No one is in charge of the UK's coronavirus response – and it shows | Simon Jenkins

NHS promises unmet, local government ignored, care homes forgotten. Has any British politician got their hand on the tiller?

Something is clearly wrong. Britain does not need Boris Johnson, but it needs a prime minister, and badly. Coronavirus promises are made and not fulfilled. Orders go out and are not delivered. The clothing industry in the UK apparently cannot mass-produce a simple medical gown or mask, and must turn to Turkey, China and volunteers with sewing machines and 3D printers for supplies.

Ever since Tony Blair came to power, the British government has been what some observers call "Napoleonic". The focus of authority was one person sitting on a sofa. In good times, it has worked. In a bad time, it has collapsed. At first, Johnson didn't take Covid-19 seriously, then he changed his mind and his advisers - and put himself in charge. Then he got ill and vanished.