Cynical Boris Johnson describing the coronavirus pandemic as a “massive opportunity” that his party can take advantage of is a Prime Minister putting partisan politics before his country.
His manoeuvring will sicken up to 5,500 Cineworld workers worried about their futures as the cinema chain shuts all 127 sites across the country.
Appalled too will be legions of staff in a hospitality trade brought to its knees by restrictions intended to save lives that are also destroying livelihoods.
The Tory double-whammy of Europe’s highest death count and financial damage worse than the downturn in other big economies is a source of national shame, not pride.
The plight of Cineworld is a warning that Chancellor Rishi Sunak replacing the successful furlough scheme with a cut-price alternative will create mass unemployment.
When France and Germany are spending more to keep people in work, cutting back now in Britain is an unforgivable false economy.
A sorry excuse
Admitting mistakes when the virus test and trace system is still malfunctioning is the least Boris Johnson could do.
Opinion polls have revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the Government’s incompetent response to the pandemic.
What he needs to do next is take personal responsibility for failing to do his job properly instead of trying to shift blame on to individuals and families unable to understand complex and constantly changing rules.
The sooner laws are simplified the better – yet the Prime Minister must also put up his hand and apologise for his party’s blunders.
