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Monday 15 February 2021

Boris may have won the race



Coronavirus: Plan to exit lockdown 'cautious but irreversible', says Boris Johnson

The government's plan to move England out of lockdown will be "cautious but irreversible", Boris Johnson has said.

The prime minister is due to set out the roadmap for ending restrictions next Monday.

He told reporters the plan would include target dates for changes "if we possibly can", but he warned high rates of infection could lead to delays.

It comes as a group of Tory MPs call for a commitment to a "free life" and ending of lockdown measures before May.


The race of course is between a natural seasonal decline in Covid-19 and the vaccination programme. With a very large vaccination number the government will be able to put a Covid-19 decline down to lockdown and vaccination rather than a natural seasonal decline. Even admitting a natural effect may not make much difference politically. 

Has Boris won the political coronavirus race? To be where we are now, there must be considerable government confidence that a marked seasonal decline is somewhere between highly likely and inevitable. As it appears to have started anyway, this probably counts as a win for Boris. 

A grossly destructive win but that's politics. It certainly highlights his ability and willingness to control the narrative at our expense. Depressingly well highlighted in my view.

6 comments:

Sam Vega said...

That laurel crown might look a bit faded after he tries to pay for the whole episode. It's a good deal harder to bluff the international financial system.

A K Haart said...

Sam - different reactions should be interesting once lockdown nonsense is lifted. Versions of gratitude versus a more negative take on the whole thing.

Anonymous said...

And local elections due in May...

A K Haart said...

Anon - I'm almost looking forward to that, although if there is no alternative to the mainstream parties I probably won't bother.

wiggiatlarge said...

Is this the same 'three weeks to flatten the curve' Johnson, ah so it is.............

A K Haart said...

Wiggia - and still he didn't sack all those "scientists" and find a new lot.