From the Square Mile to the West End, London remains in its Covid-induced slumber. Large swathes of the city appear hollowed out, and the most obvious culprit is the present work from home guidance.
There have been times during this pandemic when home working has been unavoidable — when we lacked vaccines and desperately needed to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed. Fast forward nearly two years and as the Omicron wave seems to be breaking, it is time to bring it to an end.
The reason is clear: businesses have eager customers to serve and London needs to get back on its feet. The Government has signalled it is all but certain to end the work from home advice on January 26. It should go further and lift it now. And if not, ministers must be transparent with the public about why they must wait and what metrics are critical in the decision-making process.
For there is no time to waste. Each day risks further businesses collapsing, as quiet streets compound a festive season characterised by mass cancellations.
Lifting restrictions is not about rescuing the Prime Minister’s premiership, rather giving our retail, leisure and hospitality sectors — amongst others — the best chance first to survive and then flourish.
With rising costs, higher tax burdens and significant debts accrued over the pandemic, London’s businesses are crying out for some certainty and positive action from the Government. Ending the work from home guidance now would represent a critical first step.
