Letters: Lockdowns ruin lives

Lockdown damage

Sir: I am sick and tired of people taking the moral high ground and looking down on ‘lockdown sceptics’ like me as if we don’t care. It’s ironic, because while there is no clear evidence to date that national lockdowns actually save more lives (contra the interview with Matt Hancock, 9 January), there is plenty of evidence that lockdowns ruin lives.

If anyone should take the moral high ground it is those, like myself, who witness this ‘collateral damage’ on a daily basis. Yes, the health issues are complex. And who would want to govern at this time? But when you know that your chosen strategy will result in avoidable deaths, such as those from cancer, it seems obvious that it is not an option that should even be considered — certainly not for the length of time it has been. At the very least there ought to be an ‘effortful pause’ so that we can debate this properly. One gets the disturbing feeling that we are being governed by mantras rather than by wisdom.
The Revd Dr Ian Stackhouse
Guildford, Surrey

Going, going, gong

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Matthew Parris

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Sir: Andrew Knight argues that no journalist should ever ‘carry a title or wear a gong’ (‘Honour bound’, 9 January). Ralph Blumenfeld, editor of the Daily Express between 1902 and 1929, clearly agreed. After the general election of 1922, Blumenfeld was offered a knighthood in recognition of his newspaper’s role in bringing down Lloyd George’s coalition. Blumenfeld declined the honour, and asked whether he might instead be granted membership of the Carlton Club. As an American Jew, Blumenfeld recognised that this was a more reliable indicator of acceptance by the British establishment.
The Revd Sam Aldred
Swansea, West Glamorgan

A pinch of salt?

Sir: Working in the nuclear industry, I was surprised at Tim Ambler’s claim (Letters, 9 January) that molten salt reactors are already operating in Canada; I can find no source that corroborates this.