PM should focus on wider issues

Whilst your reporter Ollie Kemp leapt at his chance to become part of history by being photographed beside the Prime Minister on his visit to a Ramsgate vaccination centre [‘No you can’t take any photos, but we do have croissants’, Gazette, December 23), many of us would rather he had stayed in London doing what he was elected to do.

Since mass vaccination got under way towards the end of last year Boris Johnson has been rushing up and down the country banging peoples elbows and trying to convey the impression that he is the saviour of the nation, and it is through him that we have the gift of vaccine.

As we all know, it was scientists at Oxford and laboratories across the world who collaborated to develop a suitable vaccine, indeed research was already under way in Oxford the moment Covid was confirmed in Wuhan in December 2019, let alone in Great Britain weeks later. Boris Johnson has done no more than any other elected Prime Minister, of whatever political persuasion, would have done to save the citizens of Great Britain from this terrible scourge.

A Prime Minster’s job is to govern from Downing Street and to be ahead of his brief; I feel Johnson’s popularity would rise if we saw photographs and film of him working at his red despatch boxes grappling with the important issues of the day, rather than rushing here and there mouthing stupid platitudes and failing to answer valid questions put by journalists on behalf of the local public or constituents. Even on the subject of Brexit, a word he might wish would go away, there are matters which directly affect Canterbury, let alone the rest of Britain. Just to name two:

It has been reported that visitor numbers from Europe are down due to the Government’s refusal to recognise EU identity cards for visitors, and insisting instead on full passports, so having a detrimental effect on school and student parties visiting Britain to see our cultural sites as well as take part in language courses. The cost of passports, beyond the cost of some parents, and resulting paperwork for institutions is so great that groups, especially language groups, are choosing Ireland instead. So for example, Canterbury and other cathedrals will lose thousands of pounds each year as a result, a matter which could easily be solved by common sense on the part of the

‘Perhaps the planners and politicians can explain how this scheme and expenditure of £2.5 million will benefit the public? And would it not be better to invest this money on some really sustainable transport?’

Government. The Government’s excuse that it is down to Covid will not hold water.

Another matter is the curtailment of the Erasmus Scheme allowing British students to study at European universities which has helped thousands, and especially those studying languages for decades. We have been told by the Prime Minister that we are going to introduce a better scheme called the Turing Scheme but there is no sign of it so far - certainly one thing that was not “oven ready” like so much else we were promised.

Finally, Boris John always likes to appear when addressing the nation flanked by the national flag, as do other world leaders. However, and this might infuriate some of his xenophobic acolytes, we are still a member of the Council of Europe, indeed a founder member in 1949 and the blue flag with its circle of twelve stars should surely flank a member head of state when he or she addresses that nation.

Unfortunately the coastline of Europe is not going to disappear beyond sight of the White Cliffs of Dover and the Prime Minster would do better to get to grips with problems directly affecting our relations with Europe and not only the two matters mentioned above, but also the question of trade regulations with Northern Ireland and the agreement he signed as part of Brexit.

It could all have been solved during the negotiations when we were offered regulatory alignment with the EU. Your problem now, Mr Johnson! Hubert Pragnell

Meadow Road, Canterbury