MAY21

May 21

The blame game has begun.With progress being made in finding the way out of the conavirus maze, politicians are sharpening their knives ready for the battle ahead - the public enquiry.There is a lot at stake.The government hopes that success in defeating coronavirus will prolong its stay in office, the opposition sees the chance of  toppling them by exposing the delays and mistakes which they will claim has lost lives.  
There are many subjects to fight over, going back to previous years and the warnings and preparation before the pandemic struck, with new ones added by the day, The latest is the government's back to school quandary. No doubt about the political intensity here.  The teachers' unions, vilified for opposing the early return, have been joined by many local authorities and doctors' representatives, casting doubt on the government's determination to go ahead.
Then there is the most emotive of all so far - care homes - for which the government will plainly have a lot to answer. 
The latest hot topic is the feud between the government and their scientific experts on which many of their decisions have been based. This has been brought to boiling point by a minister directly accusing them of giving wrong advice. 
How testing is being organised and carried out is controvesal with track and trace now added to the list.
Surprisingly, the one subject the government may find easier to defend is the economy. For this they have to thank the Chancelleor Rishi Sunak, who has been consistently decisive and open, resisting the temptation to claim credit for his early, dramatic moves to save millions of jobs. He even went so far this week to admit, even spell ou, the seriousness of the country's economic future. 
Perhaps it is not too late for the Prime Minisater and his cabinet to follow his example and considering the complexity of all the issues, be straight with the public.
There is still time to limit the damage and the risk, After all, the enquiry, linked with a global inquest into the crisis, will  probably ake years..