Devil in the detail: more clarity is needed to guide business

Author
Ian Mean
Director of Business West Gloucestershire | Business West
11th May 2020

“Devil’s in detail” was the heading on the Sun’s leader today referring to Boris Johnson’s plan to take us gradually out of the lockdown, now coming up to two months.

I had hoped that speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Boris would be the master of that detail after what was generally thought to be something of a lacklustre TV performance on Sunday night.

I was wrong. The detail that business wanted to hear was not there. Business is still confused - we all thought on Sunday night that he was encouraging employees who could not work at home to start work today.

It turns out that it was going to be Wednesday. Not helpful.

Guidelines from government are just so crucial in this nightmare scenario with coronavirus as employers are equally  worried as employees.

We are now promised guidelines on education to enable primary schools to return in June. And to add to this veritable tsunami of guidelines more are apparently following  on the work place  and transport.

And really, no wonder that the leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer told Boris in the Commons:

“What the country needs at this time is clarity and reassurance, and at the moment, both are in pretty short supply.”

As they say, the devil’s in the detail.

Do you want to join the conversation?

Sign up here