Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Yesterday the Department for Health & Social Care published “in error” that women would be able to temporarily take prescribed early medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol) at home, due to the unprecedented coronavirus situation. Yet this period of home isolation and school closures will make it difficult for women to access abortion clinics, and make medical and contraceptive services less easily accessible. Enabling access to prescribed medical abortion during home isolation is vital for women, and should be considered a priority area of women’s healthcare in this public health emergency.
Dr Ben Kasstan
Sussex
Silence, class
With the closing of many schools, teachers are now starting to deliver their lessons online using programs such as Skype. I am sure they are looking forward to being able to use a mute button.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia
Deputy prime minister
Dominic Raab is our acting PM, just in case. Just in case, presumably, the PM carelessly shook hands with any coronavirus patients in hospital, inadvisedly saw his mum on Mother’s Day, recklessly went to the pub with his dad, mingled closely with MPs in Westminster – all in contravention of his own advice.
Beryl Wall
London
Grow-your-own
There is talk of shortages of fresh vegetables, food rationing and closing all but essential shops. The last of these is an important measure which I hope will be implemented immediately. However, it needs to be argued in parliament that the term “essential“ includes outlets for the sale of vegetable seeds and plants.
I have doubled the size of my vegetable plot in the last few days by extending into a lawn and I hope to be fairly self-sufficient in fresh greens etc from about June onwards. This particular penny has not dropped properly with the public and maybe not within government. But it will, and it would be a great shame if valuable seeds and plants were not fully utilised.
Patrick Cosgrove
Shropshire
Key worker inconsistencies
The decision by the UK government to grant retail workers the status of key workers is just common sense. After all, food is rather essential.
However, why the difficulty in applying the decision in devolved parts of the UK? The public interest demands that key worker status for retail workers is applied UK-wide so that the whole is still able to eat.
John Barstow
Pulborough, West Sussex
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments