29 April 2020updated 06 Oct 2020 9:45am

Boris Johnson can’t keep everyone happy, but he must keep them safe

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in Downing Street as he returns to work following his recovery from Covid-19 on April 27, 2020 in London, England. The Prime Minister said the country needed to continue its lockdown measures to avoid a second spike in infections. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

In combatting the coronavirus crisis, Boris Johnson must seek to strike a balance between public health and the economy. He cannot afford to come down heavily in favour of one over the other.

You can no more “save the economy” by allowing a deadly virus to spread through the country, writes the New Statesman’s political editor Stephen Bush, than you can “save lives” by shutting people indoors and paralysing business operations.

An effective strategy for the UK beating Covid-19 is one that facilitates a “transition” period that ends the lockdown in phases – not overnight. Even if it leaves him unpopular in the short-term, the Prime Minister would do well to be pragmatic as he considers his next steps.

Read the full article here.