Government deployed callous strategy of instilling shame and stigma to distract from own errors

During the pandemic, the government has employed a cynical tactic to steer attention away from its own errors: creating conditions in which people would suffer shame and stigma.

According to a study by medical humanities scholars at the University of Exeter, Professor Luna Dolezal, Dr Fred Cooper and Dr Arthur Rose, the UK government’s use of shame during the COVID pandemic has been labelled “cynical” and a blatant attempt to distract from its own mistakes.

People from ethnic minority groups, people with medical conditions, and health professionals all suffered severe shaming and stigma due to the government’s approach. By putting the onus on citizens to solve their own problems rather than creating cohesive public health policies, they created an environment where these marginalised groups were singled out for blame.