Britain’s economic confusion reflects the mess of Covid’s ‘freedom day’ | Larry Elliott

If all had gone well, Rishi Sunak could have delivered a budget to make economic support more tailored and less expensive

Supermarkets warning of empty shelves. Underground lines closed due to staff shortages. A pingdemic" that has told more than 500,000 people to self-isolate in the past week. Funny sort of freedom day.

Yet it was all supposed to be so easy. Britain would gradually emerge from its winter hibernation in a series of measured steps. By June, according to the original roadmap, all restrictions would have gone.

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