Boris’s coronavirus pragmatism is confounding his critics

If ever Britain has undergone a period of authoritarian socialism, then this is surely it. Massive state intervention in the economy is taking place alongside state direction of the activities of private citizens that is both intensive and extensive in nature. Yet there are few private sector tycoons to be found arguing not to receive state support or, for that matter, free enterprise economists claiming that the market will, left to its own devices, come up with an optimal solution to coronavirus.

Meanwhile more than 90 per cent of us approve of the draconian limits placed on our individual freedom in pursuit of the collective good. And I say that as someone who has recently returned home from his single state-sanctioned piece of exercise for the day.

Although this is very much socialism in action – and a form of state socialism that observers of the Soviet era would recognise at that – it is, of course, being overseen by a Conservative Prime Minister.