I'm all for proceeding cautiously. But let's be clear - the Euros, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix are far more about how the government wants Britian to be viewed on the world stage rather than bone fide 'test events.' We are going from 40k capacity at Wembley for the Germany game to 60k for the semi finals before any data from the Germany game will be available owing to the lag in transmissions and the time required to undertake thorough analysis. That doesn't feel like baby steps or a scientic experiment - more like a pre-determined ramp up. I'm all for these events taking place but I don't buy for one second that they are 'test events' - like some twenty first century twist on the atomic tests on Easter Island. I guess all I am saying is that these hugely high profile events will trigger the Law of Unintended Consequences - in this case a growing view that the need to maintain caution has gone.
For the record, I'll be watching the England match in my home with my 10 year old son and that's it. But win or lose, I fully expect to watch the BBC news afterwards and see reporters in rammed beer gardens and other public places, showing scenes no different from the knock-out stages of any other major tournament. It isn't about what happens at Wembley, Wimbledon or the British GP that is important - but the message it sends to the wider population. And at the moment that message seems to be, "we're back to normal, folks."
