A clear message is now so important

THERE couldn’t have been a more important moment when the need for a clear, uniform message was so vital.

Yet as the fight against Covid-19 continues, many must be wondering why a message that has been so simply stated and understood since the coronavirus pandemic reached these shores, looked to be compromised by a UK Prime Minister changing his approach, seemingly without consulting any of the devolved administrations.

On the day Boris Johnson announced a new “Stay Alert” slogan for England, this new stance was summarily dismissed by the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who insisted their message would be the one that has remained the same since the coronavirus crisis began – “Stay Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives”.

Mr Johnson’s jettisoning of the previous universally agreed message in favour of a new slogan for England – “Stay Alert, Control The Virus, Save Lives” – was met with puzzlement by many and criticism by many more, already critical of the Government’s attempts to combat a virus which has claimed more deaths in the UK than any other country in Europe.

The Prime Minister’s dropping of the stricter message, as he prepared to unveil his plans on how England should ease the lockdown in a broadcast yesterday evening, saw him telling the public to “stay at home as much as possible”, keep two metres apart when going out and “limit contact” with other people.

However, the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland said they had not been consulted over the new slogan. They also criticised the message as being ambiguous.

Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford, once again reiterated that the “Stay Home” message has not changed for anyone in Wales and remains the best way to protect lives from Covid-19. Health Minister Vaughan Gething similarly said: “The Welsh Government message has not changed. Stay at home and if you do go out observe the social distancing rules”.

At a time when a uniformity of approach should be vital to ensuring a lack of confusion, all Mr Johnson’s unveiling of a new slogan inevitably risks is more uncertainty. A two-speed approach could lead to the unnecessary scenario of people flouting the rules of lockdown and putting lives at risk.

For now the lockdown message in Wales is clear and unchanged, whatever the Prime Minister says.