Boris Johnson is trying to mug us off | Letters

Readers are unimpressed by the prime minister’s comeback speech in which he likened Covid-19 to a mugger

One crucial moment in Boris Johnson’s speech (PM’s post-coronavirus speech: what he said, and what it means, 27 April) was when he framed the crisis using the following analogy: “If this virus were … an unexpected and invisible mugger, which I can tell you from personal experience it is…”

Already, then, it seems the narrative is being seeded that all of this was somehow unavoidable – that the UK, under his leadership, is somehow an innocent victim of an epidemiological crime that we couldn’t have seen coming. This is from a man who actively boasted of shaking hands with coronavirus patients. This is from a man at the helm when we missed a crucial opportunity to get ahead of the curve by going hard and early. This is from a man whose party was warned in 2016 and 2019 about the potential dangers of – and required preparation for – a pandemic and failed to act accordingly. If the virus truly were a mugger then the UK, under his leadership, would be the sucker who walked down a dark alley at midnight waving a wallet in the air.
Colin Montgomery
Edinburgh

• A more appropriate comparison than “an unexpected and invisible mugger” was made by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Yaneer Bar-Yam (The UK’s coronavirus policy may sound scientific. It isn’t, 25 March) when they likened Covid-19 to an avalanche. On 25 January they had called for a cautious approach to the virus, including constraints on mobility and a rapid investment in preparedness, pointing out that when an avalanche may be heading in your direction “you just get out of the way”.
Ian McCauley
Ryde, Isle of Wight

• The most striking element of Boris Johnson’s speech was the lack of any remorse or apology for the mistakes made by his government, or any acknowledgment that these errors have resulted in more people dying of Covid-19. Instead we got platitudes about how well the government has been dealing with the crisis and how the lockdown has helped prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. There was a smugness and self-satisfied note about the speech which rankled and which suggests he has not unearthed any sort of personal humility as a result of his brush with death.

I hope Keir Starmer takes Johnson to task in the Commons about the government’s many shortcomings: the lack of PPE, inadequacy of testing, the appalling situation in care homes, the delay in the start of the lockdown and why the PM thought it acceptable to spend time at Chevening and Chequers when he should have been chairing meetings of Cobra and preparing properly for the pandemic.
Mike Pender
Cardiff

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Letters

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Counting the cost of the UK’s Covid failures | Letters
Letters: Jeremy Cushing on the tragic consequences of the pandemic response, Prof W Richard Bowen on the need for more scientifically educated politicians, Joseph Palley on England’s excess deaths, and Betty Cairns on how the dead are being remembered in Italy

Letters

04, Aug, 2020 @4:45 PM

Article image
Double standards over Neil Ferguson’s resignation | Letters
Letters: The epidemiologist made an error of judgment but his research may have saved thousands of lives, says Joe McCarthy. Plus Dr Chris Newall on Boris Johnson’s own disregard for safety. Plus letters from Prof Adrian Renton, Angela Barton and Dr John Doherty

Letters

06, May, 2020 @5:35 PM

Article image
The Guardian view of Boris Johnson’s crisis: blunder after blunder | Editorial
Editorial: The distinctive British response to the coronavirus pandemic is one of missed opportunities and dismal misjudgments

Editorial

15, Jun, 2020 @6:42 PM

Article image
The Guardian view on a second lockdown: what took him so long? | Editorial
Editorial: The tough restrictions will hurt, but are needed – and the prime minister’s foot-dragging has only increased the cost

Editorial

01, Nov, 2020 @7:01 PM

Article image
The Guardian view on Johnson's Covid-19 plan: doubt, deny and dismiss | Editorial
Editorial: Rather than admit responsibility for being behind the curve, ministers instead seek to delegitimise the media for asking questions about why Britain failed

Editorial

30, Apr, 2020 @6:39 PM

Article image
Care home crisis is the result of years of neglect | Letters
Letters: Bill Shaw says the Thatcher government systematically dismantled social care provision, while Les Bright highlights what went wrong with private services. Plus letters from Tom Wilson and Janet Broadmore

Letters

03, Jun, 2020 @5:38 PM

Article image
The haves and have-nots in vaccination rollout | Letters
Letters: Karen McCarthy on the different vaccination priorities in largely white, affluent suburban areas and more diverse inner-city ones, and Jane Coward on jumping the queue. Plus letters from Charles Barker and Dr Ray Jones

Letters

08, Feb, 2021 @5:12 PM

Article image
Boris Johnson unmasked as inept and uncaring | Letters
Letters: Readers express frustration at the prime minister’s recent visit to Hexham hospital, where he failed to wear a face covering

Letters

10, Nov, 2021 @5:33 PM

Article image
The costly mistakes of bumbling Boris Johnson | Letters
Letters: Readers respond to an article by Polly Toynbee in which she said the prime minister’s handling of coronavirus has been shockingly complacent

Letters

23, Apr, 2020 @5:22 PM

Article image
Coronavirus: a test strategy that failed | Letters
Letters: Readers comment on the UK government’s response, suggesting it moved too late, is negligent and is spreading the wrong message – again

Letters

03, Apr, 2020 @4:06 PM