Let us know what the ‘new normal’ means
Boris Johnson’s return to the fray was accompanied by a change of tone if not of policy, for now at least. The Prime Minister – fully recovered, we trust, after a serious bout of coronavirus – took immediate control, delivering a bullish statement in Downing Street before chairing the Government’s pandemic emergency committee.
His pronouncement was in keeping with those made by other ministers over the past few weeks as he convalesced at Chequers. The lockdown was not being relaxed, the scientific advice did not allow for it and avoiding a second peak in the infection is now the overriding priority. He could not spell out how fast or slow – or even when – changes could be made. The country was urged to stick with it. But if this was disappointing for many looking to Mr Johnson to provide immediate relief, there was a glimmer of light. He did, for instance, acknowledge the damage to the economy and the need to “fire up its vast engines” once again.
This is not about prioritising wealth creation over lives. The fact is that without prosperity the NHS will not be able to save lives, not just of coronavirus victims but of many thousands suffering from other ailments.
The Government knows this but its message has been more skewed towards the medical than the economic when they need to be considered in tandem. Mr Johnson emphasised his anxiety to limit the damage to the economy while remaining adamant that the nation’s health came first.
A review of the lockdown is due on May 7 and Mr Johnson said work was underway in Whitehall to prepare the ground for phase two. Government sources indicate that this may mean some measures will start to be relaxed before that point, possibly as early as this week.
But with the Prime Minister adamant that he would “not risk a second wave” it is not clear how that will happen. No 10 said some controls might even be tightened. So while it appears four points of the Government’s plan are close to being met, the fifth – stopping another spike while allowing economic activity to resume – will be the most problematic.
Mr Johnson’s insistence upon total transparency is welcome. The country has sacrificed much and should be consulted about its future. If ministers are to talk about people adapting to a “new normal” they need to spell out what that means.