Politics has taken a back seat at this perilous time. Defeating coronavirus is the government’s over-riding task and party politics cannot intrude. Not a problem for the Conservatives, riding high with their big majority, but frustrating for the opposition, especially for the new Labour leader. Sir Keir Starmer.
Not that the Prime Minister has no restraints, demonstrated by the niggles and nudges from some rebellious backbenchers, and sometimes even by some of his cabinet team, whom he can mostly afford to ignore.
Sir Keir has a more difficult task. He cannot risk condemning the government’s life or death decisions at a time of such uncertainty, but must establish his credentials as a dangerous opponent and potential leader.
He may have four years to achieve this but time passes quickly and there is little opposition parties can do except to suggest they could handle things better.
They have to hope that nothing disastrous happens to the country while they watch as they have to be bystanders.
We, the public, are fickle, mostly fair weather supporters.
After a lost year of public anxiety and constant questioning of his many debatable, often wrong, decisions, Mr Johnson is enjoying something of a surge in popularity but he is wise enough not to think everything will now be plain sailing.
He knows the importance of putting Britain on the road to health again is matched by that of getting Britain out of the huge hole in its finances.
The Chancellor’s budget today is one of the most significant financial juggling tricks for years and he must get it right.
If he succeeds and Britain moves forward confidently, Mr Johnson might then get on with politics.
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