NEVER have we been so overwhelmed. And at Christmas of all times.

Covid I, then Covid II, with Europe and half the world stopping flights and all transport from the UK. And most recently Covid III.

It is then all too easy to criticise government policy and ministers and very often quite rightly.

And I am mindful of Bob Monkhouse’s quip long ago: “In comedy sincerity is all important. Once you can fake that you have it made.”

But for genuine sincerity, I would give health secretary Matt Hancock all credit for his delivery on the next looming lockdowns. As he said, this is what no minister wants to deliver.

But for management of the 3,000 lorries piling up in Kent, for four days, what can you say?

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has told us time and again there is robust contingency plans in place for lorry backlogs following Brexit.

And what then did we have?

Three thousand lorries backed up on the motorways. No food supplies, no water supply, no toilets facilities.

Three thousand lorry drivers in a dreadful state. Left to fend for themselves. The only help, as far as you can tell, from the Salvation Army.

And this is Europe-wide, drivers, of all nationalities from Poland to Spain to Greece to the Netherlands, keeping our supermarkets and shops stocked year in year out.

All the pity that in Europe and the world, as these international drivers, we are not joining more closely together in mutual support of one another in the face of enormous global challenges.

John Kennedy said: “We all breath the same air. We all cherish our children.”

And so many have called for far more unity in the world. Far less mud slinging, and warmongering.

Could it be now that the horrors of Covid on a global scale, and climate, will force us all to recognise we are all human?

We all have our problems. We all suffer.

Let’s hope all these drivers have got back safely to their homes, throughout Europe.

JEFF WILLIAMS

Jubilee Road, Parkstone