It’s a fair bet that by now you will have made your own mind up about this entire Covid 19 issue. That view may well depend on weight you add to what are essentially the two main points of the subject Health and well being of the nation versus the needs of a vibrant economy and recovery.
Far away from my position as a Council leader where views I express are those of the majority of Council here I am quite free to say that I am not sure there is any evidence to suggest that its possible to have that economic return to normality and protect the population at the same time.
Sticking plasters and halfway houses are failing in both areas and the dark shadow of party politics has damaged the one good thing that came out of the pandemic in April and May. That national unity, where we were all in it together, fighting a common enemy has long succumbed to the political ambitions that lurk in Westminster, Cardiff and Holyrood .
We are at a crossroads and those charged with leading us through it, frankly, need to get a grip.
For me, it’s fairly simple in that a strong economy is of no use to a dead person. We need to beat this virus first or every step forward will be followed by two significant jumps backward. The effect on businesses of course need to be addressed. Only this week I have made a plea for the Tourism businesses in the Forest to get support funding from the Government but if the bill for keeping businesses afloat and extending furlough schemes , causes recession and will be being paid back by our grandkids, as predicted by those advocating a return to normality well frankly so be it. Have we not just finished paying off debt raised by the war? In times of National Emergency, you do what you need to do. Also, unlike other recessions, dips, and depressions, nearly every country in the world is in the same place, we are all affected, we all must borrow to keep going. The playing field is at least fairly level in that respect.
We hear that a vaccine of sorts is near, perhaps as near as the new year and if that is true, then that is the time to try to open more. The next two months should be spent protecting the health of the nation and hoping for the sake of our businesses that we can perhaps be more open in the lead up to Christmas.
Until then, I’d say to Messrs Johnson and Hancock, Mr Drakenfield, Mr Starmer and Ms Sturgeon, get yourselves round a table (remotely) with our best health advisors and business gurus. Understand what needs to be done to enable Britain to come out of this as quickly and as well as possible. See what is needed to keep our businesses going as absolute best you can. Order a three-week lockdown of the entire UK including schools and let us get these numbers back to manageable. Let us remember that each of those numbers is someone’s mother or father, husband or wife.
If we do this now, we can let the country enjoy Christmas and be with their family.
Time for action is now
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