Liberty versus the lockdown

I've written a short briefing paper about the UK lockdown for the IEA, explaining what you're allowed to do (not much) and the risks of any of these massive restrictions on civil liberties being retained a minute longer than they need to be.

I have been dismayed by the government's eagerness to extend the lockdown for a second time despite its having achieved its original objectives. On this, it seems to be responding more to public opinion than to its scientific strategy. Nothing wrong with that in a democracy except that public opinion has been formed by the government's daily insistence that the only way of tackling the virus is by staying at home.

I discussed my concerns on Sky News yesterday.

Now that we’re in the seventh week of house arrest, I told Sky News why it was time to relax the lockdown. pic.twitter.com/ZJ5HIdZM2W

— Christopher Snowdon (@cjsnowdon) May 4, 2020