The UK has sometimes been blessed with first-class leadership during times of crisis.
In World War II, Britain had Winston Churchill at the helm fighting the Nazis, with Clement Attlee as his deputy.
When Hitler was defeated, and the UK was virtually on its knees, Attlee’s Labour government delivered the NHS and the welfare state.
A deadly pandemic which has killed millions worldwide requires the sort of leadership we have witnessed in previous times.
The UK’s tragedy is that we have a blundering buffoon in Boris Johnson and his cast of clowns in charge at this critical moment.
Experts warned the Tory Government about the consequences of lifting all the remaining Covid restrictions yesterday.
They feared it could lead to a huge increase in infections, put pressure on the NHS and set back the country.
Johnson ignored his advisers and ploughed ahead with a reckless policy so he could have his own Freedom Day moment.
The Prime Minister’s gamble has echoes of previous mistakes, such as opening up overseas travel and subsidising meals in restaurants.
His instincts are to protect business profits rather than the health of the nation.
Johnson is also a hypocrite when confronted with the consequences of his own policy.
Axing all the restrictions will inevitably result in hundreds of thousands of people being “pinged” and having to take time off work – as he knows only too well.
Johnson also knew he would have to self-isolate when he came into contact with his infected Health Secretary, but he tried to dodge quarantine.
He tried to claim he was covered by a pilot project and relented only after fearing a public backlash.
But Johnson’s self-isolation will be very different from the nightmare endured by citizens across the UK.
While many workers will have to sweat it out in cramped one-bedroom flats, Johnson has the luxury of “quarantining” in his Chequers mansion.
The vaccine programme has been a huge success, but it would be appalling if these gains were compromised by mistakes at this crucial moment.
Rather than setting arbitrary dates for the lifting of all restrictions, real leadership would involve explaining to the public why some curbs are still necessary.
It would involve putting in the hard yards to ensure that every young person is vaccinated, rather than expose them to danger.
Johnson is the wrong Prime Minister at the wrong time – we cannot afford this untrustworthy and reckless leader.
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