Boris Johnson has chosen next Monday to be “Freedom Day”, a day of freedom on which all corona restrictions will fall, at least in England. The prime minister promises a return to normal, irrevocably. But in view of the rapidly increasing number of new infections, an incidence of well over 300 and a virus variant that is spreading more and more in Europe, one can ask: Why doesn’t Johnson wait a little longer with the big opening? Why not keep vaccinating until 80 percent of adults have their second dose? So why this rush now of all times?
Some in the UK have a clear answer to that: because of the economy. Well, it’s not that simple. Of course there are companies that are suffering massively from the effects of the Corona measures, so you only have to drive out to Heathrow to see that there is an airport there that has probably had its prime. And of course there are pub owners who want to see their shop really full again. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pint at the bar without having to be careful not to step too close to the person opposite.
But anyone who thinks Johnson is driven by the wishes of the economy alone should be reminded that in his time as foreign minister he dismissed the demands of anti-Brexit entrepreneurs with a now legendary sentence that he would rather not translate: fuck business. As Prime Minister he would probably not say that anymore, but one can assume that Johnson will continue to make his decisions as he has always made them: if they are of political use to him.
In the case of Operation “Freedom Day”, it is above all the lower house members of his Conservative Party who urge him to abolish the Corona measures once and for all. A majority of the Tories in parliament would probably not agree to a further extension of the restrictions. Many point out that the number of hospital admissions and deaths has remained relatively low, despite the high number of new infections.
If Johnson wants to know what the majority of his fellow party members think, all he needs is one or two libertarian editorials telegraph or Spectator read. The premier used to work for both papers. If he were to write columns today, one could bet on what he would ask of a prime minister in this situation: freedom, and right now!