Let’s put human need in front of corporate greed
B. Senoaks rightly complains about the inequality of international access to coronavaccines, ‘We’re all in this together but not in same lifeboat,’ (Viewpoints, February 25) and the short-sightedness (as well as moral failure) of selfish scrabbling by rich nations such as ours for over supplies.
However it has sadly to be expected- politicians are voted for by their electorates and few would support “Granny” coming behind someone they have never met or heard of.
The recent news our government is going to ‘donate’ excess vaccines to poorer nations, once we’ve had our requirements fed reminds me of the image of crumbs from the rich man’s table feeding the dogs. The fact that Lord Ahmad, when questioned repeatedly in the Lords on February 22, failed to give assurances the ‘donation’ would be a free gift makes me shake my head in despair.
With the Covax facility simply inadequate, radical action beyond small-change charity (welcome as donations may be) is called for.
Poor countries may emulate the rich in competing to buy what they can, but they will always be at the back of the queue and unable to protect all those needing it. Let’s stand with them and lead in putting human need before corporate greed.
E Hypanthropon, Manchester
No problem Hancock?
MATT Hancock now says there was never any problem with the supply of PPE.
Firstly, is he intimating that medical and nursing staff throughout the country were lying?
Secondly, prior to Covid the Government was warned that if there was a pandemic the country would not be able to cope because of a shortage of PPE.
Perhaps, Mr Hancock, as Secretary of State for Health was unaware of this.
Lastly, if there wasn’t a shortage of PPE why was there a panic to procure items from companies with no experience of manufacturing PPE, which has resulted in billions being spent, sometimes on items not fit for purpose?
J. Barker, Manchester
Disastrous for trade
LIZ Truss has been reported as telling the NFU conference: ‘Our farmers need access to new markets around the world, but we need to get rid of the barriers holding them back.’ The hypocrisy of this statement is astonishing!
The UK exports over twice as much food and drink to the EU as to non-EU countries but Boris Johnson’s dreadful deal with the EU has created enormous barriers of red-tape. The Food and Drink Federation stated that food exports to the EU declined by between
50-60 per cent in January this year. A recent survey of supply chain managers found that delays were worse in February than they were in January. These are not ‘teething problems,’ they are structural problems.
Due to the customs border down the Irish Sea, something Boris Johnson said we would never have, health certificates are even needed to send sausages to Northern Ireland. Seemingly, as from July 1, exports of sausages to Northern Ireland will be banned all together unless another deal can be negotiated.
The deal is disastrous for Northern Ireland, disastrous for our fishing industry, and due to redtape, is proving to be disastrous for our farming and food industry.