Jonathan Sumption: Why governments were wrong to fight Covid-19 with lockdowns | Q+A 2023 

We are the "single source of truth" was the most fascist statement ever made by a NZ Prime Minister.

FINALLY. Some actual unbiased journalism and an honest conversation. Time for the media to front up to the disgusting ways they treated and manipulated Kiwis.

As a kiwi living overseas, I was always proud of being a NZer until covid. It was horrifying to watch what the government did to the country during that time. It was so surprising that we didn’t take a Sweden-like approach. The liberals have become the authoritarians. I appreciate this interview very much.

MSM needs to face up to how awful they were.

If only all interviews were conducted this gracefully with a interviewer asking questions and allowing their guest to finish their answer before asking the next one.

We must never forget or forgive Jacinda's despotic reign aided and abetted by Hipkins and Bloomfield 💪

Take note Jack….you’re who he’s warning about…

Q+a Only doing this interview now Labour are out of government. Where was your journalism when the government breached the bill of rights?

credit is due where credit is due. this was actually the first interview i could watch from you guys in years. Finally an interview i could stomach to watch by your network because your interviewer actually shut his mouth let the guest answer questions, didn’t interupt him, and didn’t appear to be going for the old gotcha tactics that make the majority of your “journalism” so unwatchable. So well done, and if you can manage to take my negative comments as constructive criticism i hope for more interviews like this one in the future.

Jack Tames demeanor during this interview seemed to indicate that he had never heard any criticism of the NZ government covid response before. Either that, or he had been instructed by his handlers to allow a perspective other than his own to be articulated. Clearly, Jack Tame still has no idea at all what the Wellington protests were about, as he described them as being about covid "restrictions", when they were always 100% about forced vaccination mandates on people who knew the jabs were harmful.

Moral of the story. Politicians can make reckless decisions with impunity.

What a great guest....one of the few interviews where common sense, reason and logic has been ALLOWED to shine. 👍

I watched a video from an epidemiologist in april 2020 who said the exact same thing as this... Protect the elderly and vulnerable and let the rest carry on...

Hate speech laws are an absolute mockery after the hatred Australian and NZ governments spoke of their own citizens during the pandemic. My view is they should be tried against their own laws.

I am not from New Zealand however the most worrying aspect of the whole pandemic debacle was that all of the western world acted in concert (except Sweden) - the governments, the msm, the health officials, the police and the educators - a sad indictment on western society as a whole. With all the accumulated knowledge over 100s of years and the best of minds in the relevant positions, we still managed to apply the wrong models - incredible!!

As a signatory of the Great Barrington Declaration, I couldn't agree more, Lord Sumption.

At last, Jack, you actually listened. I didn’t think your interview with Winston was conducted in the same way. Journalists should not interject their opinions, but truly interview so the listener has the information to discern in his own mind. Not be told what to believe by the interviewer.

All they needed to do was tell people to stay home if they had symptoms. Instead they enforced divisive coercive policies against evidence and opinion was available at the time, and told anyone who disagreed that they were stupid. They treated us like children - the condescending arrogance showed. Bye-bye Jacinda, bye-bye Labour.

We need to discuss the WHO Pandemic Treaty that becomes binding May 2024

Thanks for hosting Lord Sumption. Good interview by Jack Tame. Sumption emphasises the importance of freedom and individual rights on issues like covid-19 and hate speech.

This interview has somewhat restored my faith in the future of humanity, it is reassuring to know there are still great men out there with a balanced, sane and unbiased view on issues

We need a full and open inquiry of the govt covid response- one that allows the Input of the “team of 5 million”

i enjoyed this interview. Jonathan Sumption communicated in such a straightforward manner that made you want to listen.

Fascinating to see the MSM now, almost miraculously, taking a balanced view on Arden's legacy!

Not only the effects of Social Media but also Main Stream Media in pushing the fear factor. NZ MSM were the cheer leaders throughout the period being discussed.

Wow, what a refreshing interview, no outbursts or constant interruptions from the interviewer. This is what I'd like to see from more mainstream media. Well done 👍🏻👍🏻

Lockdowns and restrictions should never have been used. I applaude Lord Sumption for being there for the people from day 1. Well done for letting this great man speak.

I remember Jonathon Sumption early in the game of Covid standing up and warning the British Government that they have over-stepped. He was a beacon in those ugly, dark times.

What a wonderful intelligent conversation. I'm glad to see the realities being discussed finally.

Unless the NZ govt refuses the legally binding WHO Pandemic Treaty set for May 2024, any decision re. future pandemic response will be out of their hands.

Who would've guessed that Ardern didn't sit on the podium of truth Afterall...

Refreshing to hear a common sense perspective reflecting on what the people of NZ experienced for far too long. So interesting that there’s a govt covid warning box re this clip at the top! Going on a bit too long for that now considering the actual outcomes, isn’t it?

THAT was amazing. So good to hear some common sense and truth.

That’s the most respectful I’ve ever heard Tame be. He was outclassed by Sumption. No gotcha questions there

This is an adult talking. The media might want to learn a thing or two. But can we trust the media to be ethical and measured? The media cannot help themselves but create chaos and feed on hysteria. There was nothing I could disagree with.

Great interview, thank you for this voice of reason, we haven’t seen anything like this in mainstream media for 4 years.

Suddenly allowed to talk about it? 3years later?

Comments turned on? unreal. Sure hope Jack reads ALL OF THEM

I remember how all of our politicians called the people against the mandate "Rivers of Filth". Well, that will never be forgotten.

Would have been nice if you aired these dissenting views two years ago.

Fantastic interview, of the sort you no longer see on TV in either NZ or the UK.

Very respectful discussion. If we restrict free speech we also restrict the publics ability to identify dickheads.

Single source of truth ….. fear induced compliance

He made a great comment at the end of this interview regarding social media, "we need to be a bit more skeptical about the appearance of unanimous abuse that it tends to generate" I think people are already skeptical and many have sympathy for the victims or share their views and see the cancelling for what it is, woke control.

I wish I could show this video to my work bosses who gave me hell for those 2 years. I openly expressed my displeasure at lockdowns and restrictions. I was told all sorts of things but what got me was hearing my General Manager say “he obviously doesn’t care about his families health”. Well, 2 compulsory shots and a booster shot later through work pressure where’s the danger now?

Scientific opinion about lockdowns at the time was that it was an unrecommendable option because of unknown consequences. The Govt ignored that.

What a privilege to hear a figure whose words carry such weight, speak truth to power in this way.

Wise words indeed! The only measures needed were “if you’re ill, stay home” - everything else was immoral, unnecessary and grossly damaging.

Fear is the great tool used by GOVT’s to herd us. It’s historic.

Tame's question about "hate speech" clearly was premised on a view he most likely holds, that it even exists as some sort of specific, definable category of what most thinking people simply call "speech". This is my observation, it's not at all an unexpected revelation about Tame.

Lord Sumption epitomises considerate discussion in my opinion, and is a gem. I think Jack realised this, and conducted his time with him well. Very interesting.. I like how he talks about Govt's attempting to foster unity rather than fear, in an effort to achieve the right direction.

This is an excellent interview. The guest is really taking us through his thought process and the person interviewing is asking thoughtful questions following on from the thought process.

We need more ‘ common sense’ clear thinking people like this in our society

Sadly, I still remember that dreadful and divisive Ardern and Labour party cronies wailing on any Kiwi who had the temerity to question their draconian actions. 'I will be your one source of truth' garbage. Forcing people into taking vaccine or lose their employment. And referring to protesting Kiwis as ignorant, non conformists. I am grateful she ran away from office but the harm she caused will affect us for decades.

Brilliant the best piece of honest television in 3 years

Absolutely amazing that they interviewed this guy! The NZ MSM are so far "we had the best Covid response in the world!"

I loved listening to lord sumption during the lockdown years when Australia’s borders were closed, just knowing there was one sane person out there speaking out gave me hope. I fully supported his advise to the public to simply practice quiet civil disobedience

A brilliant interview ! The interviewer allowed speech to be free and uninterrupted !

Winston Peters knew something was wrong with the woke approach in the second lock down. Jack.Tame should reflect that Peters view contrasted with his yet attempted to destroy Peters no matter what. Shame on Tame.

It is nice to see a balanced interview. For a change Jack. I was ones a very charitable person helping out in the community when i could .Plus sponsoring charity with money when needed. I am a very responsible porson. And my children have had all the regular vaccinations as they were growing up from when they wore babys as needed. For personal reasons I did choose not to have the covid vaccine. Unfortunately for me this was not to be my choice. I was forced to have the vaccine. Even though I was doing everything responsibly within my power to protect my self and the people around me. To cut a long story short this has changed my life forever. I no longer have any trust or respect for government. And when it was my turn to receive some support from society I was stigmatised and ridiculed. I was spat at. And labelled an antivaxxer not only by society but especially by the media And by you to Jack. I have lost all my trust and respect for society I no longer go to charities.or go to social community functions.i just look out for me now. Which I think is sad. This has had a profound effect on my thinking and how I view society. It has changed me and not for the better. I liked the person I was. Not the person that I am today. What happened to people in covid on both sides was quite frankly disgraceful. When all reason went out the door on both sides.The way people turn on there own i will never forget.

Such common sense - so different to the views of many in NZ during covid.

so you could sum it up by saying that our “wellbeing budget” was used to destroy our wellbeing… thanks cindy 👍

Thank you gentlemen for a calm quiet not fearful Important analysis of woes imposed upon us all with ongoing recopusions for many...

Jack is brought and paid for

What a refreshing and sensible speech. Governments around the world, take notes.

'Coercive conformity'. That's exactly what we experienced.

You repair the damage by not repeating it ffs

Excellent interview! Respectful interviewer and fascinating interviewee. NZ rarely disappoints!

Finally. Someone who's making sense of what happened to New Zealand.. Even if it's 3 years later.

He talked about fear is great enemy of democracy. At our current election compaign we saw good examples from all political forces to different degrees.

"In retrospect we can see that some of those consequences were grave" As if it weren't wildly obvious with many of us screaming it from the hilltops....and getting banned for doing so on social media etc etc

As Ronald Reagan said the nine words you should fear most are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help.".

Everyone forgets that the Diamond Princess told us what we needed to know about how (not very) lethal the illness was, and who was most at risk . So few people developed symptoms , they could / had to come up with the Asymptomatic Carrier twaddle.

I hope Jake listened carefully and learnt something about from Lord Jonathan Sumption

Well, why has New Zealand not ordered a Covid Enquiry, just as the UK has?

Lord Samption is one of the best speaker i have seen yet.. genuine and humble human being

Finally someone with an analytical mind and one who weighs all the pros and cons

Wow that guy was sensible, well spoken and articulate.

What puzzled me from the start was that barely a word was uttered officially about simple, common-sense measures to boost immunity: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, gargling with salt, and so on. Early intervention with inexpensive existing drugs was actually banned! It was pretty obvious that something was going on that had nothing to do with protecting public health.

How come it requires some one from overseas to have this conversation.....it just goes to show how shit our politician , public service and media are.....its 3 years to late

People say we didn't know enough about covid in 2020 but there was enough to make better decisions.....the age groups affected was very clear for example.

I’m just a dumb sheep farmer from the Naki, but I knew every bit of data and info that the interviewee refers to. We knew the infection fatality rates, for example from Israel. We also knew cOVID-19 was not a problem for young people, but the risk of myocarditis through vaccination was. But our government and our media focused on infection rates and fear. Stop saying you didn’t know - I’m frankly getting sick of hearing it.

Lord Sumption is a man of immense standing in my mind. Always a pleasure to listen to the most common of sense from someone with the highest level of technical understanding and communicative ability.

" The vaccines were not brought in for Covid , Covid was brought in for the vaccines . Once you understand that everything else makes sense " , Dr Reiner Fuellmich, Canadian / German lawyer.

Sunetra Gupta foresaw all the impacts, and warned society about them. Too intelligent for governments and politicians to heed.

Its not a governments position to promote fear, note to all politicians.

There was no need for a lockdown

Well said about fear. Respected person

Intelligent thought and the ability to express it does still exist in small pockets of humanity such as in this rational and reasonable gentleman.

Please let Lord Sumption be heard as part of the UK Covid enquiry. Better still ask Lord Sumption to conduct the enquiry!

Maybe next MSM can have an open discussion about our 18% increase in mortality since the roll out of that thing.

The first lockdown was hugely popular...... with who?????

Rare voice of truth and reason,top bloke,Jonathan Sumption.

Remarkably respectful and balanced interview by Tame

Yes, money is more important than human life, for some

One of the more balanced interviews I've seen carried out by mainstream media in the last few years, normally MSM pulls out the Conspiracy Theorist tag etc.

Im from Australia. We went crazy too. In South Australia at one point we shut down the whole state over a contaminated pizza shop where people supposedly contracted a highly contagious version of covid from a pizza box or something 😅😅. People were locked out of their home states at the borders. Hours long queues for testing. We went mad. The consequences will last for ages.

"...put significant restrictions on the individual..." Thats utterly decontextualised. It put significant restrictions on over 60 million citizens in the UK, which catalyzed the loss of life in other forms. In other words the risk was shifted to folks with preexisting mental health issues, while those that were physiologically vulnerable were protected.

Where the heck did Jack Tame go how good he let Lord Sumption speak such obvious truths

How can they heal the wound???!!!!!! Remove the bloody mandates that companies are all still enforcing!!!! My husband would love his job back