Clarity is key to public trust

Lockdown had to be tightened

THE SERIOUSNESS of Covid-19’s continuing risk to public health is illustrated by Boris Johnson’s announcement putting the further lifting of the lockdown on hold – and Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, also warning of “difficult trade-offs” to come as the re-infection rate appears to rise to perturbing levels.

A statement at odds with the Prime Minister’s recent ebullience, and pronouncements, about getting the country back to work, the measures go further than Thursday’s urgent decision forbidding social gatherings in homes across swathes of the North, including Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale.

And the consequences – for businesses, tourism, sport, weddings and religious celebrations like Eid – explain the Government’s predicament and why both Ministers, and officials, need to offer far more clarity when announcing such decisions. In the wake of scientific evidence, the Government had to act so swiftly in order to protect, and save, lives. Where it erred, however, was the failure of Ministers and officials to offer the necessary clarity when MPs and councils were briefed with little warning.

This is a key lesson if public trust, confidence and forbearance is to be maintained – these safeguards do have a direct impact on day-to-day lives, like childcare, and there was insufficient recognition of this or a need to show more understanding about the BAME community rather than pandering to dangerously ill-informed prejudices of MPs like Calder Valley’s Craig Whittaker.

Whatever the frustrations with the Government, it is everyone’s duty to comply with all public health protocols. A failure to do so will only delay the recovery and put more jobs, and lives, at risk. As Prof Whitty said, it is within our hands, as a society, on how to respond, hence why it remains in the interests of all to follow his guidance without exception.