We must stop turning the clock back and embrace this new economy

 A “seat out to help out” scheme to revive empty theatres is one possibility. Free commuter trains and tubes to start persuading people back into the office is another. And of course, we have already munched our way through 100m half-price pizzas on the wildly successful “eat out to help out” scheme.

The Government has already come up with all sorts of wheezes to get the economy back to normal and is now looking at a few more. At this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a “dig out” scheme to help garden centres. Or, indeed, a “freak out” plan to get nightclubs and music festivals restarted.

But hold on. This is getting crazy. In truth, we can’t keep handing out vouchers and discounts like confetti. Each scheme will inevitably end up costing far more than originally planned. We keep on offering incentives for getting back to normal, but without any costs if we don’t.

And most of all, the Government is simply trying to reset the clock to 2019, when it would be better to let the post-Covid economy emerge even if there is some disruption along the way. What we need right now is to restore the economy to long-term health – not simply patch it up with a series of here today, gone tomorrow gimmicks.

The Chancellor’s eat-out scheme turned out to be a far greater success than expected. Over August, it was used 100m times and, for many restaurants, Monday became the new Friday. In many big cities, it was hard to get a table. Inspired by that, plenty of other sectors are looking for similar help.

Over the weekend, we learned the Government was looking at a seat out to help out scheme for when theatres, concert halls and sports arenas are finally allowed to open again.

Likewise, Transport for London revealed that a day of free train and tube travel was one of the ideas under discussion to persuade commuters back into the office, while suburban services could get discounted rush hour tickets.

Once you start getting creative about it, there is no end to the deals the Government could offer. Garden centres and nightclubs might need help. And, of course, beauty salons (“tan out”), soft play centres (“bounce out”) and theme parks (“ride out”). It would be worth subsidising gyms just because “work out to help out” is such a good slogan. The list is endless.

True, we can understand what the Government is trying to do. In many ways, lockdown was too successful, if not at controlling Covid-19 then at closing down the economy.

With a 20pc collapse in output, it is proving tough to get everything back to normal. Offices remain closed. The shopping malls are half-empty. And, of course, many venues remain shuttered. The trouble is, it is only going to make the long-term problems worse. Here’s why.