Letters: Politicians’ blind faith in Covid models exposed the pitfalls of ‘following the science’

SIR – Fraser Nelson rightly questions the blind faith of “following the science” (“The real Covid scandal is emerging right in front of the inquiry’s nose”, Comment, November 3), which arose from the fact that humanities-trained politicians and civil servants did not really understand what they were looking at. 

Mathematical modellers, social scientists and epidemiologists are not true “hard” scientists (unlike those who developed the vaccine). Such modellers do vital work but should not have had the last word, any more than economic modellers do.

Stephen Bryan
King’s Lynn, Norfolk

SIR – For many Swedes, the accolades for the epidemiologist Dr Anders Tegnell are hard to understand. 

He oversaw a late and ineffectual response to Covid, denying the effectiveness of border closures (in May 2020), care-home PPE and even basic testing (both in April 2020). It is undeniable that nearly twice as many Swedes died of Covid per million people compared to Nordic countries that acted more swiftly, despite similar demographics, urbanisation and methods of collecting statistics. 

The UK lockdown may have been counterproductive, but so was the Swedish non-response during the first months of Covid.

Carl Sundblad
Stockholm, Sweden

SIR – Regarding the absence of any cost-benefit analysis before lockdowns were implemented, George Herrick (Letters, November 3) asks: “What value should have been ascribed to a human life?” In governmental terms the calculation would have been easy: use the same number as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence uses when determining whether a new, but expensive, life-saving drug should be prescribed on the NHS.

Brian Birch
Sittingbourne, Kent

The two faces of AI

SIR – I cannot decide whether the view expressed by Sir Nick Clegg – that governments are overreacting to the dangers of AI (report, November 1) – is caused by naivety, ignorance, complacency, a wilful desire to mislead or some combination of the above.

All new technologies can be – and usually are – used for both good and evil. Nuclear power is one, the internet is another; ships and planes offer transport but are also lethal instruments of war; television can inform or deceive. The list goes on.

In the hands of evil people, artificial intelligence will be used for evil ends – of that I sadly have no doubt.

John Bath
Clevedon, Somerset

SIR – In the wake of the AI conference at Bletchley Park, I want to remind readers about the panic years ago over the introduction of microchips. 

In 1965, Clive Jenkins gave a lecture in South Wales waving a two-inch chip, saying it would destroy work for millions of people. He was wrong then and life has gone on, with millions benefiting from chip-related developments, such as the computer.

There will be an impact from AI and the consequent changes will benefit many. Just make sure that those with their finger on the power switch are honest people.

Ian Sutherland
Alton, Hampshire

SIR – Elon Musk predicts that AI will eventually be able to carry out all tasks currently done by humans, and people will only have jobs if they want them (report, November 3). 

He may be right, but has he not heard that the devil makes work for idle hands?

Tom Williams
Sheffield, South Yorkshire

SIR – I do not understand the concern regarding the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Surely it cannot be more dangerous than politicians’ actual intelligence.

John Catchpole
Beverley, East Yorkshire

No day to march

SIR – Armistice Day on November 11 is probably the most poignant day of the year, with the majority of this country remembering our war dead and the sacrifice that so many millions have made. 

Among those of us who have fought for this country it is a time of quiet reflection about the many who did not make it to the “green fields beyond”.

For this day, of all days, to be hijacked by pro-Palestinian protesters (report, November 3) is beyond understanding. They may well get wall-to-wall media coverage, but they will not win the support of the silent majority, or for the innocent civilians in Gaza being used as human shields by the terrorists – for whom some of these protesters appear to shout.

Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon 
Tisbury, Wiltshire

SIR – People can pretend otherwise, but these pro-Palestine protests are anti-Semitic “hate marches” (in the Home Secretary’s phrase). 

They do not protest at the treatment of the civilians in Gaza by their evil Hamas leaders, who have spent millions on tunnels and bombs, and nothing on shelters and economic improvement. Nor, for that matter, do they protest against Pakistan, which is expelling 1.7 million Afghan refugees. Nor against Qatar, which has just sentenced eight Indians to death for allegedly spying for Israel.

Seeing members of the far-Left involved in such marches tells us all we need to know. British Jews have a lot to fear.

Simon Malcolm
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire 

SIR – If ever there was a shining example of faux outrage, it’s the fatuous complaint that Marks and Spencer’s Christmas advertisement depicts the colours – red, white and green – of the Palestinian flag burning in a fire (report, November 3). 

To know that the offence “taken” is entirely confected, one only has to point out that not a single Italian citizen has thought to raise a word of protest. Why is that, does one suppose?

Philip J Ashe
Leeds, West Yorkshire

Selfless sickies 

SIR – My 32-year-old daughter can’t believe how “selfish” her dad and I were when we went into work despite having colds (Leading Article, November 3). 

We thought, as teachers, that we were being loyal to our pupils. She thinks we were thoughtless, passing on our germs.

Carla Stainke
Alness, Ross-shire

Mental health services

SIR – I was alarmed to read your recent report that police plan to attend fewer crisis call-outs (“A&E ‘could fill up with mental health patients’ as police change priorities”, telegraph.co.uk, November 1). 

SANE, a charity devoted to improving the quality of life of people affected by mental illness, fears the impact that this significant reduction in police call-outs will have on people in distress, along with their families and friends, who are going to be left without anyone to turn to when they face mental health crises.

Many of our callers tell us they have had to rely on police to respond, and in many cases take them to a hospital or place of safety, to prevent a mental health emergency from escalating to the point at which they become at risk.

It remains to be seen how the many hours spent by police on mental-health call-outs will be replaced by healthcare staff when the most acute NHS manpower shortages are in mental health, with trusts struggling to recruit and retain personnel. 

We believe this unrealistic initiative will lead to thousands suffering while waiting for the sparse care that NHS services are able to provide, and will divert existing staff, making an already overburdened system even more depleted.

While officers’ time and resources will be freed up, what will befall those who do not qualify for a police call-out when no mental health workers are available?

Marjorie Wallace
Chief Executive, SANE
London N7

Government at work

SIR – As a long-term listener to BBC News, I remember that, in Margaret Thatcher’s years, spokesmen would say that the government was “working” on the subject being discussed. David Cameron raised this to “working hard”, and by the time Rishi Sunak became PM it had escalated to “working very hard”. 

Yesterday, Tom Tugendhat, the Minister for Security, said it was important to note that the Government was “working incredibly hard”.

My perception over the years has changed: whatever the Government is doing, it is “not working at all”.

Andy Trask
Liphook, Hampshire

The lesser heard accents of old London

SIR – I am not surprised to read that the clipped vowels of post-war, received-pronunciation English, along with accents such as Cockney, are disappearing (report, October 31). 

Having been brought up in rural Buckinghamshire and schooled within grouse-shooting range of Chequers, I am pleasantly surprised when I am told by foreigners that they find me easy to understand. I have also been asked by some whether I am foreign myself, because of my clear diction. 

However, when I descend to the platform at King’s Cross, I often struggle with the local dialect. Londoners nowadays should come with subtitles.

Andrew H N Gray
Edinburgh

SIR – The suggestion that there are now only three main accents in south-east England and London seems rather simplistic to me. 

I have lived in that part of the country for most of my life – first in Croydon and now in Kent. Kent alone has a number of different accents: south-east London and London commuterese (which I myself speak), the accent of rural Kent and Thanet, as well as that of the Medway towns and Sheppey, which were much influenced by sailors in the Royal Navy. 

One of the delights of travelling around our country is encountering the many different accents that are still prevalent in most English counties.

Ted Shorter
Hildenborough, Kent

Needy NatWest

SIR – A few days ago I received a questionnaire from NatWest asking if I was satisfied with my 35 years as a business customer, and whether I would recommend them to a colleague (Letters, November 2).

I am not quite sure if I took pleasure in saying “no”, but it will be interesting to see whether I am “de-banked” or told how to eat and dress first.

John Breining-Riches
Chagford, Devon

SIR – Faith Scott (Letters, November 2), who was advised by NatWest to make lifestyle changes, could do the planet a big favour if she took a leaf out of my book. I only ever pay in cash, apart from for some high-value items, which I put on my credit card. According to the NatWest app, my carbon footprint is zero.

William Wassell
Barwell, Leicestershire

Pink tie triumph

SIR – As a loyal Old Westminster, I must take issue with Christine Tomblin (Letters, November 2) on the suitability of pink ties.

It is accepted that Westminster School defeated Eton College in a boat race about 100 years ago to decide which establishment should have the right to this most splendid of colours. The pink ties and blazers worn by Westminster sportsmen on occasions such as Henley Regatta serve to remind us of the school’s brilliance.

Michael Brown
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

Bookish bedbugs

SIR – As an Ealing resident I was reassured to read about the bedbug infestation (report, November 2). It confirmed that, despite many closures, libraries still exist here. 

Michael Thomson
London W5

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