SAVE THE SUMMER. SAVE THE ECONOMY. THE POLITICAL ISSUES

The proposal for a second lockdown to save the summer and save the economy is subject to political will.  Several issues need to be overcome.

This is a non-partisan post, being neither Leaver or Remainer as far as Brexit is concerned..  Nothing in this post takes away that the Conservative party won the 2019 General Election.  Brexit is done, with the EU already notified that the UK does not wish to extend the transition period beyond December 2020.  No, this is solely about overcoming COVID-19, for which the government needs to be trusted by the public.  This post is fundamentally about leadership.

Firstly any government initiative would be undermined were Cummings to remain in post.  Cummings showed that rules don’t need to be followed.  The new lockdown rules would need to be followed for this proposal to work.  He can;t be part of the leadership.  He must go

The government has repeatedly said that easings of lockdown restrictions would need to be reversed if necessary.  But this seems an empty threat.  It would be very embarrassing to do that.  Though less embarrassing than an ever-rising death tally and continuing at the bottom of the European league table.

The Treasury would need to appreciate that a second lockdown would allow the economy to re-open more strongly than the current half-hearted approach   As early as July.

PM Johnson would need to have a major change of heart to dismiss Cummings and adopt a second lockdown.

Polls have also shown that the public have also lost confidence in his government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.  Whether or not this lockdown proposal is adopted, a new government is needed.

So the best way to adopt the second lockdown proposal, is to urgently appoint an Interim Conservative leader and PM, pending a full-scale leadership election when the crisis has subsided.  The obvious thing to do is to appoint a new party leader from the those interested on the list of over 40 MPs who publicly asked Cummings to go. 

There are both Leavers and Remainers on that list. Who would be keen to be PM?  Who of those would be best suited to lead our response to the COVID-19 crisis?

The Interim PM can then appoint their own cabinet.  Optionally that could include MPs from other parties, to form a type of GNU – a Government of National Unity.  But that is not essential.

Stranger things have happened.  A new interim PM needs to be appointed now, and Cummings dismissed.


CONCLUSION

The proposal for a second lockdown would allow for a far stronger easing of the economy in July, allow people to go on holiday in the summer, and make it far safer for people who have been shielding to leave their homes.  Save the Summer.  Save the Economy.

It would be undermined were Cummings to remain in post, so he must go.  Best if an interim PM were to be appointed from the list of MPs who publicly asked for him to go, and who would be prepared to adopt a second lockdown.  They can then appoint their own cabinet, possibly to include MPs from other parties.

Let’s hope the Conservative party can bite the bullet and appoint that Interim PM, and implement the proposed lockdown.  Now.

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