Are new lockdown measures another example of the government acting too late?

There’s no doubt that action needed to be taken – it’s the late timing of the restrictions that is in question, writes Chris Stevenson

The health secretary was given the job yesterday of explaining the changes (Getty)

The one thing many people won’t want to see while they are contemplating (in a number of areas across the UK) another different type of Christmas is politicians looking to score points.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, was doing the rounds on TV this morning – being the main man whom the government has asked to help Boris Johnson explain the changes to the nation. He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr that the new Covid-19 variant was “out of control” and so action needed to be taken.

That is not in doubt – but as Alastair Campbell writes for us today, the actions of Johnson and his government over the last week leave a lot to be desired. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, is of the same opinion. He said that it was “blatantly obvious last week” that plans to relax the rules over Christmas was “a risk too far”, adding that the prime minister’s claim that “this is all down to a new form of the virus that has just emerged does not stand up to scrutiny”.

Everyone who saw the scenes of people rushing to take trains out of London on Saturday night would likely agree that the planning about the announcement of the changes, as with many other aspects of government communication in recent months, has caused far more disruption than it should have done. Starmer said the decision over Christmas should have come earlier – and he has a point.

Much of the correspondence we have received during the last few days is of a similar opinion. However much readers want to see relatives over Christmas, there is worry about what it could mean in the longer term. Please do let us know what you think: do the government deserve credit for acting, or is this another case of acting too late, only when they are forced to?

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Editor, Voices