The government’s tier bias means there is no hope of economic equality across the UK

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Northern cities have been placed under tier 3; so why not London? (AFP/Getty)

Matt Hancock mentions his “dismay” at rising Covid cases in London. However, did the Conservative Party not expect this when they decided to continue the longstanding regional economic inequalities in the UK by placing London in tier 2, rather than tier 3? 

“Levelling up” was the Conservative’s mantra, a promise to address the “left behind” places of the UK. These places still are left behind, it appears.

If this geographically biased approach to the pandemic is anything to follow, I don’t believe the UK has any hope for its longstanding economic inequalities to be addressed.

Abigail Hardcastle

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Working from home

I have worked from home for 30 years (“The pandemic has given us a fresh perspective – flexible working must now be a right, not a privilege”, 9 December). At the beginning I was building a business from scratch: a lonely furrow. I found I needed a routine to replace the commute to work. It could be tidying the kitchen, walking the dog, walking to the shop or just a 10 minute stroll. I would tidy up work paraphernalia; that task ended the day.

Being contactable all the time has become an addiction, so have a work and personal phone and put the work one on silent and out of sight. If that isn't possible, have different ring tones and practice leaving work calls out of hours.

Forty years in HR has taught me nothing is that critical, unless you work in safety and are on call. The more you are available, the more calls you will get.

Lesley Thompson

Address supplied

Time for Brexit negotiators to draw breath

I read the leader (“A Brexit deal has still not been agreed – it would be sensible to extend the transition period” 10 December) with interest and complete agreement. This is the only sane and pragmatic course of action, while this dire pandemic is still ravaging our world.

This is too big a "deal" to have it completely smashed against the rocks of intractability and stand-offs. Postponement would take the immediate heat out of the situation and allow exhausted negotiators to draw breath. The icing on the Christmas cake would be to witness the outraged faces of the ERG, which has had far too much influence and sway over this critical matter.

It would also, as you rightly state, be a chance for businesses to take stock and start to recover from the dire implications of Covid-19 before having to deal with so many new rules and complexity.

This would be a good temporary  solution but I am not holding my breath. The prime minister and this government appears to relish cliff-edges and kamikaze actions and clinging to their ideological aims, which in the present parlous state of the world is just plain daft, if not totally irresponsible.

Judith A Daniels

Great Yarmouth

Just not cricket

John Wakeman (Letters, Tuesday) suggests that as a member of the EU, the UK contributed towards the building of the European Parliament buildings and so should now ask for a refund.

I am proud to be a member of Somerset County Cricket Club. I have no intention of resigning but if I did, I would expect short shrift from the committee if I then asked for a refund of my part of the smart new pavilion at the County Ground, Taunton.

William Barnes

Glastonbury

Pollocks!

I see that the old chestnut of fishing has reared its hackneyed head in the form of a letter from John Wakeman (Letters, Tuesday).

I do welcome this missive as it demonstrates one of the reasons – by no means the only one – why we are in such a mess.

Far too many people before and since the referendum fixated on one supposed problem with our EU membership, be it legitimate – fishing is not; but is more nuanced – or a mendacious claim from those with a dislike of our European friends e.g. banning of three-pin plugs.

All of us should be looking at the collective benefits of membership for the whole of the UK for all our citizens; not just the rich over the poor; not urban dwellers over country folk; and not England over Scotland, for example.

If a holistic approach had been adopted by more people, we would clearly still be in the EU and not have spent billions to what is, in effect, the imposition of economic sanctions on our own country. The money we have wasted could, for example, have gone to help coastal communities including the fishing fleet.

Robert Boston

Kingshill

Let the people decide

Why is it that the great British public, who authorised Brexit by means of a referendum, are not being asked by our government – prime reason for existence being to look after the best interests of its electorate – to ratify the agreement they have reached with our erstwhile partners for separation by means of a referendum? Just a thought.

Alan Mackay

East Lothian