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Evening Standard comment: We need to believe rules to follow them | Paris leads on curfew

Christian Adams
Christian Adams

All governments like making rules. It’s in their nature. If the rules don’t work, their usual response is not to ask why but to toughen up enforcement and make new ones.

Look at what’s happening now, as Covid infection rates go up despite the severe restrictions already in place.

We have mask wearing, the new rule of six, curfews and the forced closure of theatres, concert halls and stadiums, as well as local lockdowns of the sort which have spread across so much of northern England that the word “local” is becoming meaningless.

These don’t seem to be holding back infection so now there is talk of more rules — perhaps even a lockdown across London, which would ban people from meeting anyone outside their household. And if that doesn’t work, there would be more changes through the winter.

We support restrictions like these to keep our city safe, even though the consequences are bleak for many of the things which make our city great. But we don’t think that announcing daily changes to what you can do, when you can do it, and where, is the way to beat Covid.

Yesterday the Prime Minister had to apologise after getting mixed up and the Business Secretary moaned that it was unfair to ask him what was allowed. If they don’t understand things, how can they expect anyone else to?

We’re reaching the point where you’ll need a lawyer to guide you through life.

Such frantic shifting of micro-regulations misses the point, which is that clear, simple rules which people trust, and which are made in a fair way, are much more likely to be followed than a barrage of fast-moving threats.

It is the Standard’s belief that it is vital London stays open, and as the World Health Organisation said yesterday, Londoners can avoid a second lockdown if they are able to follow the existing rules. But for that we need constant clarity. And we need to believe in those rules and how the decisions to impose them are reached.

A key problem is that the rules seem to emerge from some sort of secret machine inside government. Based on what? We rarely get to know. How was the 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants settled? Why does the rule of six include children in England but not under-12s in Scotland and under 11 in Wales?

MPs are right to demand that Parliament get a say.

This is partly about communication, which the Government has been terrible at. But at its heart it is about confidence. Ministers need to not makes rules up on the hoof — but consider them carefully, and explain them.

Paris leads on curfew

We report today that Paris — where, like London, premises with bar licences must shut at 10pm — changed the rules this week so that restaurants can trade later as long as their customers are eating.

It deemed restaurants to be less of a risk. In London one study suggests that allowing our restaurants to stay open later could be worth nearly £1 billion in extra revenue, and Public Health England figures show infections coming from restaurants that comply with the guidelines are minimal.

The 10pm curfew here followed Paris. However that city had the sense to change it.

So should we.

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