The only way to make an economic comeback is for it to be stronger, fairer and greener

‘We can’t return to normal, because the normal we had was precisely the problem’ – spray-painted across a Hong Kong subway stop, this was the message that went viral as the world went into lockdown.

And with a new poll claiming that only 6% of the UK public want to go back to pre-pandemic life, this is the sentiment with which we’ll be leaving lockdown – as the rampant inequalities highlighted by the pandemic have left many of us determined to see big changes in the way society is run.

The survey, carried out by the New Economics Foundation, was released at the launch of its ‘Build Back Better’ campaign, which is calling for the government to create a ‘stronger, fairer and greener’ economy after the pandemic.

Backed by 300 leaders from charities, trade unions, and community groups, this initiative hopes to drive an economic recovery which will provide more funding for higher-quality public services, tackle inequality, create good jobs and reduce the risk of future pandemics and climate emergencies.

This desire for change comes from a recognition of 49% of those surveyed that the pandemic brought the UK’s existing inequalities to the surface.

Let’s first take our health and social care services, that have long been neglected by the government. With severe PPE shortages taking place in the peak of our fight against coronavirus, a blinding spotlight was finally placed on the lack of NHS funding and the need for change.

The pandemic has also finally turned the tide on the treatment of workers within the health and social care trade. Labelled by government officials as ‘unskilled’, it was the nurses, carers, cleaners, food producers and supermarket workers who risked their lives to skillfully kill harmful bacteria, feed us and keep us safe while we stayed at home. With a third of these key workers earning less than £10 an hour, it’s hoped that the inflated appreciation for these services will be translated through less clapping and higher wages in our post-pandemic era.

Coronavirus has also brought the rampant presence of racism and discrimination within the UK to the forefront – with BAME people twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than those from white backgrounds. It’s a fact that people from ethnic minorities are more likely to work in insecure, low paid jobs and live in overcrowded households, so we’ve been forced to face up to the fact that these existing inequalities allowed them to be disproportionately impacted by the virus.

With the vivacious energy of the BLM movement creating a wider understanding as to how racism impacts our institutions and how to prevent it, there’s a heavy expectation for this to ripple through to government policy in a post-covid world.

And we don’t just owe more compassion to people in our post-pandemic lives, but the earth, too. Before coronavirus, pollution and traffic noise were accepted as an inevitable consequence of city living. But after three months of traffic-free roads and plane-free skies, we’re re-emerging with a newfound confidence that a return to public life without such heavy reliance on driving and constant travel is plausible.

With many airlines and car manufacturing industries relying on rescue packages from the government to get back up and running, it’s hoped that this will be balanced with conditions to ensure these companies take action to reduce carbon use in the future. There’s also a belief that potential road closures, as is currently being imposed in Germany, will encourage more people to use forms of travel that are both good for them and the planet.

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With Boris Johnson set to lay out his vision for a post-lockdown UK tomorrow, Labour party leader Keir Starmer challenged the prime minister on his pledge to send billions on the country’s economic recovery, considering the scale of ‘inaction and broken promises’ in the last 10 years of Conservative power.

Speaking ahead of the prime minister’s planned speech on the economic recovery tomorrow, Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said: ‘We need to build a better and fairer economy as we emerge from this pandemic. It is the very least working families deserve.’

‘But this won’t happen unless the government acts now to support at-risk industries and prevent mass unemployment. And it won’t happen unless ministers commit to giving people dignity and stronger rights at work.’

In this dark and uncertain time, it’s solidarity and the kindness of others that has seen us through – we need our new economy to reflect these values.

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