I HAVE sent this letter to my MP, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative member for Saffron Walden.
Dear Kemi Badenoch,
I write as a constituent to protest at the further erosion of our civil liberties (no more than six people to meet together).
The ‘lockdown’ and all that has followed has been totally disproportionate to the seriousness of the threat. This is becoming increasingly evident. Very few people are now being hospitalised, and even fewer are dying from the disease. Covid seriously affects only old people and those with existing health conditions, who of course should be helped to ‘shield’ if they wish to.
The government is therefore acting ultra vires. There is no justification for this ruinous over-reaction. But what are our MPs doing to hold the government to account? What do they exist for? What is your personal view of this matter (not the party line)?
Furthermore, we as a population are being infantilised, treated as children. It is sufficient that the government, if it must intervene, provide relevant, objective information to members of the public, then let them decide for themselves what degree of risk they want to accept. I take a risk every time I go out in my car, and many die on the roads, but no one is proposing a ban on car-driving.
I understand there are also to be informers (‘marshals’) to report on those breaking the stupid rules. You must realise that this is in the best traditions of former communist dictatorships. Enough to make one ashamed to be British.
I voted for Brexit so we could ‘take back control’. But not this sort of tyrannical control of ourselves by our own government.
Please will you let our PM and your fellow ministers know that there are thousands and thousands of people who think like me, want to see an end to restrictions and a return to normal life, and are tempted to civil disobedience (which is maybe why the latest ban has been introduced?).
Yours sincerely,
Simon F Knight
