They proved enormously popular. Indeed, such was the prevailing sense of patriotism and national duty that they were supplemented by ‘informal lending’ from members of the public who submitted cash and even jewellery to the Treasury in touchingly personal attempts to boost the war effort.
Over the past 12 months, a number of commentators have likened the pandemic to war; it’s nothing like war – no-one is trying to blow us to smithereens – but economic recovery from the virus’s damaging impact will require a post-warlike effort. Which is why Sir Keir Starmer’s proposals for a ‘British Recovery Bond’ deserve consideration.
Finances: Could recovery bonds help UK after Covid pandemic?
edp24.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from edp24.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Finances: Could recovery bonds help UK after Covid pandemic?
cambstimes.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cambstimes.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Finances: Could recovery bonds help UK after Covid pandemic?
elystandard.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from elystandard.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Jeremy Corbyn s Labour endured their worst election defeat since 1935 (Image: GETTY)
Their manifesto pledge to hold a second referendum was torn to shreds by experts, and voters, and saw its infamous Red Wall fall to the Tories.
And within weeks of 2020, Mr Johnson secured the UK s exit from the EU, signalling months of trade talks with the bloc, which would eventually lead to a pact being secured on Christmas Eve last year.
More recently, Lord Adonis was under attack for making the argument to rejoin the European customs union and single market.
Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before securing pact (Image: GETTY)