People won't get 'tired' of social distancing – the government is wrong to suggest otherwise | Nick Chater

If people really need to stay home, they can do for months. The government's approach to coronavirus is one big gamble

• Nick Chater was an adviser to the government's 'nudge unit'
• See all our coronavirus coverage

In times of national crisis, governments need to act, advise and inform. But they also need to tell stories that allow us, as citizens, to understand government policy and, crucially, to coordinate our individual efforts towards a common goal.

The story isn't just "spin"; it is a central component of policy. And whether it receives our support will be critical to determining whether, and how well, the policy is implemented, and whether it succeeds or fails. Winston Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech in 1940 during the Battle of France perfectly encapsulated a clear narrative of collective resistance at a time of national peril. What should the story be now?