The Government’s handling of this issue is incompetence on a grand scale. These measures should have been introduced weeks ago when the scientific advisors recommended them. In the five weeks of dither and delay since this was first recommended, infections, hospitalisations and death rates have all grown sharply. No one is surprised by that except, it seems, the Ministers in charge. SAGE was clear when it recommended this back in September that the more rapidly it was put in place, the more effective it would be and the quicker it could be eased. By delaying for so long, Ministers have ensured that these measures will have to last longer than otherwise and also that they will also cost the economy a lot more than if they had been introduced earlier. You need proper grip and clear effective decision making in a situation like this. The Government seems capable of neither of those things and the country is paying a heavy price.