Coronavirus will disrupt the government in a number of ways – the immediate challenge is the Budget

Boris Johnson was slow to respond to the spread of the virus, but there is no way it can be ignored now, writes Andrew Grice

Rishi Sunak’s Budget debut was already going to be a baptism of fire (Reuters)

Boris Johnson was very slow off the mark in his response to coronavirus. Worryingly, his government did not give the impression the outbreak was its top priority seemingly until former chancellor George Osborne said it.

The Evening Standard editor tweeted on 28 February: “The British government now needs to go onto a ‘war footing’ with the coronavirus: daily NHS press briefings, regular Cobra meetings chaired by the prime minister, cabinet ministers on all major media shows. The public is fearful, wants information and needs to know their leaders have got a grip.”

Then all that happened. Johnson should learn lessons. Being chairman of the board and delegating to ministers doesn’t work. Matt Hancock is an energetic health secretary and good media performer, but in a crisis, the nation expects to see its prime minister lead from the front. (Memo to the PM: visit the next area hit by flooding.)