The dangerous arrogance of the government's slow coronavirus response
- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN
Play all audios:

Science & Tech Coronavirus 21 April 2020updated 06 Oct 2020 9:45am The dangerous arrogance of the government’s slow coronavirus response By Samuel Horti
As the first UK coronavirus cases were confirmed, the government was focused on Brexit and destructive vendettas, writes Martin Fletcher, a New Statesman contributing writer and a former
foreign editor of the Times. It is now paying for this arrogance, and the UK looks likely to suffer one of the highest death tolls in the Western world.
“Traces of hubris persist,” he writes. “Even as it calls for national unity, Johnson’s government refuses to seek an extension for the Brexit transition period that ends on 31 December. It
refuses even though the chances of the UK securing an EU trade deal are now negligible in the little time left, and crashing out without such a deal would deliver another crushing blow to
British businesses already reeling from the lockdown.”
You can read the full article here.
Content from our partners The Hidden Cost of Poor Lung Health Dr John Forni Labour’s historic opportunity Spotlight Those in power need to listen to children and young people. We’re the key
to their future Spotlight Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Comment The unlikely alliance of Robert F Kennedy Jr and Russell Brand Public Health Boris Johnson prioritised Brexit politics over public health Coronavirus Why we still can’t quantify the
pandemic’s impact on our mental health Samuel Horti