FOR more than a year the State has been telling us what to do.
Now, at Christmas, it’s our turn to tell the State that we will run our own lives – thank you.
The earliest data on Omicron is encouraging.
Fewer people are becoming seriously ill and hospitalisations are significantly lower.
Some experts believe the outbreak may have in fact already peaked.
We can also breathe a sigh of relief that in England so far – unlike Wales – we won’t be fined for going to work.
In a nonsensical decision, the Welsh Labour administration has announced a £60 penalty for “unnecessarily” going into the workplace.
Repeat offenders face mounting fines, as do their employers.
Even the TUC and GMB unions have called the decision ‘naïve’, pointing out that most workers do not have the luxury of choice.
Meanwhile congregating in the pub remains legal in Wales.
And in Scotland, you can guarantee that Nicola Sturgeon’s restrictions will be more draconian that those in England.
As I’ve said before, criminalising our citizens for doing their best – and almost everyone is - only encourages rule breaking.
What we desperately need is an outbreak of common sense.
The primary weapons against Covid - vaccinations and boosters – have been deployed impressively and to great effect.
Better protected and informed, I detect a growing sense of enough is enough from the many people I have spoken to.
Last Christmas Day was ruined, but not this one, nor should it be.
I do hope that rumours of another lock-down after Boxing Day are just that.
Keep calm and carry on should be the message and on that note can I wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful 2022.