Sue Hessell, Crouch End Campaigner

If the first casualty of war is truth, then the first casualty of a pandemic must be democracy. For with social distancing comes the loss of public meetings; there is nowhere to physically ask questions, debate, share ideas, or convey distrust. What a good time to bury bad news.

“Shall I stroke you? He asked once more. And wrap round you my loving, warm body. To remember. Let’s try, I say, to reach the bed from your chair. In vain.” (Vaughan Melzer, carer, Oct 2018)