When it comes to the economy, ministers are making it up as they go along

One MP described the failure to plan for the economic impact of a pandemic as ‘extraordinary’. Well, writes James Moore, that may be an understatement

Retail workers move rails of clothes between stores on Oxford Street ahead of reopening yesterday (AFP/Getty)

Extraordinary. I’m quite dumbstruck by that,” is how Meg Hillier, chair of the House of Commons committee investigating Britain’s Covid-19 preparations, described the revelation that no planning was done for the enormous economic upheaval that’s now with us.

I’d argue that Hillier was speaking for the nation, except that her words may represent something of an understatement.

They knew something like this was coming. The warnings were all there. The lights were flashing in bright blue and red while the sirens wailed. They just didn’t know when.