Boris Johnson tells CBI ‘diktats’ imposed to battle Covid ‘go completely against every free market instinct I possess’

Boris Johnson has told the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) that the Covid measures his Government has issued “go completely against” the Conservative politician’s “every free market instinct”.

In a delayed appearance at the CBI annual conference, delivered via pre-recorded speech on Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister said:  "I want to thank you for the heroic efforts you've made to look after your employees, to make your premises Covid-secure, putting in Perspex screens, all the trouble you've gone to in complying with the kinds of diktats that I never believed we would have to impose which, I assure you, go completely against every free market instinct I possess.

"And believe me we will end these autumn measures on December the 2nd when they expire."

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove had suggested on Sunday that the measures might have to be extended but the latest Government statements have rallied against the idea.

Mr Johnson thanked the business community and told the conference it would be business that helps "drive our recovery" after the pandemic.

He pledged to "do whatever it takes" to help industry bounce back, and said that it is Government's job to create "for you [business] the platform and the environment for growth and investment".

The prime minister said: "We will do whatever it takes to back British business, because I know that when the recovery comes, and it will come, it will happen entirely thanks to the efforts of the people who are watching me now, all of us on this Zoom call today.

"People who understand how hard it is to innovate, to come up with a new product idea, to find someone to fund it, to get it to market. You will drive our recovery. You will create the jobs. You will give the young people the opportunities they are looking for."