Thread by @rwjdingwall

As a member of government advisory bodies, I have always felt it would be incompatible with that status not to wear a face covering where legally required to. However, I shall cease to do so from 19 July when these requirements lapse. (1/10)

I shall do this as an act of solidarity with all the people who have been exempt because of respiratory and neurodiverse conditions. (2/10)

I shall do this as an act of solidarity with all the people who have been exempt because of trauma induced by previous assaults or abuse (3/10)

Both of these groups have often had a hard time over the last 15 months from police officers, street marshalls, security guards, door staff and self-appointed busybodies (4/10)

I shall do this as an act of solidarity with all the people with communication difficulties, whether auditory and unable to lip-read, or visual and unable to use sound for reliable interaction and navigation (5/10)

I shall do this as an act of solidarity with all the small children whose education has been disrupted by the lack of visual clues, especially in language development (6/10)

I shall do this because, as SAGE, ECDC, WHO, CDC, CEBM, etc have pointed out, the evidence of benefit in interrupting transmission from face covering is weak and ambiguous, allowing any partisan to cherry pick studies that suit their case (7/10)

I shall do this because, as the highly charged responses to the UK government's announcement have shown, the main reasons for covering faces are now about fear and anxiety which will not be eased by clinging any longer to these comfort blankets (8/10)

I shall do this because I, too, am a moral person who cares about those with disabilities who are potential victims of discrimination, about small children whose development is disrupted, and about respect for scientific evidence (9/10)

If others take a different view, that is their prerogative. However, I will not allow them to suggest that I am less moral or caring and I will expect them to respect my choices as I respect theirs (10/10)