So far, so safe. Time to learn the lessons of the coronavirus crisis

We’ll meet again, but we still don’t know where, still less when. The figures are encouraging: fewer than 10,000 Covid-19 patients in hospital, deaths on a downward trajectory, infection rates falling fast. On Monday, there were no new cases in London and the East, with just 79 testing positive across England. Insofar as the gradual relaxation of the lockdown has not led to a new spike, the Government’s cautious approach has been vindicated.

So far, so safe. But what next? Take schools, where the evidence is mixed. Schools are reopening across Europe, but here the teaching unions, with tacit support from local authorities, are resisting any return to the classroom. The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has passed the buck to school heads. Instead of leadership we have seen order, counter-order and disorder.

Such a cavalier, even chaotic approach to the education of our children is just not good enough. If the original policy of continuing to teach the children of key workers had been carried out more rigorously, schools would be able to expand their provision from a substantial base. Instead of the expected 10 per cent of pupils, however, a mere 2 per cent have attended classes. Distance learning has been patchy, with the gap between the best and the worst unacceptably wide. About a third are being let down badly. By June 1 these pupils will have missed two months of their education. It will be a tough task to restore discipline and make up for lost lessons. No wonder union leaders and some teachers are reluctant to face up to this challenge.

Elsewhere, the debate about rebooting the economy has focused on social distancing. Industries such as leisure, tourism and hospitality are lobbying against the two-metre rule, which they say makes many businesses unviable. It is true that elsewhere in Europe, only Spain has imposed two metres, rather than the one metre rule recommended by the World Health Organisation. It is also apparent that many people are now treating the rules casually. Social distancing depends on compliance to be effective. If you tell people a metre, they will take liberties even with that. The two-metre rule should probably stay for now, but be reduced to one metre as soon as infection rates across the whole country have fallen to London’s level.

The pressure for a rapid return to normal is coming primarily from producers and providers, rather than consumers. Even when pubs, restaurants and hotels reopen, the evidence from elsewhere is that customers are taking their time to return. Many businesses may have to run at a loss for months until confidence is restored. Some new spending patterns may be here to stay. Open plan offices, crowded public transport and high street shopping are out of favour. Home working and entertainment, outdoor activity and online retail are booming. There is no point in the Government trying to force people to return to habits that its own policies have discouraged or banned. Yet neither is there any virtue in enforced idleness. We are going back to work — many of us have never stopped — but the watchword must be: steady as she goes.

Britain, in brief, must go with the flow — and that includes politicians. Some MPs are resisting calls to return to Westminster, but the public expects to see its elected representatives in their workplace. Cue howls of protest: surely Parliament should set an example as a model employer? This is to misunderstand the nature of politics as a vocation. That vocation is unique even in the field of public service. Members of neither House are “employees”, even though they are paid for their work. They are called by the Sovereign and sent to Westminster by their constituents to “parley” with one another, to legislate and to lead the country. Their absence is unlikely to make the voters’ hearts fonder.

Virtual proceedings are all very well, but they are no substitute for the serious business of running the country. Even if just 50 of the 650 MPs can sit in the chamber at once, there should be eager competition to be among them. For the present, those over 70 or otherwise vulnerable may have to stay away — a problem for the Lords in particular — but they too should be brought back to Westminster at the earliest opportunity. Parliament is meant to be a physical microcosm of the nation, not a glorified Zoom meeting.

As we move into the next phase of the crisis, some ministers have been found wanting and the Prime Minister is reported to be thinking about a Cabinet reshuffle. He will surely wish to bring a few experienced colleagues from the Remain camp back into Government, notably his former rival Jeremy Hunt, who has been notably loyal, and perhaps even Amber Rudd. Rory Stewart, however, has ruled himself out by briefly standing as an independent in the London mayoral race. Amanda Milling, the party chairwoman, is likely to become a full Cabinet minister, as is Suella Braverman, the Attorney General. But the main focus should be on promoting new talent.

An outstanding  example is Kemi Badenoch. Elected in Saffron Walden only in 2017, after a brief stint at the Department for Education she moved to the Treasury in February, where she serves as Exchequer Secretary . She has earned her meteoric rise and a Conservative Government needs a different face to deal with the crisis in schools and universities. Boris Johnson has rewarded Gavin Williamson for his loyalty, but the former Chief Whip has manifestly failed to inspire confidence either at Defence or Education. His replacement by Kemi Badenoch, a self-made woman of Nigerian heritage, would send a powerful message to parents, teachers and academics. There is no time to lose in ensuring that the Government not only speaks for the whole country, but can be seen to do so, too.