This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a £5 billion infrastructure plan on Tuesday, aiming to boost the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the announcement was overshadowed by a local lockdown in Leicester, central England, due to a spike in cases.
Johnson's plan includes £1 billion for school repairs and £4 billion for 'shovel-ready' projects, such as road maintenance and public transport. He also promised to build new homes as part of a new 'infrastructure revolution.'
Johnson's message was thin on detail, particularly on jobs, and in part repackaged broad-brush promises his Conservative party made before December's general election. He pledged again to spread the wealth more fairly from London to economically struggling regions.
Opposition leaders accused Johnson of simply bringing forward some of the money promised in a spending plan his government had already unveiled for the coming five years. They also pointed out that the £5 billion announced amounts to less than £100 per person.
Johnson's once soaring approval ratings have slipped into negative territory in a recent YouGov poll. The UK is dealing with Europe's deadliest virus outbreak and the worst economic contraction among the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialised states.
Johnson's rambunctious style and oratorical flourishes have appealed to Britons tired of ceaseless battles over Brexit. However, he has faced criticism for Britain's high virus death toll and his handling of the lockdown.
