Just logged in w/ @prospect_uk debate on "Democracy & Rule of Law in Age of #COVIDー19", w/ Lord Sumption in conversation w/ @JoshuaRozenberg, the moment Lord Sumption criticised human rights defenders who have been "extraordinary silent". Harsh & not justified by evidence I feel

2. Lord Sumption says the state has actually put people in "house arrest", and he is disappointed both with the people - for not resisting - and the government, for putting in place extraordinary restrictions without offering sufficient justification.

3. "English gentlemen" of another time would not have tolerated this (the restrictions on our liberties), Lord Sumption says.
I am quite struck by the use of the term "English gentlemen" to refer to the citizens of this country (of a few decades ago).

4. Lockdown does not reduce deaths, Sumption says, it only extends period over which they happen.
This does not take into account fight for discovery of a vaccine; the longer we can protect people from infection, the higher the likelihood they will benefit from such a vaccine.

5. "The extent of the [ #COVIDー19] danger in this country has been grossly exaggerated", Sumption says.

45,318 deaths in the UK, third highest death rate in the world, as we speak!