Raab defends decision to ease restrictions
Foreign Secretary says UK should ‘transition in careful steps’ as scientists warn public not to ‘overdo it’
DOMINIC RAAB has insisted that “we cannot stay in lockdown forever” as senior Cabinet sources last night said that growing splits among scientists meant ministers needed to “exercise a greater degree of judgment”.
After a number of the Government’s scientific advisers publicly warned against the planned easing of lockdown measures this week, the Foreign Secretary acknowledged the UK was at a “precarious moment”, but defended the decision to press ahead.
With primary schools and outdoor retailers reopening today and groups of six people permitted to meet outdoors, several members of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) believe the number of Covid-19 infections is still too high to proceed.
However, Mr Raab pointed out there were disagreements among the Government’s scientific advisers, adding it would be “totally surprising” if there was “unanimity” within the group.
He also acknowledged that while Sage provided advice to ministers, it was right that “as elected politicians we have to make the final judgment call”.
“Obviously, this is a sensitive moment, but we can’t just stay in lockdown forever, we’ve got to transition and the more we transition in careful steps, the more I think we’ll build up confidence,” he told Sky News.
“Our overriding priority is to protect life, but we also know we’ve got to protect livelihoods, jobs, the economy, because that props up all of our crucial public services and so the steps we’re taking is not some binary trade-off.”
Mr Raab added if easing the lockdown led to “upticks” in infection rates in certain parts of the country, ministers would now “target specific settings or particular regions” rather than reimposing restrictions nationwide. He also stressed ministers had to be “cautious”
during the transition, adding there was a fine line between people being “stuck in the old rules or going too fast”.
His comments were echoed last night by Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, who added that while the public should “very carefully and sensibly pick up those easements” they should not “overdo it”.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street briefing, Dr Harries added: “I think it’s really important that people just try to use these measures sensibly for their own benefit, but don’t risk transmission to other people.”
However, The Daily Telegraph understands a group of senior ministers are privately ratcheting up pressure within Cabinet for decision-making to be more focussed on the reopening of the economy. According to Whitehall insiders, a quartet of senior ministers – Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and Business Secretary Alok Sharma – are leading the calls and are working in close “coordination”.
“Certainly the four are very aligned in seeking to reopen the economy as quickly as can be done, while obviously ensuring that it is done safely and avoiding the second peak,” a source said. “There’s a high degree of alignment between each.”
Last night one Cabinet minister told The Telegraph that differing scientific opinions on lifting lockdown measures also meant ministers needed to exercise a “greater degree of judgment”, balancing the health risks against the wider consequences for society and business.
“Decisions are still based on the science ... but it is also true it’s difficult to measure the impact of each individual easing of the lockdown,” they added. “With each of these measures, such as schools, you do have to balance the risk, which only politicians can make.
Their comments were echoed by a senior Government source, who added: “Back in March everyone was worried about public health and people dying, now economic concerns are coming to the fore. Now people are seeing other countries starting to come out of lockdown, it’s becoming a lot harder politically to be keeping people locked up.”