What strange times we live in when Theresa May has to give Boris Johnson lessons in boosterism.
While the usually ebullient Prime Minister considers extra curbs to tackle the spread of Omicron, his predecessor – normally cloaked in caution – exhorts him to be braver.
Right now, he is in danger of being cowed by a phalanx of doom-mongers. A gloomy prospectus from his scientific advisers is testing his resolve. Britain is left wondering whether a nightmare of new restrictions will creep in to spoil Christmas.
Yet even as we drift closer to lockdown, the evidence becomes more reassuring. Covid deaths have plunged in a week. Not one Omicron patient here has been hospitalised. And all their symptoms are mild.
While the usually ebullient Prime Minister considers extra curbs to tackle the spread of Omicron, his predecessor – normally cloaked in caution – exhorts him to be braver
Simultaneously, shutdown's terrible legacy grows ever clearer. Ofsted says nearly every child has fallen behind in education – some losing basic language skills. Closing schools again risks another tragedy mirroring the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes as at-risk children are trapped with abusive parents.
Meanwhile, thousands of patients' vital operations are being cancelled as the NHS struggles with the backlog from Covid – consigning many to a world of constant pain or, in the worst instances, early graves.
Mr Johnson should turn a deaf ear to the drumbeat of doom and – for once in his life – listen to Mrs May
Fears of tougher restrictions are also hammering consumer and business confidence. By hampering the economy, that damages our future prosperity.
Mr Johnson should turn a deaf ear to the drumbeat of doom and – for once in his life – listen to Mrs May.
Dishonour on holiday
PERISH the thought that the collapse of Afghanistan and emergency evacuation of our mission there should disrupt the summer holiday of a civil service mandarin.
Not
