Letter: Leadership Failures Reveal a Government Unfit to Govern

Published on: 20 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 20 Dec, 2020

From: Andrew Eacott

In response to: Stuck in Tier 4, So Lib Dems Ask, Now What Government Help Do We Get?

At almost every decision point, this government has displayed a considerable lack of foresight and planning, a clear failure of leadership which led to a worse outcome for our country, compared to our peers.

Downing Street locked down too late, probably because Boris was too busy celebrating his oven-ready deal to attend Cobra meetings.

They had let our pandemic PPE stockpiles expire without following recommendations for replenishing them, leaving us without enough for the NHS and having to rush through contracts for Tory donors to supply more (some unfit for purpose).

They encouraged schools to reopen and university students to return but were apparently surprised when this led to a demand for more testing. They planned for a relaxation of Christmas rules that would clearly cause a spike in infections and lead to another lockdown in January. But hey, it sounds good in a headline, right?

On Monday, they were suing some London boroughs to keep schools open, but only three days later, they’d decided schools should be closed for the first week in January (with absolutely no details made available to already over-stretched teachers).

Governing during a fast-moving pandemic is incredibly challenging but this particular government has shown itself to be wholly unfit to lead.

Responses to Letter: Leadership Failures Reveal a Government Unfit to Govern

Jim Allen Reply

December 20, 2020 at 9:18 pm

Oh what a delight to receive a PhD in hindsight for Christmas, but they are getting a bit common.

Is there anyone with a PhD in foresight, so we can find our way out of this quicksand maze?
Adele Potter Reply

December 21, 2020 at 3:51 pm

Can someone tell me why our borders are open with no Covid negative test requirement when many European countries are shutting their borders to people travelling from England/UK and require a Covid negative test document from UK?

Now that we have rapid testing why can’t we get this set up at all border controls or make it a requirement?

Also, I have had the Covid-19 vaccine as a healthcare worker and once I have had the booster on January 8, will I be able to have a vaccine passport? I realise I may still be a carrier of the virus (eg: clothing and hands, if I am not careful) but surely we should be finding a way to keep movement flowing but with properly implemented checks and balances, restricting the movement of the virus, not the individuals.

PS: I had to go from Tier 4 to Waverley to go to my doctor’s surgery for a cancer screening test this morning. Guildford was like a ghost town, Godalming Waitrose car park was full with queues for the car park by 9.45am from what I could see from the one-way system.