The PM could trust people a little more

‘Our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end.” With these words, Boris Johnson announced the biggest relaxation of the lockdown measures that came into force three months ago to suppress the coronavirus pandemic and protect the NHS.

The Prime Minister looked far more comfortable in the Commons delivering the good news than he has in recent weeks reinforcing the bad. His instincts are for individual responsibility. Labour is ideologically at ease with the state control that the emergency has ushered in. Mr Johnson is not, but feels he has no option other than to exercise executive diktat over how people interact.

His statement was intended to open up more of society in the interests of the economy, while exercising caution. He said that the five tests set by the Government had been met and there was no immediate prospect of a second wave of the virus. But this clearly remains a concern and Mr Johnson said he would not hesitate to “apply the handbrake” either locally or nationally once more if there is an increase in infections.

While these developments are welcome, there is continued uncertainty over what the future holds. Hospitality outlets like pubs, hotels and restaurants can reopen but are still urged to keep a two-metre distance between customers. Where this is not possible a one-metre gap is allowed but only with mitigation such as masks or screens.

For many owners operating on the margins of profitability, the “plus” in the one metre plus requirement may be a condition too far. Why not just make it one metre without the caveats? Schools will not be able to open fully in September as promised if social distancing is maintained. There is also a lot of costly red tape when people need to focus on their businesses before they, and the jobs they support, go under.

Nor is it entirely clear why some activities are allowed and others are not. The Prime Minister said there would inevitably be people disappointed to be left out but they are entitled to be given a reason. Mr Johnson said the Government wished to operate through guidance rather than law, but companies will still be expected to observe the former or risk the latter. He also said he trusted the “common sense” of the British people to behave in a way that would keep the virus at bay. But we are not yet trusted enough, it seems.