THE UK Government has underestimated the British public. Back in February, when it was discussing its response to the coronavirus, the Government believed the UK would never agree to strict lockdown measures to tackle the pandemic, like those enacted in Italy and Spain.
Those in the seat of power railed against this “assault” on our freedoms, envisaging protests and demonstrations in pubs across the country at state-sanctioned safeguards and restrictions.
Instead, the public embraced this development in order to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their colleagues safe from harm.
Some organisations and individuals took the decision into their own hands and locked themselves down earlier than the Government’s designated date on March 23.
The same can now be said about facial coverings, a new advisory measure introduced by the Scottish Government this week but still to be embraced at Westminster.
Much of the country has been wearing masks for weeks already, some because they were in the vulnerable category, others as a personal safety choice, taking the lead from countries like Spain, Germany and France.
It would seem that, despite the slow and arguably negligent reaction of the UK Government to the unfolding health care crisis, the public have tried their best to be ahead of the curve, trusting the science and advice of other nations above their own.
READ MORE: Mhairi Black: We need a universal basic income to solve this crisis
This independence of thought is also illustrated by the results of a new YouGov poll which reveals that, in light of the current health crisis, a majority of the public back the introduction of a universal basic income (UBI), as well as governmental job guarantees and rent control.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has rejected any notion of a UBI, saying it is “not the right response” to the coronavirus and defending his party’s Universal Credit policy as an adequate safety net. It would seem that a large proportion of the public do not agree. In this precarious new world of financial and health insecurity, voters’ eyes are opening up to new possibilities, to radical reshaping of economic landscapes.
Just look at Spain for instance, with its introduction of UBI.
Can this level of public awareness be enough to push Westminster to open its mind to progressive transformation in terms of the economy?
It would certainly win back trust and confidence in the UK Government’s ability to navigate our way out of this terrible crisis after its mishandling of its response. But it would involve moving drastically out of its comfort zone.
That is something new members of the Cabinet, such as Sunak, have already shown they are willing to do with economic crisis support in the short-term. Only ideology is stopping Sunak doing more, and the constant drip, drip, drip of pressure from Brexiteers.
Sunak could start by following Denmark, Poland and France’s lead and ensure that businesses registered in tax havens are not eligible for any government support packages announced in the wake of Covid-19.
The prime minister in Poland has described tax havens as “the bane of modern economies”, while in Denmark they reiterated their intention to ensure that the already wealthy could not benefit from tax payers’ hard-earned contributions.
READ MORE: Angus Robertson: It’s no surprise Holyrood is so trusted for coronavirus advice
In a recent letter to the Government from the Church Action for Tax Justice Campaign, with signatures from leading clergy such as the former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the group pointed out that with 80% of the British public regarding legal tax avoidance as morally wrong.
Large companies should not be permitted to continue to avoid their tax obligation with vulnerable people “paying the price of an underfunded and underprepared NHS”.
Carys Roberts, the executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, backs up this plea, advising that the Government imposes restrictions immediately to close tax loopholes and challenge companies’ remuneration of payment to directors and dividend calculations.
Sunak has indicated that the Government is already asking businesses to behave responsibly in light of the crisis, with HMRC using robust tools to challenge non-payment of tax, but will not commit to further action.
However, the public outcry over Sir Richard Branson’s plea for aid for Virgin Atlantic during this crisis, despite being worth a cool £4.7 billion, prompted the Government to reject his initial request for a £500 million loan, even with his tropical island as collateral.
The public are right to question why wealthy businesses who have deliberately and quite openly dodged their tax obligations should benefit from the same help as smaller businesses that have made their contributions in full.
It’s greed plain and simple. And it’s a question of trust.
The Government has put the responsibility on to individuals to act fairly, but the trillions squirrelled away in sunnier climes such as Panama and the Cayman Islands suggest that many will continue to take advantage of willingly blind eyes at the Treasury.
The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the need for speedy and radical action to protect citizens. Where the UK Government has been slow to respond, it is the public who have been proactive in their personal decision-making.
It is the public who have pushed and prodded the Government into unfamiliar policy-making territory, and pressurised them to make good on their pledge that “we are all in it together”.
Introducing legal safeguards on tax dodging and a fairer taxation on wealth would be a visible and practical affirmation of this pledge, as would a universal income for all.
After all, once this pandemic has passed, the UK will be a very different place.
But if the Government underestimates the public’s desire for a fairer future, across the economy, environment and healthcare sector, there’s always an election and a referendum on independence around the corner. Scotland, are you ready?
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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