'Common sense measures are not a threat to democracy'

IN response to the letter in last week’s Gazette from Malcolm Naylor and indeed to all those who continually deface Ilkley’s ‘Stay Safe’ information boards, I would ask for a sense of proportion. Being asked to wear a mask and practise social distancing is hardly tyrannical or a ‘threat to democracy’. These are common sense measures backed by peer-reviewed science. Such acts are also signs of civility to our fellow human beings to help prevent the spread of a deadly pathogen that causes death in the frail and elderly, long-term debilitating symptoms in those who are younger, and which has at times threatened to overwhelm our health service, as many tired and stressed NHS staff can testify. I can sympathise with a scepticism and distrust of those in power – not least because of very real threats to our democracy from measures such as the Police, Crime, and Sentencing Bill. But some discernment and the ability for critical thinking is wise. Space is too short to address each of the points made in Malcolm’s letter but, whenever people hear such dramatic claims in the pages of the Ilkley Gazette or in any other media, I’d strongly recommend consulting a fact-checking website like the excellent fullfact.org before rejecting straightforward and harmless precautionary measures designed to keep us all safe.