Nicola Sturgeon unscientifically and unfairly singled out Blackpool as a coronavirus risk

So Nicola Sturgeon singles out the English town of Blackpool, telling us not to visit there because of the high Covid-19 risk she claims it presents. The evidence she offers, however, is inconclusive. Scots who have been to Blackpool and tested positive may have contracted the virus en route or in one of the many parts of Scotland with higher coronavirus case numbers than the Lancashire town – such as the densely populated areas of Glasgow, South and North Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. Ms Sturgeon should choose her words carefully before risking damage to the economy of an already struggling town. In fact, the principal reason for some Scots not to travel to Blackpool is to protect the good folk of Lancashire from us! 

Martin Redfern 

Address supplied

The prime minister criticises Keir Starmer for not supporting his approach to controlling the virus, implying that his own failure is due to lack of support from those who don’t agree with his actions. 

Leavers blame the complete failure of Brexit to deliver any of the promised benefits on “Remoaners” who should “get behind the country”.

Do I detect a bit of a pattern here?

Nick Haward 

Havant, Hampshire

I wonder how Melania Trump is? Her husband seems to have forgotten she exists.

I hope she’s preparing her revenge for this omission as she gets over coronavirus as, no doubt, she watches her obnoxious husband preen and strut and look an utter idiot before the world.

Penny Little

Oxfordshire

After Monday’s revelations, the pretence of “following science” is blown out of the water for good. There’s nowhere else for Boris Johnson now to play hide and seek.

And let’s not get started on the political games that he is playing with Brexit and the negotiations for a new future trading relationship with our most important trading partner.

It’s time for him to stop playing at prime minister and to let someone else take over. We need someone who doesn’t play “leadership by leaks” to test reaction, but who leads with integrity, who understands the big picture and how to pull the nation together (all parts of it), and who puts the country ahead of any political dogma or self-interest.

Charles Wood

Birmingham

I read, with interest, your online article “MPs could be ‘superspreaders’ and virtual parliament should be considered again, Speaker says”.  I completely agree with him. However, there is a surely a first step he could take without seeking the permission of the government.  The House of Commons is an enclosed space. If I enter a shop, I run the risk of a significant penalty if I do not wear a face mask. Yet our MPs sit in this enclosed space for long periods without wearing a mask.  I wrote to Sir Lindsay Hoyle recently asking for his views on this and await his reply.

I can accept that honourable members might wish to remove masks in order to speak. However, most sit for long periods without saying anything – some without saying anything at all.  There is no reason, other than the accepted health reasons, why MPs should not wear a mask whilst sitting in the house. 

Given that proceedings in the Commons are televised, the MPs who sit in it should set an example to the rest of the nation. 

John Oliver

Guildford

In the news yesterday, we heard about how the upcoming no-deal Brexit has the potential to devastate the Scottish seed potato market. As a frequent traveller through the potato-growing area, it is significant how many “Vote Conservative” billboards I saw in the run-up to elections. This is coupled with the farmers I know who were keen Brexiteers. It gives me no satisfaction to say: “I told you so.” Maybe at the next election some of the farming community, if there are any left, will be less taken by Tory promises.

G Forward

Stirling