Why your views on the government’s management of the pandemic are carrying so much more weight

It’s anyone’s guess as to how Boris Johnson will fare going forward. One thing that won’t falter though, is the need to hear what you think, writes Kuba Shand-Baptiste

Boris Johnson leads a coronavirus press conference at 10 Downing Street (Getty Images)

As the government nervously clings to its decision not to extend free school meals to winter, our voices seem to be getting louder.  

Thanks to continual mishandling of the pandemic, we are in many ways singing from the same hymn sheet, uniquely united in our growing disdain for what appears to be nothing more than a lack of compassion for those who need it most this winter.  

In fact, a new Opinium poll shows that 50 per cent of the public disapprove of the way the pandemic has been handled, with just 29 per cent saying they’re in favour of the current tactics in place to curb the crisis.  

The Conservative party is clearly on shaky ground, and as the Boris Johnson versus Marcus Rashford (whose position increasingly represents the majority of the nation) debacle rages on, cementing this year’s numerous mishaps in our minds, it will likely become more unstable.  

It’s unclear where things will go from here, or indeed how much worse they could become. But one thing that is apparent, is the need to amplify the voices of people on the ground, or working in the communities this government has left behind, whether we’re talking about free school meals, the confusing nature of lockdown or the need for devolution. We’ve heard from a local contact tracer, who has outlined why central tracing doesn’t work; a public services and community-based think tank director, on the widening gulf between the people and the government; those fighting for a more diverse curriculum and more.  

With Brexit negotiations, the US election and the changing nature of lockdown restrictions to contend with, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Tory government will fare going forward. One thing that won’t falter though, is the need to hear what you think about these developments. At a time when people feel increasingly disregarded, On the Voices desk, amplifying your views and lived experiences has never been more important.  

Yours

Kuba Shand-Baptiste

Deputy voices editor