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THE SUN SAYS

Coronavirus police must know creeping authoritarianism has no place in Britain

Cool of duty

IN the blink of an eye and with extraordinary grace, Brits young and old have given up almost all of their cherished liberties.

Chilling photographs of Oxford Circus and Manchester Piccadilly deserted but for the odd commuting key worker prove the people of this country are listening to the Prime Minister, and will do whatever it takes to save lives.

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 A police officer enforcing strict social distancing measures speaks to three lads in Greenwich Park
A police officer enforcing strict social distancing measures speaks to three lads in Greenwich ParkCredit: London News Pictures

Now, the police and a handful of local councils must resist heavy-handedness — or risk that goodwill evaporating.

Yes, officials have a duty to call out the tiny minority flagrantly abusing the rules. These selfish idiots are knowingly putting thousands of lives in danger to catch up with their mates.

But when the vast majority of us are desperately trying to do the right thing, shaming walkers on social media is an embarrassing use of enhanced police powers. And closing parks where those without a garden can exercise is wrongheaded bordering on cruel.

As the PM puts it, “it is with that great British spirit that we will beat coronavirus and we will beat it together”.

Creeping authoritarianism has no place in Britain.

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China dolts

MICHAEL Gove was bang on the money to blast Beijing for its handling of Covid-19.

Have right-on commentators falling over each other to praise China’s “quick response” forgotten that the virus originated in grim Chinese wet markets, that the Chinese government initially covered it up, and that millions of people were allowed to leave Wuhan before the lockdown happened?

 Michael Gove is bang on the money to slam the Chinese government for their coronavirus response
Michael Gove is bang on the money to slam the Chinese government for their coronavirus responseCredit: crown copyright

And has it slipped their minds that multiple European states have recalled hundreds of thousands of masks purchased from China as they don’t meet quality standards or offer protection?

Of course, the Chinese people are entirely blameless in all this. And we wholeheartedly condemn ignorant racists pointing the finger at them.

But the dangerous despots at the head of the Chinese government ARE to blame — and allowing them to emerge with a propaganda win would be a monumental injustice.

When the dust has settled, the West must drastically rethink its cosy relationship with President Xi Jinping and his Communist cronies.

And Britain should take the lead.

Nazanin hope

IT is wonderful news that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case has been recommended for clemency.

The British mum is an entirely innocent victim of vicious, autocratic Iranian hard-liners. And her four-year incarceration in hellish prisons on bogus charges should shame the state.

 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been temporarily freed from an Iranian prison due to the coronavirus outbreak
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been temporarily freed from an Iranian prison due to the coronavirus outbreakCredit: PA:Press Association

Fingers crossed she will be home in London soon with husband Richard and daughter Gabriella.

Michael Gove blasts China for failing to reveal true scale of coronavirus
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