England’s 19 July reopening may boost UK plc but a longer-term approach is needed

The economy needs a spending splurge but well thought out economic and welfare investment may help more than a bonfire of restrictions

This is crunch time. Since March, the lockdown restrictions imposed at the turn of the year in all four UK countries have been eased but only gradually. Given that Britain has been at the forefront of the global vaccine effort, progress in opening up the economy has been relatively slow.

That all changes on 19 July, with a big bang removal of statutory curbs on activity in England. The coming weeks will also see an easing of restrictions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Related: Rishi Sunak has been running the economy on autopilot but needs to change course | Richard Partington