On Wednesday in parliament the prime minister was asked a simple question by Peter Kyle, Labour MP for the seaside constituency of Hove. It was certain, Kyle noted, that with the relaxing of restrictions on socialising, coastal towns like his would become dangerously packed with visitors. If they were to take Johnson at his word, drinking and barbecuing – and brawling and littering – was the new clap for carers. Inevitably, at the end of the week, the prime minister was forced to disown yet another ill-judged one-liner and argue that people should “stop taking liberties”. All of this reinforces an impression of leadership inept at communicating rules and above abiding by them.

Source: The Guardian June 28, 2020 04:52 UTC