During the pandemic, the Government has rightly spent hundreds of billions of pounds — much of it borrowed — to keep our economy afloat and support our vital public services.
Despite a marked rise in spending during the crisis, the NHS — facing huge backlogs and resurgent demand — is likely to require further funding. Other departments are also eyeing up more cash.
The reality is we rely on a strong economy to pay for health, education and all the services we depend on. Nurturing the recovery is therefore a top priority. First, we need to roll out a vaccine booster programme fast, starting with the most vulnerable and the elderly and then down to the fifties.
Our aim must be to avoid the appalling consequences of another lockdown. But it’s also about confidence. Making people feel safe going back to work, using our transport system, returning to living. Not hiding.
Second, we need to give our economy a shot in the arm, by getting people back into our cities. The Government is still spreading mixed messages on this, declaring July 19 to be “freedom day” while the Cabinet is still meeting over Zoom and civil servants working from home.
Even our Prime Minister is “working” away from No 10 the week many return to offices. They should all be leading by example.
We welcome Sadiq Khan’s call for business to encourage workers back to their offices at least part of the week — though one day out of five will not cut it, especially when most hybrid plans are three days a week minimum.
According to the ONS, in the week beginning August 9, more than 94 per cent of people in England had Covid-19 antibodies. That is a significant wall of protection and there should be more positive data being hailed by the Government.
To pay back the debts run up during Covid and fund our public services, growth is critical. So we must leave no stone unturned in our efforts to get our economy firing on all cylinders and London bustling again.
