‘New normal’ is an opportunity for change

Sir, – The world class nature of Dundee based Insights is ably demonstrated by CEO Andy Lothian.

In the Business Matters section (Courier, July 28) Mr Lothian says, “The moment of adversity is the seed of opportunity.”

It is disappointing therefore that there is a rush and push from Number 10 Downing Street to get the economy of the UK back to normal and the nation rebooted by way of coffee shop and sandwich bar purchases.

This means herding people back on to trains and buses to go to city centre office blocks and restoring our huge carbon footprint and stressful, expensive journeys.

It also means a return to the (non) disposable coffee cup mountain, again with disproportionate daily expense.

Number 10 could use this adversity more wisely and tackle at least three current issues.

The environment, a shortage of affordable housing and university education all present an opportunity for a rethink.

While not all jobs can be done remotely, many can and it would be sad if businesses reverted to the air miles and rail miles default mode of working. Rough sleeping and building on the ever shrinking greenbelt could then be reduced by converting city centre office blocks into affordable housing. Universities have expanded beyond belief and, sadly, many graduates face unemployment and lifelong loan repayments because of a mismatch between the new economies and their academic expertise.

Do we really need 50% of our young people in higher education?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also fallen into the trap of narrow thinking by offering discounts for restaurant meals as a quick fix for the economy.

Not only is this a onedimensional idea, it also comes at a time when the prime minister is on a mission to get us to lose weight.

Is it too much to expect that our governments use this moment of adversity as the seed of opportunity and think in a more coherent manner?

Ron J Scrimgeour. 39 Gowan Rig, Forfar.