The prime minister made a great play of ‘levelling up’ – but it is not happening

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Parallel universe? Boris Johnson throws out figures like confetti (AFP/Getty)

The governor of the Bank of England and others have said there is a vast sum of savings waiting to be spent when there is a return to “normal”. This, apparently, will kickstart the economy.

Perhaps they live in a parallel universe. While I accept we want a positive future, it is completely one-sided. There may be those who have saved but where is the mention and recognition of those who have lost their jobs? Who may lose their homes? Who have no savings and are living hand to mouth?

The prime minister made a great play of “levelling up” but no such thing has, or is, happening. Rather than levelling up it is more, “devil take the hindmost”. The prime minister and chancellor throw out figures like confetti but with no recognition of individuals and families, the self-employed and others who have fallen through the net.

It is not just Covid but the effects of Brexit. Any problems are just “teething problems”, they say. This a complete misrepresentation of the situation of many. While the “haves” gain, the “have nots” are left to flounder. Meanwhile, government by soundbite continues – superficial and fatuous.

Boris Johnson may announce a route of lockdown but in terms of the effects of Covid and Brexit, I think the best phrase I can think of is: you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Graham Jarvis

Leeds

Mixed messaging on quarantine rules

In the blue corner, we have Scotland requiring all inbound international passengers to quarantine at an airport hotel. In the red corner, we have England, where only those arriving from the “red list” countries need do the same.

At present, both systems are flawed. What we need is to develop and agree a national policy. Instead, we are swinging political punches in a blame game with no winners.

Scotland’s well-intentioned policy has backfired due to a loophole, which encourages travellers to arrive via England instead. Take, for example, one of the first flights to land at Edinburgh airport from Istanbul: only five out of the original 60 passengers boarded. Putting it another way, 92 per cent had chosen to divert their journey to save a hefty quarantine bill and consequently a much longer journey home to self isolation.

This not a good health policy for the UK. Nicola Sturgeon should put political stubbornness to the side and public health first by aligning with the current UK policy and then lobbying for the outright travel ban the UK needs.

Paul Morrison

Glasgow

Vaccine spin

It is interesting to see the government taking credit for the vaccine programme, something conducted using the NHS and local authority networks and staff. It is a marked contrast to the disastrous test and trace system farmed out at great cost to companies in the private sector with little experience of the field.

This is something to remember when the prime minister and his ministers attempt to spin the success of the vaccine rollout as cover for their other overwhelming inadequacies in handling this crisis.

Paul Donovan

London E1

Teachers must be vaccinated next

I have been following your comments on vaccination with interest. Although your comments are fair and well reasoned, like many people, you seem to overlook teachers, who work daily with young children and who are believed to be among the most frequent carriers of the virus.

The prime minister constantly tells us that his main aim is to get children back to school as soon as possible. Why is not more being done to ensure that teachers are vaccinated, irrespective of age?

Val Hatton

Melton Mowbray

Book smart

I have only today read your fascinating article about the need to have our books printed on recycled paper (‘The book industry fells billions of trees – it’s down to authors to demand to be printed on recycled paper’, 12 February). This is something I can and will certainly act on.

Changing all of our lifestyles and habits is not an easy task but I like to think that articles such as this will help us all to make the required changes – for the future of our planet and grandchildren.

Joan Cooper

Leighton Buzzard

The weakest link?

As Anne Robinson is taking over from Nick Hewer as the host of Countdown, this nationally much loved programme will no longer be watched by me. The same applies to Who Wants to be a Millionaire? since the caustic and contemptuous Jeremy Clarkson took over.

Two amiable hosts replaced by two abrasive ones. A trend, then, and a sad one. In the case of Countdown, it’s a very long road from Richard Whiteley to Anne Robinson.

Penny Little

Oxfordshire