Priti Patel appears to have a short memory when it comes to the government’s ‘herd immunity’ strategy

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Home Secretary Priti Patel on ‘The Andrew Marr Show’ (BBC)

The home secretary, Priti Patel, has apparently “denied claims made by Dominic Cummings that the government’s original plan to deal with coronavirus was to let the virus rip through the population to spread herd immunity” (News, 23 May). Asked by Andrew Marr on Sunday morning “if the government would now admit to these accusations”, Ms Patel said simply: “Absolutely not.”

Ms Patel is either being “economical with the truth”, or has a surprisingly poor memory. On 13 March, the Financial Times ran an article with the headline: “UK’s chief scientific adviser defends ‘herd immunity’ strategy for coronavirus”. On 16 March, The Atlantic lamented “The UK’s herd immunity debacle”. On 20 March, Robert Peston wrote: “British government wants UK to acquire coronavirus ‘herd immunity’”, while the BBC pondered: “Coronavirus: Did ‘herd immunity’ change the course of the outbreak?”

There are plenty more references. Before her next interview, perhaps Ms Patel should consult a search engine.

Felicity Arbuthnot

London E9

Collateral damage

In the debates over Martin Bashir’s relationship with the royal family, there appears to be little concern about one particular consequence of his inveigling himself into the  good books of a vulnerable princess. The inevitable outcome of his manipulation was the ending of the careers of luckless servants and officials.

Cole Davis

Norwich

A lack of police is the problem, not protesters

Reading the letter from A Brown (Protesters are wrong, 24 May), in which it is stated that “the recent riot in Mayhill, Swansea, demonstrates just how wrong the “Kill the bill” protesters are in opposing increased police powers, at least when it comes to policing violent disorder”, makes me think the writer is slightly confused. I feel it is wise to clarify various points.

Firstly, we have in this country, and always have had, various legislative and common law powers to deal with such appalling behaviour witnessed recently in Mayhill, Swansea. This was a borderline riot and never from any legal perspective could it be called a protest.

The reasons behind such behaviour are of course complex. However, one of the leading causes was the decision by Theresa May to decimate our police force. These hooligans, along with monetised criminals, may not be educated but they are not too stupid to see an opportunity for their nefarious pursuits. Put simply, the only people that benefited from cut backs were recidivists.

The new bill that our government is proposing only changes citizens rights of peaceful protest – including very small protests indeed. This is a brazen attempt to infringe our rights that we have had for generations. Ironically, it also has to be mentioned that we can have as many new laws as we like, but it is a fat lot of use if we have insufficient law enforcement officers to exercise such powers.

Robert Boston

Kent

Heads in the sky

There are reportedly 600 wealthy individuals waiting to go for a ride into space on Richard Branson’s Virgin Unity. They may get a short-term thrill from their journey, but how much more return could they get by blessing poor and needy people on earth by giving their ticket funds to schemes that would give long-term help to impoverished or disadvantaged individuals? It would also save polluting the atmosphere through burning all the fuel needed by Virgin Unity.

J Longstaff

East Sussex

Euro revenge

It’s not surprising we do so badly at Eurovision when our politicians and parts of the media spend so much time rubbishing the rest of the continent.

Alan Hutchinson

Address supplied

Looking dishy

To prevent your glasses from steaming up while wearing a mask, polish them with washing up liquid. Just a smear is all it takes, although it is a messy operation.

Joanna Pallister

Durham City