The compassion of our readers gives me hope

Too often, I find myself fearing that the UK is becoming a place where compassion is in short supply.

Perhaps this is partly down to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, a consequence of more than a decade of Tory austerity, or due to the shifting of the political centre ground towards more right-wing ideals.

At a time when so many families and vulnerable people find themselves in increasingly precarious situations, it’s more important than ever that we see others – particularly those more marginalised than ourselves – as human beings who deserve kindness and respect.

One spot of brightness in the gloom is the genuinely heartening responses from our readers, whether they come in the form of letters, comments below the line or social media engagement.

It’s clear that many Independent readers care deeply about issues of injustice and oppression, both in Britain and around the world – and they let us know. Whether it’s about the suffering of the Palestinian people, the awful choice that some families are making between eating and heating this winter, the treatment of refugees, or animal rights, our readers often demonstrate common sense and compassion by the bucket-load.

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While we still don’t know what the government’s plan to tackle the worst cost of living crisis in a generation will entail, I sincerely hope that communities across the UK will rally around their most vulnerable members. When we lose our compassion, we become easy prey for those who seek to exploit our differences.

To our readers, I say: please keep your responses coming. Your valuable, engaged contributions are a source of hope.

Yours,

Harriet Williamson

Commissioning editor, Voices