Government failing to lead us in a crisis

THE latest coronavirus advice from the Government is less than reassuring.

We knew it was going to get worse before it gets better.

But the message from Downing Street presents a prospect of the isolated, elderly and vulnerable being left to cope by themselves.

And it raises questions about the efficiency of planning our food supplies.

“Visit your relatives before it’s too late,” is hardly comforting advice as we prepare for the next phase of the epidemic.

As the virus spreads, so does the risk of panic.

There is no justification for it. And panic buying in the shops will only make matters worse.

This is a time for the nation to do what it is proudly best at – keeping a cool head in the face of adversity.

For that, we deserve peace of mind that everything is being done by those in power to ensure the very best outcome.

It is time the Government stepped up to the mark.

Boris Johnson’s team has been slow out of the starting blocks. The Prime Minister appeared at first to pretend the crisis wasn’t coming.

They have belatedly started to act. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s cack-handed and false claim that talks were under way with supermarkets – they weren’t – suggests chaos rather than confidence.

Claiming that online orders will cope with the needs of all those marooned at home was careless, misleading and weak.

Amid a sea of rumour and fake news, the country needs to know that its Government is at least telling the truth.

We will do our bit.

If we can be sure the Government is doing theirs.