Times Insight

The Times leader’s blinding insight this morning is that, post Covid-19, “many business model(s) will not work in an age of social distancing” and that many businesses will not survive the lockdown. Many businesses do not survive change despite efforts to adapt – sometimes this process could be seen as progress. Meantime, the Treasury’s, “hastily assembled response,” faint praise indeed, has been to provide assistance so that enterprises are able to survive until the crisis is over. Admonishing the Government for failing to be upfront about the heavy risks of business failure, the Times withholds its magic wand for making things cosily right again. Whilst a Times version of recovery would probably try to patch up the status quo ante, freedom from the dead regulating hand of the EU will present a glorious opportunity for repair, renewal and innovation.  When we have finished first aid to the casualties I look forward to the Government being “upfront” about the opportunities and challenges ahead outside the EU and this will involve some of us, “getting on our bikes.”