Johnson too slow to lock UK down

SIR, – Dennis Forbes Grattan (Letters, March 24) is completely wrong in his praise of Boris Johnson’s leadership.

No matter that the lack of ventilators, personal protective equipment, intensive care beds and staff is entirely down to the Tory austerity programme, the fact is Johnson has acted too slowly and with far too light a touch.

There is little doubt the lockdown should have happened two or three weeks ago when it could have made a far bigger difference.

Boris should have looked at Italy, seen what was happening there and introduced a shutdown immediately.

We all have TVs, we knew what was happening, so why didn’t he?

Once the pandemic is over we need to look hard at these decisions and their consequences and I don’t think we’ll then be praising Boris for his leadership, but regretting his timidity, lack of initiative and poor judgment.

Dick Winchester, Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire