Livelihoods will be crushed in this vice of disease and Brexit | William Keegan

Leave campaigners were heedless of the economic damage they might do. Now they must reckon with a pandemic as well

It may come as an unpleasant surprise to my remaining Brexiter readers, but if it had not been for a suggestion by the late Sir Samuel Brittan, I might never have embarked on a life as an economics commentator - a role which most certainly involves keeping up the attack on the folly of Brexit and of all Brexiters.

Sir Samuel, who died peacefully last Monday at the age of 86, was the senior economics commentator of the Financial Times for many years, and it was he who asked me to assist him in coverage of economic news. He was a mentor towards whom I have always been extremely grateful.

The chancellor is being firmly told by many experts that the government is now not doing nearly enough