Too many manufacturing, retail and service jobs are being defined as key work which is having a knock-on effect on childcare, schools, transport and high streets. The rules on exercising are too lax, typified by Boris Johnson’s seven-mile bike ride, while elite sports continue despite rulebreaking and Covid cases. Hopefully the tougher we make it now, th e sooner it will be over.

Brett Grainger

Rugeley, Staffs

■ The Government is threatening to get tough with harder lockdown rules but then Boris Johnson goes on a seven-mile bike ride across London, with Downing Street failing to specify what local exercise means or whether we are allowed to sit on a bench with a takeaway drink.

The lack of clarity from this Government is costing lives. When questions are asked, they reply with the same old waffle. They need to do the job they are paid to do.

Dave Mellor, Warrington, Cheshire

■ I wasn’t too concerned about Boris going for a bike ride. In fact, the sooner he gets on his bike for good, the better!

What I did find annoying was, on the day we were given the sensible advice not to stop and chat, we see him bumbling around a vaccination centre, bumping elbows and stopping to chat!

Stuart Magrath, Wigan

Gtr Manchester

■ How can the Government say they might need to impose even stricter lockdown rules when Boris Johnson travelled to a vaccination i ti centre in Bristol the other day and Matt Hancock was at one in Epsom, Surrey? Then Johnson goes for a seven-mile bike ride across London. It seems it’s one rule for us and another for them. Alan Robinson, Liverpool

■ Here we are again, new lockdown rules for the nation and Prime Minister Johnson ignoring advice to stay local by cycling around London. Meanwhile, ministers complain people aren’t following the rules and threaten a tougher lockdown. It’s no wonder people aren’t sticking to the rules.

Michael Maher, Ashton-underLyne, Gtr Manchester

■ Once again the Tories can’t be trusted to abide by the spirit of the Covid guidance. You have Johnson riding his bike where he likes and Rees-mogg ignoring the tiers to go to church. They should all resign as once again they have proved to be unfit to run the country.

Carolann Crawley, Upminster

Gtr London