On Cummings and an EU trade deal I see a government doubling down on its perceived rightness against any independent advice, and no matter public anger or business impact.
Let's be blunt where this leads - the worst performance in Europe on coronavirus to date.
Let's be blunt where this leads - the worst performance in Europe on coronavirus to date.
It appears that Johnson / Cummings aren't very good at governing. They didn't understand that people would obey a lockdown, evidently because they presumed they themselves wouldn't. They have never established a proper governance structure for a national crisis.
The extension or not of the Brexit transition period has been treated similarly - with no regard to those affected whether government colleagues or businesses. What's the problem with sticking one crisis on another when you don't care about other people?
I have the highest regard for former colleagues trying for example to weave a path on Northern Ireland protocol implemention between what Johnson said and what he signed, given that Johnson himself never admitted a difference between the two.
For all the rhetoric we are going into a crucial few months for the UK's economic future - decisions on future relations covering 75% of our trade, domestic support for the economy, for workers etc. This needs to be treated at the top as more than a game - but I fear it won't be.
PS My position was the Brexit transition period should be extended as we need more time. Government says no. Ok, their right, but with implications for UK business, Northern Ireland, the prospect of no deal etc. They need discussing. Instead we get bluster. That's the real issue.
