It is patently obvious now that not only cannot the country afford to allow Johnson further time to mishandle this crisis, his own party cannot either. Although based on very dubious grounds and lacking historical justification, the Tory party did have a reputation, of sorts, for competency, with a widely held belief that the economy was safe in their hands. There has been little evidence of any competence whatsoever during recent months, with decisions made too late or early, and with even the supposedly able Rishi Sunak failing to "attach strings" to the lending of £16bn through its Covid corporate financing facility (Business view: business as usual, 05/06/20). Without "any job guarantees from companies", or pledges to reduce their carbon footprints, or even tax promises, this government has been taken for a ride by a business sector intent on putting profits first, at all costs, as it has been doing for the last ten years.
If the virus related figures are not seen to improve, and the R-rate reduced, Starmer must go for the jugular at PMQs. He might be surprised at the amount of backing from the Tories he gets; demanding the prime minister`s resignation is the only patriotic action left to him! With the country and its government the objects of ridicule throughout the world, and a death rate possibly rising to six figures, Johnson has to go! All talk of delaying criticism of the government`s failures to a commission of inquiry many months in the future is palpable nonsense!
As your editorial states, "the scientific and medical consensus is that the status of the preventative measures should not be downgraded", but for purely economic and political reasons, the relaxation of the lockdown rules is well under way (Star, 05/06/20). With the evidence rising every day, that Britain`s handling of Covid-19 is among the worst in the world, and the prime minister claiming at PMQs to be "proud" of his government`s record, Keir Starmer is right to ramp up the Opposition`s pressure, and break with the period of "constructive" truce. As daily deaths from the virus now exceed the equivalent numbers in all the EU`s 27 states put together, and the government`s policy of taking the British people for fools continues, with data manipulated, targets missed, and contradictory explanations for initiatives, like the forthcoming quarantine regulations, repeatedly given, is it not time for the leader of the Opposition to go for the jugular?.
In normal times, it would almost be funny to watch the prime minister bluster and squirm his way through 30 minutes of scrutiny every Wednesday, but with so much at stake, and the risk of a second spike still present, Starmer`s plan of attack has to change. If there is no real improvement in the next few days, and the early easing of lockdown restrictions is not accompanied by massively improved results, a vote of no confidence must surely be considered. It obviously would not be passed, and there need be no call for an election during this crisis, but putting this most incompetent of prime ministers under pressure is the duty of the official opposition. It would show that Starmer means business when calling for increased competency, and that it is the most patriotic thing he can do; this mishandling of the pandemic cannot be allowed to continue! It`s time to call time on this farce, and if Starmer and a few colleagues have to join in some form of national emergency government, so be it. The virus has to be contained, and it`s beginning to look like Johnson, Cummings and co. have lost control of it!
With the evidence mounting, as your editorial states, that "Britain`s handling of Covid-19 is among the worst in the world", and the prime minister claiming at PMQs to be "proud" of his government`s record, Keir Starmer is right to ramp up the Opposition`s pressure, and break with the period of "constructive" truce (Johnson squandered public trust in his coronavirus strategy, 04/06/20). As daily deaths from the virus now exceed the equivalent numbers in all the EU`s 27 states put together, and the government`s policy of taking the British people for fools continues, with data manipulated, targets missed, and contradictory explanations for initiatives, like the forthcoming quarantine regulations, repeatedly given, is it not time for the leader of the Opposition to go for the jugular?.
In normal times, it would almost be funny to watch the prime minister bluster and squirm his way through 30 minutes of scrutiny, but with so much at stake, and the risk of a second spike still present, Starmer`s "sense of duty" has to take him forward. If there is no real improvement in the next few days, and the early easing of lockdown restrictions is not accompanied by massively improved results, a vote of no confidence must surely be considered. It is the only patriotic thing to do; this mishandling of the pandemic cannot be allowed to continue!
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