Allister Heath has written a scathing attack on the UK government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, published in the Daily Telegraph.
Key points he makes are:
Sweden got it largely right:
- Fewer deaths per capita than the UK.
- Schools staying open.
- A recession half as severe as the UK.
The UK’s response was one of the greatest public policy blunders in modern history:
- Millions will lose their jobs when furlough ends.
- Tens of thousands of small businesses are failing.
- Schooling is in chaos.
- Vast numbers are likely to die from untreated or undetected illnesses.
Sweden adopted a proportionate approach, with some compulsion but with a focus on retaining normal life. The virus was taken very seriously, but there was no formal lockdown.
The UK adopted a full-on statist approach, with a legally binding lockdown which shut down society.
He also notes that almost all economists thought Sweden’s economy would suffer hugely. In fact Sweden’s GDP fell by 8.6% in the first half of the year. The UK’s fell by 22.2%.
I couldn’t agree more with his arguments and sadly I am very sceptical about the ability of the UK government to manage the economic recovery effectively.
Chris Goodwin
The link to the article is below.