UnHerd with Freddie Sayers
Andy Cook: How lockdowns broke Britain
Dec 12, 2023
Andy Cook, chief executive of the Centre for Social Justice think tank, discusses the impact of lockdowns on society, including worsening inequalities and struggles. They also explore the enormous government spending during the pandemic and its consequences, as well as the rise in universal credit claimants in the UK. Additionally, they delve into the devastating impact of the pandemic on children's mental health, as well as the neglected mental health of young people during COVID-19.
28:59
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Quick takeaways
- Lockdown policies failed to consider the negative impact on disadvantaged individuals, resulting in widening socioeconomic inequalities and increased mental health issues among children.
- The UK government's massive spending during the pandemic did not adequately address the needs of the most vulnerable, contributing to worsening socioeconomic inequalities and posing long-term challenges for the country's economy.
Deep dives
Lockdowns exacerbated existing inequalities in society
During the lockdowns, the gap between struggling communities and middle-class households widened. Lockdown policies, while aiming to protect public health, failed to consider the immense hardships faced by the most vulnerable populations. From being trapped in high-rise flats with limited resources for homeschooling to being stuck with abusers, the negative impact of lockdowns on disadvantaged individuals was significant. The conversation about the impact of lockdowns was largely absent from the public discourse and COVID inquiries focused primarily on the timing of lockdowns rather than their consequences. Sweden, as a country that did not implement strict lockdowns, achieved better excess death results compared to other European nations.
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