Let British Business Get On With The Job And It Will Deliver

Mcdonald’s ran out of milkshakes this week. Last week, Nando’s closed 45 restaurants because of chicken supply problems. Before that, it was KFC warning of shortages of some popular dishes.

- Tim Newark

A chronic shortfall of delivery drivers and supply chain staff are threatening to undermine this summer’s post-pandemic economic recovery. And if it’s not sorted out soon, the knock-on effect could see turkeys in short supply on our Christmas tables.

Much of the crisis is to do with the lingering effect of Covid stay-at-home measures. Generous Government furlough payments and the recent “pingdemic” have taken hundreds of thousands of skilled workers out of the workplace.

Being paid to sit at home has been disastrous for productivity. It is one of the unintended consequences of lockdown that has shaken our economy.

With cases rising again, the Government must not be panicked into more such disruptions. Our successful vaccination drive has changed the dynamic of the disease with the UK now in the position where it can live with the virus without fearing a spike in deaths.

Some blame Brexit for a lack of drivers and food processing staff, but regaining control of our borders was never about excluding necessary workers, and if we need EU drivers or fruit pickers let’s recruit them.