Stormont should at least give Covid criteria and target dates for a route out of lockdown

Political tactics have changed very much since October, when Arlene Foster was adamant that a pre Christmas lockdown would end on November 13.

The first minister was unable to deliver on her pledge then, which was made at a time when Covid infections were rising.

Now the virus is declining sharply in Northern Ireland, due to the vaccine rollout success, yet we have no real route out of a much more severe lockdown than was in place in November.

Politicians are wary of over promising. Of giving dates and then having to retreat from them, and so causing greater disappointment than if they had given no dates at all.

But the problem with not giving target dates is evident in a quote from Simon Hamilton, in his article on page 18.

The former DUP MLA and Stormont minister, writing in his role as chief executive of Belfast Chamber, says there is a “risk that no timetable will see many businesses calling it a day”.

After all, many of those businesses have been closed for the better part of a year.

Lockdown has exacerbated existing inequalities, and created new ones.

It has been much harder on people who work in the private sector, than the public sector (which is almost untouched, and indeed enjoying pay rises).

It is particularly hard on the self employed, and has been brutal on those who work in whole sectors such as hospitality.

It is harder on people who can’t work from home than those who can.

It is harder on people who live in homes with gardens than those who live in flats without outside space.

It is harder on children who live in disadvantaged families than those who have money.

Meanwhile, Stormont is pursuing an exceedingly cautious return to schooling, despite the fact that children are barely at risk from Covid, yet face lasting damage to their education.

Politicians are elected to lead, not to hide behind scientists.

At the very least they need to give criteria for moves out of lockdown, and target dates too.

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor