As ‘rule of six’ becomes law, bring back daily Downing Street press conferences – The Yorkshire Post says

It’s even more reason, as Leeds is placed on a heightened state of alert and at least 12 care homes are forced to close because of the virus, that there’s maximum compliance with the new rules on social gatherings that come into force today.

Britain – and the world – is effectively at war with an invisible enemy and this country’s best defence remains common sense, and the heeding of official advice, until more robust testing protocols are in place and an effective vaccine developed.

This observance of new laws is even more important if the reopening of offices, and places of work, is not to be halted just as Britain takes some tentative steps on the long road to economic recovery.

But this also requires the Government to be far clearer with its messaging – ‘Hands, Face, Space’ is the latest mantra – after a breakdown of relations with the devolved nations.

And it possibly calls for the Downing Street press conferences to be reinstated so the country can have updates from Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, and their colleagues, on the spread of the pandemic and the actions that need to be taken. It does not necessarily require the presence of Ministers, or the announcements of new policies to act as a diversion, but both men continue to be far more respected than most Cabinet politicians as Britain prepares for the critical next phase.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson