Rishi Sunak Confirms His Split From Boris Johnson Over September “Circuit Breaker” Lockdown
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he opposed the imposition of a “circuit breaker” lockdown in September due to the impact on people’s jobs and livelihoods, but that the “ultimate” decision was Boris Johnson’s. ITV News has the story.
In a wide-ranging interview with ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston, Mr Sunak said in Cabinet he made the case against a circuit-breaking lockdown due to the “impact” it would have on “people’s jobs and livelihoods”, and that he believed it would be “bad for the economy” and “long-term health as well”.
Despite Sage recommending a lockdown in a bid to stop Covid cases increasing, Mr Sunak said it was his “job” to “provide the Prime Minister with the best advice” in his “area of expertise”.
“In the same way that you’d expect the Education Secretary to feed in about this –the impact on children’s education and learning – you’d expect me in my job to talk about the impact on people’s jobs and livelihoods and ultimately things that are bad for the economy are bad for our long term health as well and our ability to fund things like the NHS.
“And those things have to go into the decision.
“These are difficult decisions to make, and it’s why we weigh up all those factors.”
Mr Sunak insisted that “at the time it wasn’t a clear-cut case” and that one of the deputy chief medical officers said it would “not be appropriate… for a national intervention”.
He continued that there was a “varied epidemiological picture” across the country so a “national intervention… wasn’t considered one that wouldn’t necessarily make sense”.
“And actually, you know, Wales went down that route and it didn’t in the end stop what needed to happen.”
The 40-year-old continued that while he and other ministers provided “input” from their respective rolls, “ultimately” the decision was made by Boris Johnson who “has to weigh these things up”.
A little later, in November, the Treasury admitted that it produced no forecasts in the run up to the second lockdown. Kate Andrews reported the details in the Spectator.
The impact of the specific restrictions on the economy were not forecast or predicted by the Treasury before they came into force.
Clare Lombardelli, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury, said in November:
As the Chancellor set out in Parliament last week, we haven’t done a specific prediction or forecast of the restrictions… what we do is ongoing policy that feeds into decisions ministers take, which they consider alongside the health impacts, the social impacts, and they also consider the economic impact.
As Kate Andrews commented: “That the institution did not produce any forecasts or predictions also raises serious questions about the extent to which the economic implications of such radical measures were considered before the Government brought them in.”
ITV News’ report is worth reading in full.
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“scientific experts recommended ….”
‘Experts’? I larfed ’till the tears ran down me leg.
Events confirm that is the appropriate response – remember the ‘4000 a day’?
(Note that ‘experts’ now include Lenny the Henry, who tells us that vaccines are safe)
It’s not appropriate for Sunak to start talking about re-arranging the deck chairs on the sinking ship. He forgot to mention this six months ago and to now big up his resistance to a small part of the destruction of our economy is appalling. Sunak will not be able to separate himself from his responsibility as a part of this government. He will stand accountable as a senior member of the cabinet, who at no point told us his concerns, nor resigned. There have not been three or four lockdowns as many claim. There has been one big destructive one for more than a year and we the people will not let Sunak or any of them forget what they have done.
It’s called Collective Responsibility. The decision was made and Sunak like everyone else had to abide by it. He could not publicly dissent and stay in the Cabinet. Bit unfair to say he should’ve.
If he had to abide by collective responsibility then, why does he not have to now? An argument of distance in time does not ring true as it was only a few months ago. He is leaking to position himself when Boris has outlived his usefulness, but it seems weak. If he had that concern, what other concerns does he also have that have not slipped out? I think we are just finally over the political beast that tries to look clean and fresh for a new generation, yet plays the same ol game of cards for power.
Hedging their bets now. If the public continues to love lockdowns, all praise to Bojo. If they turn on Bojo then it’s our saviour Rishi to the rescue.
If they think that’s enough to get me to vote for them again in this lifetime then they’re even more stupid than they look.
So Johnson weighed up all the advice…and made a calculation on his political longevity not the wellbeing of the country. The Treasury could hardly produce a report justifying lockdowns when they had made a case against. Don’t let the door bang yer arse on the way out, Johnson. Go or suffer a coup.
Gearing up for the boss’ exit…
If Sunak disagreed he should have resigned. No excuses.
This is all political gaming. I don’t think Boris is the best man for the job and I don’t think Sunak will be either. However my biggest beef is the number of extremely leftwing journalists and press Secretaries appearing around the Government. As with Theresa May it is becoming more and more evident that Westminster is never going to listen to the country. Or indeed introduce new thinking to any problem.
Same old ineffective people, making the same old bad decisions. What I would give for another Maggie to wring their necks and understand the need for vibrant and curious new minds to drive our government forward.