Even in its redacted form, this report should be enough to end Boris Johnson’s political career

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Boris Johnson after making a statement about Sue Gray’s report on Monday (PA)

Even in its redacted form, Sue Gray’s report into the lockdown parties at Downing Street should be enough to end Boris Johnson’s political career. It cites a “failure of leadership in No 10 and Cabinet Office”, a “serious failure to observe high standards expected”, “excessive consumption of alcohol” and “behaviour difficult to justify”.

Days before the report appeared, housing secretary Michael Gove argued that Boris Johnson should be shown “Christian forgiveness” for repeatedly breaking his own lockdown rules. It is a measure of the deep cynicism of the Tory cabinet that these hypocrites invoke religion to cover their corruption. There should be no “forgiveness” of any sort for those who partied while bodies “piled high”.

Sasha Simic

London N16

It is not just Boris Johnson who, through his disgraceful misbehaviour, lack of leadership and judgement, and dishonesty, has demonstrated his utter unfitness for his office. Most Conservative MPs have stood by Johnson throughout his disreputable behaviour since the election – and, indeed, they have shamelessly cheered his regular and obvious lies at the despatch box on all those occasions when he misled the House. Even this afternoon, when he was fully expected to resign, he still boasted about his fictional triumphs, to the apparent delight of his backbenchers.

Even with his reputation shredded once and for all by the report of Sue Gray – and one assumes with even worse to come when the police investigation is complete – he is still unrepentant, and full of bluster.

I say to all those Tory MPs who cheered their dishonourable leader so fulsomely today, just once in the life of this disgraceful government, do the right thing and let the decent people of our poor benighted country have the opportunity to elect new, honest representation. The man you cheered today is without honour, and your cheers in turn dishonour you. You and your goverment have tainted and damaged our democracy, and embarrassed us in the eyes of the world.

Patrick Moore

Norwich

Remember who you serve

The unwillingness of the party of government to respond to criticism, answer questions and hold itself accountable to the electorate would, in my experience, appears to be endemic. Over the last three years, I have written politely and at length to my local MP on 13 separate occasions. I have yet to receive a single response other than to be told that he receives many letters and will aim to respond in due course.

It concerns me that, as a key member of the 1922 Committee, he has influence over the future leadership of the country but scant regard for the opinions of those he is elected to serve.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

Bloody Sunday

Thank you, Leona O’Neill, for a brilliant article (“Bloody Sunday: ‘Our peace walls have been raised higher, not torn down’”, 30 January), marking the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland. It took me back to my childhood and teenage years there.

I’ve lived in England for a number of years and am sorry to say that one of Northern Ireland’s biggest ongoing problems is the indifference of most people here – not malicious, just a case of not-on-the-radar (for instance, I have given up correcting those who don’t know the difference between Irish and Northern Irish). And this means government indifference goes unnoticed: Brexit and the Good Friday Agreement are fundamentally incompatible, but that was barely mentioned in the pre-referendum debate and still doesn’t seem to matter. Like Leona, I’m not optimistic about the future.

Paul Keeble

Manchester

Election-winning economics

The solution to funding social care and the NHS is indeed contingent upon the national insurance tax rise. It is a collective form of solidarity – and the national insurance rise is progressive. This tax burden needs to be offset by scrapping VAT on fuel – and by scrapping the carbon levy. This will mean more investment in infrastructure and cuts to costs on industry – wealth creating moves in their own right.

Keeping the national insurance rise to get that much desired solution to social care, combined with scrapping the VAT on fuel and the job-destroying carbon levy will be sound economics, not to mention an election-winning formula.

John Barstow

West Sussex

Delay to Covid inquiry

Speculation that the public inquiry into the government’s handling of Covid is being deprioritised and delayed (News, 30 January) will anger the families of Covid victims and disabled people across the country.

The decisions and policies taken that have led to such a disastrous outcome for disabled people and other groups during the pandemic must be investigated, and quickly. It is far too important to be moved to the bottom of the government’s to-do list.

Richard Kramer

Chief executive of national disability charity Sense

Lacking power

Although we hear a lot about the importance of having secure energy supplies, there seems to be no thought given to the importance of a secure energy distribution network and so for the second time in two months, thousands of energy users, domestic and commercial, will find themselves without power to their premises following Storm Malik.

The billions of pounds being spent on HS2 so a few businessmen can save 20 minutes or so on a 200-mile-plus journey (and what exactly do they do with this extra 20 minutes I wonder), would be better spent on putting electricity transmission lines underground. The scale of the operation and its national importance economically means this is a responsibility of government, just as roads are, and not something that can be left to private enterprise.

Gordon Whitehead

Scarborough

Putin’s plan

Here is my prediction. Putin will not invade Ukraine, as such, nor will he set up a “puppet government” in Kiev. He knows that to do so would cause all out war with Ukraine and, ultimately, the west. Rather he will continue to foment unrest and nervousness on Ukraine’s eastern border and, if he can, nibble away at more pro-Russian areas of the country, as he did with Crimea.

This is not to underestimate or belittle his intentions. He is a dangerous man. But talking up fears of an invasion of the country and taking over its capital, is also dangerous, as Ukraine’s president is keen to point out. You can sometimes talk yourself into a crisis, just as much as talking yourself out of one.

Dr Ewan McLeish

Marlow, Bucks