Teething Problems or Root Canal Survey without Anaesthetic? Midlands Perspectives February 2021

Never been here before?

·        Prospects for the Midlands are problematic, with 2021 likely to be as difficult as last year, as a range of countervailing pressures, constitutional, political, economic, trade and international relations exert potentially negative influences.

·        The continuing success of the vaccination programme appears to be having an immediate impact on Covid-19 transmission but long-term containment will be dependent as much on an effective Track & Trace system as well as societal changes.

·        Teething problems or root canal surgery without anesthetic? negotiations with the EU are urgently needed to resolve the trilateral trade issues that have erupted since the end of the Transition.

·        The strong rebound in output performance recorded in the third quarter last year appears to be dissipating, with the economy shading back into a second recession. 

·        The Chancellor’s March 3rd Budget needs to restore credibility that the government has a medium-term fiscal strategy as well as a structural adjustment programme that can restore non-inflationary growth.

·        Reclaiming sovereignty is proving a popular concept North of the Scottish Border, and the British authorities need to rapidly demonstrate they are up to the challenge of defending the integrity of the British stat

To read the full report go to: MidlandsPerspectivesFeb21