Virus crisis demands cross-party approach in Parliament

From: John Van der Gucht, Clayton Hall Road, Cross Hills.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is running the country while Boris Johnson recuperates from Covid-19.Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is running the country while Boris Johnson recuperates from Covid-19.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is running the country while Boris Johnson recuperates from Covid-19.
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ULTIMATELY, this devastating and indiscriminate virus will be brought under control. I suspect the lockdown will be eased, but would not rule out a second lockdown given there is no vaccine, and universal testing is not going to happen soon.

History tells us that in times of national crisis, such as the period between 1914 and 1945, the country was ruled by coalitions for 21 of the 31 years – the First World War, post-war reconstruction, the 1931 crash and the depression that followed, plus the Second World War.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a conference call with G7 world leaders.Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a conference call with G7 world leaders.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a conference call with G7 world leaders.
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The absence of the PM reveals a dearth of talent at the top of government. Perhaps this is the time to consider a more cross-party consensual approach.

From: Paul Rouse, Main Street, Sutton upon Derwent, York.

I DO hope that Boris Johnson was watching Question Time last Thursday night. If so, he would, like me, have come to the view that it is about time we stopped following the current “what if?” science and began to use common sense.

It is possible not to do anything by over analysing the possible side effects, and that is what is going on at the moment. Our scientific lot have got too many things wrong, whereas the Germans have got most things right.

Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.

From; Graham Smith, York.

HAVING read the letter from David Warnes, of Brandesburton, (The Yorkshire Post, April 18), I wish to add that I was watching GMB when Piers Morgan was
due to interview the Health Secretary Matt Hancock the other day.

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The interview showed how inept at interviewing Morgan 
is – asking questions which had four or five questions within 
the same sentence, and then 
not waiting for the answer
 before interrupting again and again.

Perhaps his questions had a great deal of merit but we will never know as he did not allow an answer to be made

The haranguing style of questioning also seems to be rubbing off on Samantha Reid, and is self-defeating.

I switched to the BBC. I shall not be watching him again.

From: Brian H Sheridan, Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

DAVID Warnes castigates Piers Morgan for a piece of aggressive TV journalism, comparing his stance unfavourably with that of wartime when “we had a supportive media which boosted morale against a common enemy and, in no small way, helped us win that war”.

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This is not the time for propaganda: I would wager that, in the case of coronavirus, most of us want to be told the facts as they are, however alarming. Denial, in this case, is asking for trouble.

From: Barry Foster, High Stakesby, Whitby.

I AM getting more disgusted with each day. I am sure most of us are doing the best we can in lockdown, and whatever else comes our way. Whether we support them or not, the Government, now it has got over what appears to have been a delay, is – in my opinion – doing its level best.

We have politicians of all parties criticising at every stage – unlike the rest of us who are sticking together. It is time they stopped attacking the Government at every stage and got behind Ministers. Even Sir Keir Starmer should do so.

As for the BBC and other TV channels, I have long given up watching their coverage of depressing news. There is no comparison with the war years and after. Definitely not.

From: Malcolm Smith, Scarcroft.

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I AM constantly reading about the alleged political bias of the BBC and others, but can someone explain please what it means by left, right, centre, left of centre, right of centre etc so I know where I stand?

I do know that it is not about the old football half-back line, but is anyone else confused?

From: Terry Morrell, Willerby.

WE read The Yorkshire Post and the Daily Telegraph. Your content is considerably more balanced, and although Covid-19 is a very hot topic, you are managing to acquire a much wider and varied content.

Thank you and your colleagues for trying to keep us informed and sane.

From: Michael Dobson, Feversham Crescent, York.

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THE NHS has, quite rightly, had millions of pounds poured into it to help it fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

When it is contained, and some semblance of normality returns, is there a remote chance that the NHS will reciprocate by continuing to purchase PPE and medical equipment from those UK companies who, at some risk to their own staff, have re-purposed and pulled out all the stops to try and plug the gaps in the NHS supply chain?

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

LIKE David Behrens, I find that my daily walk has taken on a new mystique (The Yorkshire Post, April 18). We are able to cross Harrogate town centre without contending with the endless moving iron curtains of cars which split it twice – A61 south and A61 north.

Cleaner air and birdsong are now part of Harrogate’s notorious Skipton Road, with easy movement for vital traffic, as opposed to the addictive sort.

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

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WELL said Tom Richmond (The Yorkshire Post, April 17) about the way in which the Premier League and the English Football League are trying to find ways to complete the 2019/20 season despite the ongoing health risks that are likely to continue for some considerable time.

The only way forward, as he says, is to declare the current season null and void, and hope to start from scratch in September. Talk of “the integrity of the competition” is an insulting irrelevance.

A recent BBC poll showed that a clear majority thought that the present season should simply be aborted. That really is the only sensible and safe way forward.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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