30.04.20
New report calls for transparency regarding lockdown exit plan
The Institute for Government has published a report today (Apr 30) urging the Government to be straight with the public that there is 'no single grand exit plan' from the coronavirus lockdown.
The paper, named Lifting the Lockdown: How to approach a coronavirus exit strategy, highlights that any easing of restrictions will need to steadily evolve in response to evidence from the UK and abroad, rather than with a singular solution - something the Government needs to be clear with the public about.
It also includes a warning that the Government’s five tests for starting to lift the lockdown are not sufficient for the long-term exit strategy.
Despite these restrictions being in place for over a month, they have still led to misunderstandings across the country, and greater confusion is possible if restrictions are lifted for different groups at different times.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson will need to explain any new restriction changes ‘clearly and repeatedly’ to the public, as well as the thinking and evidence to back them up, according to the Institute.
The Institute for Government’s Joe Owen, one of the report’s authors, said:
“How to ease the coronavirus lockdown will require Boris Johnson to make some of the toughest choices to have faced any prime minister. There can be no grand plan for exit, only a process of edging forward. The government’s approach will have to evolve to take account of the best evidence, but these will be overwhelmingly political choices – and the government will need to be straight with the British people about the steps that will be taken in the months ahead.”
Other recommendations to Government include ensuring that testing capacity is sufficient, as is the ability to trace individuals who have been in contact with those infected and lifting restrictions sooner for businesses able to implement social distancing and sectors set to suffer the most from long-term shut downs.
The 38-page paper also suggests incentivising people and businesses out of lockdown, using tax or reduced support for furloughed workers.