Boris Johnson's admission to intensive care has unsettled British politics. Who is running the government as it battles the pandemic?
“HI, FOLKS,” DECLARED Boris Johnson cheerfully in a video posted to Facebook and Twitter on April 3rd. Britain’s prime minister declared that he was feeling “better” after spending a week in self-isolation with covid-19. His seclusion would have to continue because he was suffering from a “minor symptom”, ie, a temperature. But on April 5th, he was taken to hospital—a “purely precautionary step”, officials insisted.
The deterioration of the prime minister’s medical condition has unsettled British politics. Who is running the government as it battles to control the pandemic? Downing Street said Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, was deputising for Mr Johnson “where necessary”. Mr Raab, for his part, implied that Mr Johnson was still setting the policy for the government. “The prime minister is in safe hands with a brilliant team at St Thomas’ hospital,” Mr Raab told the BBC.
Earlier in the day the prime minister’s spokesman insisted that Mr Johnson had been “comfortable”, “in good spirits”, and continuing to receive official papers via the red briefcases sent to all government ministers. The government has faced criticism over the delay in ordering the closure of shops and schools, the paucity of testing for coronavirus infections and shortages of protective equipment for health-care workers. Nevertheless Mr Johnson’s approval ratings have risen since the crisis took hold in the middle of last month, in common with leaders in other countries. And the news of his worsening condition has brought a flood of wishes for his speedy recovery, from allies and rivals alike.
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