COVID-19 UK Political Analysis by Tim Hames – 22nd May 2020

This is a somewhat strange moment in the coronavirus crisis and its consequences. There has been a partial liberalisation of the lockdown, but focused on easing social rather than economic restrictions. Behind the scenes, ministers and officials are working intensely to ensure that there will be another step-change at the beginning of June, as proposed but never firmly promised. The lag in assessing the R-number – and the reality that it can only ever be a range, not an absolutely precise figure – is complicating that ambition. So is the fact that the trial of the proposed NHS App on the Isle of Wight has revealed a tranche of teething troubles. These need to be resolved before any serious attempt to restore more of the mothballed economy will be witnessed. It may pass, but frustration is evident.

There is also an acceptance that in the aftermath of the crisis some profound consideration will have to occur about the structure of UK society, the nature of public spending on health and the shape of the economy. One area that will be under the microscope with extra scrutiny is UK manufacturing.