Hopes of a green recovery post-pandemic were dashed once Grant Shapps jetted off to Spain on holiday

Some had hoped for a post-pandemic change in the way we live, conscious that fewer air miles mean less air pollution and greater chance of staving off planetary warming. Yet, at the first opportunity, the UK secretary of state for transport, of all people, jets off to Spain with the family. And, we wouldn’t have known had he not been overtaken by events.

As for the future, plus ça change.

Ian Reid
Kilnwick

For those left with a permanent Covid-19 disability, there will be no normal again and this is impacting youth in increasing numbers, more than expected. What is the cost of long-term Covid-19 disability on the NHS and social care?

Amali De Silva-Mitchell
Windsor

Masks for protection, not offence

Do not wear a mask. Do wear a mask. There has been confusion, medical advice and point-blank refusal to wear them, but now there is an ever more offensive side to this issue. A couple in the US have been banned from Walmart for wearing Nazi swastika face masks. This is not a symbol of freedom but rather an attempt to offend as many as possible. It is now possible to get masks in the colours of your sporting team, funny masks and even a presidential mask, but use them for protection, not for assault. It is time for people to shut their mouths and open their minds.

Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia

Our Department for Transport gave less than six hours’ notice to tourists returning from Spain that they should then self-isolate for 14 days. Yet the government gave a week’s notice that the wearing of masks would be compulsory in shops (albeit too late and then with some confusion as to the rules regarding takeaways). What an utter shambles.

Beryl Wall
London

My life expectancy when I was born during the Second World War was less than 60. As I approach 80 I have not only outlived my father by two decades, I have buried my university freshman room-mate, my best man and the vast majority of the pals I grew up with in a mining village.

I’ve had a good life partly because I was in the lucky generation when state schools were fabulous, great universities were free, jobs were for life, pensions were gold-plated, housing was a one-way bet, and saving meant putting money in one of our investment trusts.

But I also ground it out, scrapped for every prize and grabbed any opportunity which came my way.

However, it’s almost over and there are worse ways of going than via a respiratory disease. Hardly anyone under 65 dies of Covid-19 and I’m ashamed our economy and children’s education were trashed by lockdowns to “save” old codgers like me littering the waiting rooms.

Rev Dr John Cameron
St Andrews

Refreshing style of politics

I read Emma Burnell’s column with interest and the fact that her revelation about her bariatric surgery is sometimes met with disillusionment in people’s eyes.

I find this very mean-spirited because significant weight loss is to be applauded not condemned by the calorie-counting mafia. I sincerely hope too that this will not affect Layla Moran’s leadership campaign in the Lib Dem election. I actually find her style rather refreshing because this party needs rebooting and fast. She is also chair of the cross-party inquiry into Covid-19 and that shows a swift reaction, because although Boris Johnson has promised one, there is no time to lose in learning the lessons from this pandemic. So personally I couldn’t care less about her surgery or any other aspects of her private life. She is a mover and a shaker in the Lib Dems, so bring it on.

Judith A Daniels
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk