This would be the least explosive way to resolve this. Let the most intransigent elements persevere with their non-cooperation until it reaches a point of unsustainability. Let them defend their position until it becomes indefensible. Many of the noisiest spokesmen are motor mouth political activists who are being given inordinate amounts of media coverage – by those who oppose them as much as those who support them – and are thus having a disproportionate effect on public opinion.
Those opinion polls that show majorities of parents opposed to schools reopening are about as reliable as the polls taken before elections that say that nobody is going to vote Conservative. Ordinary people tell opinion pollsters whatever they believe (because they have been told by the media) it is acceptable to say. In fact, the broadcast news media are making precisely the same mistake now that they did when Islamist fundamentalism first appeared on the scene: shoving a microphone under the nose of every hothead who clamours for attention no matter how unrepresentative he (or she) might be, and thus allowing a fringe view to pose as mainstream opinion.
But when apprehensive parents see other people’s children skipping off to school without any cataclysmic consequences, they will get over their reluctance very quickly. And, as a matter of interest, they will be grateful that the Government went ahead with its plan. All of this could be handled with delicacy and tact: no shame, no blame.
Should the unions attempt to dig in, to insist somehow that even avoiding any early signs of a virus uptick isn’t reassuring enough because there is still the chance of a second wave in the autumn or winter, that would be the moment for the government to get heavy. How long a wait is long enough? When does reasonable caution become unacceptable intransigence?
This applies to the lockdown generally too: if new cases fall to negligible numbers over the next month, will there still be influential voices insisting that crucial elements of lockdown such as social distancing (which is one of the most psychologically and economically damaging measures) be maintained? For how long? Indefinitely? Until there is a vaccine (which may be never)?
If the teachers (and maybe the train and tube drivers) stick with their opposition, they will be discredited. And they might even end up breaking the law. Because an outright refusal to work under any circumstances is a strike – and calling a strike without holding a ballot of your members is illegal. I doubt that even the bellicose Leftists who claim to speak for the teaching profession will want to go there.
So pull yourself together Boris – you don’t need to declare war and you don’t need to retreat. It is the other side that is in political jeopardy.
