The UK government’s approach is based on a false choice or ‘balance’ between saving lives and protecting jobs and the economy. This has given us the worst of all worlds, with some of the highest death rates and greatest decline in GDP anywhere. Furthermore, as we face down a second wave, we are doing too little to break the chain of disease transmission while damaging people’s jobs and incomes at the same time.
We call on you and the UK government to change strategy, and urgently adopt the Covid-Secure UK plan to protect both the health and wealth of the UK. We urge you to think beyond just getting the R below 1, and to use the second lockdown wisely: fix test and trace, move our frontline response away from our schools, workplaces and communities and focus on catching new cases at the UK’s entry points.
Only when the whole of the UK is Covid-Secure will we be able to save lives, restore confidence, secure jobs, and open up the economy sustainably.
[Signed]
