Boris Johnson says UK should clap for bankers as well as the NHS
Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street (Credit: PA)
2 min read
Boris Johnson has said Britain should clap not just to show appreciation for NHS workers, but also “wealth creators, capitalists and financiers”.
In a crunch speech about the UK’s economic recovery ahead of the further easing of lockdown measures this weekend, the PM said he was “not a communist”.
“I believe it is also the job of government to create the conditions for free market enterprise,” he said.
“And yes of course we clap for our NHS. But under this government we also applaud those who make our NHS possible; our innovators, our wealth creators, our capitalists and financiers
“Because in the end it is their willingness to take risks with their own money that will be crucial for our future success.”
People across the country - including the PM and members of his Cabinet - clapped every Thursday evening during lockdown in honour of frontline NHS and care workers battling coronavirus.
Setting out future plans at his address in Dudley, Mr Johnson said the UK's recovery would not rely on austerity measures and that Chancellor Rishi Sunak would set out "our immediate plan to support the economy" next week.
"We’re not going to cheese-pare our way out of trouble, because the world has moved on since 2008," he added.
"This moment also gives us a much greater chance to be radical and to do things differently.
“To build back better and to build back bolder, and so we will be doubling down on our strategy, we will double down on levelling up, if you can make sense of that
“And when I say level up, I don’t mean attacking our great companies or I don’t mean impeding the success of London - far from it - or launching some punitive raid on the wealth creators.
"I don’t believe in tearing people down any more than I believe in tearing down statues that are part of our heritage.”
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