The lesson of this Covid Christmas farce is that sometimes rules have to write themselves

Who needs a pantomime this year! The public brouhaha over Covid Christmas rules; the ‘will they, won’t they’ and the constant cries of “they’re cancelling Christmas” have provided  quite enough theatrics for anyone.

But the show has been, undoubtedly, a deeply depressing episode. The critics would probably tell you not to waste your money buying tickets and advise the actors that next year, the plot needs substantial revision.

By announcing a festive reprieve to Covid restrictions, the government and the devolved administrations have unleashed a major headache upon themselves.

This is either the ultimate proof that even they don’t really believe in the restrictions foisted upon us, or they believe people to be so self-centred that concern for preventing needless deaths is so skin-deep that it stops the moment we can’t do exactly what we want, when we want.

Yet what is most sad of all, is that it is pretty obvious that there is truth to both of these.

No politician, however prone to demagoguery, would knowingly unleash the tragedy upon us that the experts are forecasting, not least when they have spent months imposing restrictions to prevent it, whether lockdowns, fire breakers or whatever other absurd name they go by.

However, the constant whinging that Christmas is cancelled if celebrations don’t go ahead is frankly rather pathetic – reminiscent of a spoilt child stamping and screaming when it can’t have sweets.

Imagine telling the soldiers who left the squalid filth of the trenches in the famous truce of 1915 that 100 years later, snowflakes would believe Christmas not to be happening because they couldn’t have a family party.

If in the mire and bloodshed of war it could be understood that Christmas is fundamentally about the nearness of God to us, it’s a pitiful reflection on us if that can’t be worked out today.

What truth stands out in the midst of all this mess? In my view, it is outside of these silly squabbles, and will remain with us whatever happens at Christmas.

The truth is that none of us, whether as individuals or institutions, get to make the rules of our society.

These evolve organically, with a life of their own, shaped imperfectly but functionally by the rules by which we choose to live our lives.

Lord Sumption, criticising the Covid measures, has argued persuasively that where discretion and common sense are needed, the law is a bad instrument because it is a blunt one.

Covid-19 is a challenge for government, of course, but also one for society, because without law we need consent – not begrudging compliance, but consent of hearts and minds.

One thing that is bound to undermine consent is suppression, whether that is the suppression of the instinct to act cautiously or incautiously.

It is therefore wiser that governments give us their best advice and recommended principles, not an ever-growing list of rules many will simply ignore.

IT is equally our duty to be absolutely clear that our decisions are based on sound moral deliberations about risk, individual circumstances, our obligations to ourselves and to each other, not the understandable desire for a good time at the end of what has been a miserable year, or annoyance at being told no!

What will happen? Who knows! But I am thoroughly convinced that the workings of Christmas in a pandemic is a matter that society must determine.

Whatever our own opinions, the lesson of this Covid Christmas farce is that sometimes rules have to write themselves.