What is the point of political symbols?

The timing was bad, but there’s merit in Matt Hancock’s much-mocked idea of a national logo for social care, writes John Rentoul. After all, it worked for the NHS...

Merit badge: spreading awareness can’t be bad (PA)

Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, had a rough time this week when he spoke about creating a “single brand” for social care, and a literal “badge of honour”: a green enamel badge with the word “CARE” in capital letters.

It would allow “social care staff proudly and publicly to identify themselves, just like NHS staff do with that famous blue and white logo,” he said at the daily news briefing on Wednesday.

Cue much mockery of a “gesture”, when social care workers need face masks, gloves and gowns – and coronavirus tests. But, while the timing may have been clumsy, and the suppliers of the badges were bound to run out of stock immediately, the idea of a national logo for social care is not a bad one.