The Covid inquiry is a reminder of the unassailable truth about our politicians

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Osborne’s slick polished demeanour, hard on the heels of David Cameron, epitomised a world of distant, unaccountable privilege (PA)

Tom Peck’s depiction of George Osborne’s oily presentation to the Covid inquiry was a sickening reminder of the unassailable truth about our politicians. Is there any wonder the public’s “ennui” with them all has reached such depths?

Osborne’s slick polished demeanour, hard on the heels of an equally polished performance by David Cameron to the same enquiry epitomised a world of distant,  unaccountable Teflon-coated privilege. The well-schooled and connected boy’s club with their snouts in the trough all seem happily able to slough off any hint that some of the dire state we have been left with was down to their actions.

It’s uncomfortably clear that the “ruling classes” are still ruling, failing, and getting away with it. They remain totally unable to empathise with the rest of us who are struggling somewhere “out there”. We’ve disengaged with politics, and this is our reward; the likes of Cameron, Osborne and latterly Boris Johnson running the country into the ground while greedily lining their pockets and still entirely free to walk away unscathed with their lily-white hands unsullied.

Steve Mackinder

Denver

Osborne’s incompetence returns to haunt us

Amid the damage that Johnson continues to inflict upon our government, the recent Covid inquiry finally shines a light on the consequences George Osborne’s actions over a decade ago have had on our nation today.

His ideological commitment to austerity measures and public service cuts – whilst cutting higher rates of tax for the rich – when he could have used low-interest rates to invest in services and build a robust foundation for the future, was both short-sighted and cynical. Like most Conservative ministers since, Osborne continues to build his personal wealth and self-esteem off the back of scant achievement in office, while the nation limps onwards as a result of his unheralded incompetence.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

Sunak is taking us down with him

Right here, right now, Rishi Sunak has a world of pain to resolve in the UK. The list just keeps growing and he is not getting a grip. Failing on his parroted pledges, hopelessly misreading the Partygate vote and instead choosing to hide away. More so, he allowed his party to ignore the vote, thus trashing the very principles he promised to reinforce.

No Sunak, you’re not delivering; you are bombing, and taking the country down with you.

Dale Hughes

Address Supplied

It’s all chicken or the egg with Big Oil

Did Big Oil force climate change upon us, or did the consumers? Did Big Oil force us to go around in huge SUVs, or was it the consumer, or was it the car companies? Did Big Oil force the present energy prices upon us, or was it a lack of long-term energy planning on behalf of almost all governments, or was it Putin?

Is it Big Oil’s fault that the same governments are now lacking ambition to reach net zero CO2 and very short on realistic targets? Perhaps we should look to ourselves, our own desires, and to our governments as much as litigating against Big Oil.

Angus MacEachran

Aberdeen