Shops reopening today in England is a calculated gamble that can only work if we all maintain social distancing to protect our lives and those of others.
The Government’s strategy no longer feels guided or based on scientific evidence, if it ever was, yet some people are desperate to resume something approaching normal life.
Boris Johnson’s dithering and mistakes at the onset of the pandemic contributed to Europe’s highest death toll, so the fear the PM will commit further errors is widespread.
He’s lost public confidence, a majority of the country unhappy with his handling of the crisis after Johnson squandered sympathy when his own life was in danger.
When returning to high streets and shopping centres, we all need to take care and exercise personal responsibility. Otherwise the virus will again spread rapidly, the death toll will rise and it will be another lockdown.
Right and wrong
Heroic Patrick Hutchinson symbolises the very best of our nation – while the thugs on the rampage on our cities’ streets are the very worst.
The personal trainer who risked his own safety to save a battered man is right that
this is essentially a battle between decent people and racists.
We condemned the violent fringe who used Black Lives Matter demonstrations the weekend before last to attack the police. But with the far right, it wasn’t a fringe – most of this weekend’s mob were intent on mayhem.
The Nazi saluters and the idiot who urinated next to the memorial for murdered PC
Keith Palmer aren’t patriots. They’re nasty, unpleasant hooligans.
Shared goal
The return of Premier League football on Wednesday is welcome entertainment in the coronavirus crisis.
Huge TV audiences will see empty grounds, but, hopefully, shots at goal will be nearer the target than a two-metre exclusion zone.
