The pandemic has for many months cast a dark cloud of uncertainty, affecting people’s lives throughout the world, uncertainty that has spread even deeper in recent months.
National and local governments are struggling to cope with circumstances, conditions and events many of which are beyond their control. Britain is a typical example. I can never remember when we faced so many seemingly intractable problems. The list is daunting.
Far from being subdued, Covid is still deadly - yesterday’s death toll was the worst for months. In some areas the infection rate is soaring, not surprising since the lifting of restrictions on mass events has led to packed night clubs, festivals and sporting events.
Now turmoil in Afghanistan has deepened the uncertainty. The Prime Minister’s attempt to get a united response inevitably failed, leaving doubt and recriminations but no relief and little hope. The scenes from Kabul are desperately sad, made even worse by the international failure to deal with a situation that can only escalate.
Britain is looking more out of touch with reality than ever, beset by a host of problems, many of which could have been foreseen. The list is formidable. Drastic shortages in the supply of food, lorry drivers, care workers and immigrants who have kept many industries going, now swollen by the inrush from Afghanistan.
What is the government doing? Very little, it seems.
The prospect of shortages from the pandemic and Brexit was clear many months ago yet there has been nothing but dither and confusion.
Our government is just not functioning and that one noisy day back in the Commons last week was a farce, an example of the pass the buck, find someone to blame exercise.
No action, no realisation of the seriousness of the situation.
Britain and the world is facing its greatest challenge for decades, even a lifetime, and Britain mirrors the bewilderment and inaction of so many other countries
Unless someone, somewhere gets a grip on things, that cloud of uncertainty is going to get even darker and deeper.
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