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The new mutation of the corona virus anticipates Brexit in Britain: traffic to France through the Eurotunnel has been suspended since Sunday night. The Port of Dover is also closed to trucks heading to Calais via the English Channel. It is a scenario that was not expected until after December 31, the end of the Brexit transition period. One European country after another has been closing its borders to travelers from Britain since the weekend.
The new coronavirus mutation, which is spreading rapidly in England in particular and said to be highly contagious, is heading the country towards a dreary and sad Christmas, with no family celebrations and possibly a shortage of fresh food from the continent. London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke on SkyNews of “the worst Christmas since the end of World War II.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to turn around, as he did so many times in Corona year: on Wednesday he accused Labor leader Keir Starmer in parliament of wanting to “abolish Christmas” with his demands for stricter Corona measures.
It was “inhumane” to forbid people to gather these days, he had declared.
And now Johnson himself is being ridiculed on Twitter as the “Grinch,” that disgruntled movie character who stole Christmas: On Saturday, his sudden announcement thwarted the Christmas plans of nearly 18 million people in London and the south-east of England. . A new level four of crown constraints has been introduced for these regions. With a few exceptions, residents must stay at home, they are not allowed to travel or celebrate Christmas with other family and friends from other homes.
At Saturday’s press conference, Johnson declared his U-turn by following science. He has said this often since the pandemic began. In doing so, he postponed unpopular and difficult decisions for a long time, often against the opinion of many experts.
Wavering course
At the beginning of the pandemic, Johnson relied on the idea of ”herd immunity”, then introduced locks than other countries in Europe, and thus lost valuable time. In September, he long defied scientists’ advice to introduce a second temporary lockdown, only to later change his mind. And only now comes the next U-turn with Christmas, although the government has been aware of the new mutation since October at the latest. Britain is the country with the second highest number of corona deaths in Europe.
Johnson’s faltering course also exacerbated the economic crisis: the lockdowns started too late and thus had to be sustained for a relatively long time. The budget authority, the “Office of Budget Responsibility,” expects an 11.3 percent recession by 2020, which would be the worst in 300 years.
The zigzag course caused great confusion among the British. Because the rules and strategy changed so quickly, many no longer take them seriously. On Saturday night, there was chaos and crowds in London, for example at the St. Pancras train station, when people tried to leave the capital at the last minute. The airports were just as busy on Sunday night.
Johnson’s procrastination strategy is not even welcomed in his own party. Charles Walker, a conservative supporter and vice chairman of the influential 1922 Committee, suggested that the government wavered so long with the new restrictions to avoid debates and votes in parliament. And Mark Harper, chairman of the newly formed “Covid Recovery Group,” called for parliament to be reconvened to vote on the rules for Christmas.
In the chaos of the crown, it goes almost unnoticed that the next deadline for Brexit negotiations passed without result. In fact, the European Parliament had warned that London and Brussels should agree to a deal last Sunday so that it can be ratified before the end of the transition period on December 31. But here too Johnson hesitates and waits.
