ALEX BRUMER: Boris Johnson’s huge gamble to open the economy again after Covid lockdowns paid off










Boris Johnson, a British economist, warned in July that, if Britain’s economy was not opened after the many Covid lockdowns in succession, it would be ‘at risk even more difficult conditions’ during the colder months.

Labour condemned the bold claims, and Sir Keir starmer, their leader, called them “reckless freefor-all”. 

Even the Government’s gloomy scientists advised that this great reopening would be too costly and too fast.

The Prime Minister was vindicated today, after four months. It seems that his rashness when faced with the pandemic appears to have paid off well.

In July, Boris Johnson (pictured) warned if the British economy were not opened up after the Covid lockdowns, we would 'risk even tougher conditions'. Today, he has been vindicated

Boris Johnson (pictured), warned that the British economy would be unable to open after the Covid lockdowns. He has been vindicated today

But where our economy is roaring back to life thanks to the speed with which Britain managed to vaccinate adults – particularly using the long-lasting AstraZeneca jab that some EU countries so foolishly spurned – other European nations, especially Germany, are faltering.

Yes, the recovery was uneven despite scare stories of shortages of fuel, empty supermarket shelves, and shortages of labour like lorry drivers, abattoir workers, and other concerns. 

But Britain’s flexible and dynamic economy, now liberated from Brussels bureaucracy has sprung back to life.

But Germany’s economy, still the largest in Europe, is stagnating – and for the first time in decades, inflation is rising.

Any ability to control prices, of course, rests with the EU – so Angela Merkel (Chancellor for a few more days until her successor Olaf Scholz is sworn in) finds herself unable to act unilaterally.

The CBI in Britain reports that domestic demand is so high, it’s causing manufacturers to fail. Boris was right when he predicted that this would occur on Freedom Day, which he lit a bonfire with Covid restrictions.

But where our economy is now roaring back to life, other European nations are faltering. Pictured: Demonstrations against Covid measures in Vienna, Austria, on November 22

While our economy has been reviving itself, the economies of other European countries are struggling. Photo: On November 22, demonstrations against covid in Vienna (Austria).

In Germany, the picture could not be more different. Conditions are gloomy and the country's economy is stagnating. Pictured: People protest Covid measures in Brussels, Belgium

The picture in Germany is very different. Germany is experiencing gloomy conditions and stagnating economy. Photo: Protests against Covid in Brussels, Belgium

Germany’s picture is even worse. The situation is dire. One influential business survey found that morale in German industry has been falling for five consecutive months thanks to bottlenecks in supply chains – as well as a deeply concerning spike in coronavirus cases.

It is important to be clear that Germany’s troubles are not an issue of Schadenfreude. This country is our second largest trading partner, behind America.

Boris Johnson critics might be wise to consider looking abroad, as they will recall the way they ridiculed him in the summer for what they thought was foolishness.

Naturally, there’s always the possibility of some vaccine-resistant strain emerging during a pandemic. 

However, Chancellor Rishi Sonak is able to focus on the growing cost-of living crisis, which has been affecting some families more than ever, with the end of furlough being smooth and the healthy growth.

The Bank of England is able to normalise interest rate and stop printing money, which is a difference from the Eurozone neighbors.

Yes, Freedom Day was a risk – but now we are reaping the results. Our German neighbor is, however, wondering what went wrong.