THIS UK Government’s modus operandi seems to be based on a combination of responsibility dodging with a weather eye to the main chance – opportunism and evasion.

Even as the shadow of the jaw-dropping resignation of top civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam hung heavy like a dark rain cloud over Number 10, the wheels of spin kept whirring.

Not content with trying to distract the nation from Priti Patel’s alleged reign of terror at the Home Office with an unexpected pregnancy announcement, an unknown spokesperson for the PM declared that since the former permanent secretary had “set out his intention to begin legal action, [the UK Government] cannot make any comment in relation to this matter”.

How convenient! They may have launched an internal investigation into the Patel bullying allegations but don’t hold your breath about any result anytime soon. However, whether delay can save the Home Secretary from a pincer movement from Whitehall and Fleet Street is open to question.

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Meanwhile, as the financial markets across the world plummet at a rate not seen since the great crash of 2008 due to the coronavirus effect, you can bet your now bottom dollar that the “masters of disaster” buddies of Johnson are rubbing their hands at a convenient scapegoat to cloak the catastrophic Brexit effect on our economy. Where we see global pandemic and world recession, they see political opportunity.

Of course, it’s almost impossible to know what the PM really thinks about this as hardly anyone gets the chance to interview him and when they do, he makes little sense. Until this Monday he was missing in action on coronavirus, delaying an urgent Cobra meeting until after he’d enjoyed his weekend break. They say the coronavirus crisis was giving our Prime Minister sleepless afternoons! Emergency, what emergency?

In the spirit of irony and parody that now characterises our political world, the man without a plan has finally emerged blinking into the public domain to announce major UK-wide action to tackle the virus. Despite the framing of oak panels and Union flags, the plan turned out not so much to be action this day, as action some day – not so much what we will do but what we could do.

It emerged that key strategy is delay, not to stop the virus but to have it when the NHS is not being overwhelmed by the usual winter pressures. Given the NHS in England is already at breaking point, it will be hard to find a window where it is not overwhelmed.

Johnson may hope for business as usual, but behind the reassurances, this will be a big test of his premiership. Reading between the lines we may be heading for a long, hot summer.

The National:

And little discussion of the UK opting out of the EU’s EWRS pandemic warning system now that Brexit is in motion. Apparently, Health Secretary Matt Hancock (above) wanted to retain membership of this important system, so his invite to the EU health get-together was conveniently lost in the post. If you don’t toe the party line, the party turn their backs. Poor hapless Hancock. How dare he put the health of the nation before the petty politics of his party?

So, it’s getting very lumpy under the carpet at Downing Street. And I haven’t even touched on the fact that Johnson has personally body swerved the widespread floods of biblical proportions.

Still, at least our new passports will be blue, that’s the one and only promise kept so far. Shame if we can’t use them because everyone is too worried about flying abroad and ending up quarantined in their hotel.

The UK Government must be relieved that no-one can directly blame them for the plague of locusts in Somalia, where they have declared a national state of emergency. The swarms are a result of heavy rainfall and cyclones, which can be attributed to climate change, so all roads lead back to governments, organisations, corporations etc that have sat on their hands as the global emergency has developed.

Despite an obvious opportunity to big up the UK’s fight against climate change, Johnson has his head well and truly buried in the sand on preparations for the COP26 conference in Glasgow in November. With this lack of readiness, agenda setting or diplomatic consensus creation, it’s hard to imagine that COP26 will commit to the radical action required. Climate emergency, what climate emergency?

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In light of this perfect storm of events, it’s a relief to see all the “experts” flooding on to our TV screens to give their reassurances over coronavirus, Brexit and the economy, the climate crisis etc. I see Tom Harwood of the Guido Fawkes blog was wheeled out this week to discuss the UK Government’s response to the epidemic. Why ask a virologist or healthcare professional when we can hear Mr Harwood’s right-wing punditry?

Meanwhile, Liz Truss is busy waving not drowning as she tries to reassure us we’ll walk away from a US trade deal if it’s not to our liking. Now that really will mean no deal – not with the EU or the US, or anyone! And then there is BBC favourite Kate Andrew from the right-wing think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs suggesting last week that words like “climate emergency turns some people off”. Oh dear. Where do they get them from? And can they please stop.

Call me old-fashioned, but with all these crises backing up, I’d prefer some facts, some good old expert advice and some accountability – preferably before hell freezes over.