It has been an Easter like no other. Confined
to one’s home, directed to have no social contact, shops, offices, workplaces,
churches, pubs and restaurants almost completely closed. The Covid-19 pandemic
has exacted a heavy price – some 10,000 dead already in the UK and currently
900+ dying every day. These are times of grief and worry for our people, with
uncertainty clearly besetting the government, made more acute by leader Boris’
illness but hopefully in his early stages of recovery. In summary, these are
hard times needing defiant optimism coupled with concrete good news. All
mankind and every nation are suffering as we are.
Dali’s vision
Yet even at this grim time, there are positives
emerging, many changes in attitude are in prospect and warming hopes for the
future may be taking root.
It has been striking that that black and Asian
communities in the UK have made disproportionate sacrifices in terms of general
deaths and in terms of deaths within the medical, nursing and caring
professions. Their sacrifice may be partly related to genetic factors or to
poverty in early age or to many simply living in crowded London – but in any
event this sacrifice must be appreciated and blest by the rest of us. Any disadvantages
in education, in social wellbeing, in employment and in acceptance must be
swept away. They are truly our brothers and sisters with a cherished place in
the British family.
The world pandemic has underlined the
importance of international cooperation. Nations operate in different ways but
European tribal spats are decidedly inappropriate. Italy needed help, but the
EU did not respond – only demonised China first stepped up to the plate.
Hungary and Poland have human rights issues with the EU in Brussels (the EU
have a strong case) but all sides need to modify their rhetoric and resolve
their differences. The US pursues an America First agenda but the coronavirus
is no respecter of tight borders, high walls, trade embargos or exclusion
orders. America will, I hope, soon return to the global role it has long played
and re-engage with her friends in the UK and elsewhere. The EU obviously needs
to strengthen its institutional framework so that corona-bonds can be issued
underwritten by the 27 nations in full confidence, despite the doubts of
Germany and the Netherlands. A reformed and uncorrupt UN (and WHO) could earn
the respect of the US and many doubters in the developed world, bringing great
benefits to all mankind.
Our politics in the UK will change forever. The
knock-about political pantomime at Westminster PMQs cannot continue – it is an
insult to the intelligence of the electorate and needs overhaul. Maybe when
Parliament closes down for a major refurbishment in 2 years (?) time, the
builders may be asked to construct a crescent chamber like most Continental
legislatures and dispense with the adversarial opposing benches which, though
time-honoured, emphasise the divisions in our nation and not what unifies us.
Conservative, Labour and LibDem have new leadership and their policies will
evolve, hopefully in a more conciliatory direction, without being a meaningless
fudge. In time, electoral reform will give more scope for smaller parties and
hence increase the use of coalition governments around which more voters can
unite.
The 8pm Thursday
clapping for carers
Our government will invest heavily in the NHS
which has been sorely stretched by the virus crisis. At first, I thought
clapping every Thursday at 8pm for the NHS and carers was a bit naff, but I was
wrong, and now join in enthusiastically in tribute to their efforts. Reforms
can await the end of the crisis.
I see no prospect of the UK seeking to unravel
Brexit. The EU and its successors play a different game to us and the gulf is
unbridgeable; our destiny is clearly within the Anglophone and wider world
where we have already trusted allies.
Meanwhile we can only rally round, protect our
nearest and dearest while keeping social distance. It is not heroic but it may
save many lives. Let us earnestly hope we emerge, blinking in the sunlight,
into a happier and better world.
SMD
12.04.2020
Text Copyright ©Sidney Donald
2020
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