Coronavirus

[jeremyp]

What a savage irony that yesterday people were celebrating the old guard who fought in the war, yet decades of neglect is seeing them dying in droves in care homes and their own homes from covid.  Some people are calling it a cull, or a bitter harvest.  Let's not forget.

Oh please.

It's nothing to do with decades of neglect. People in care homes are old and frail. They wouldn't be there if they weren't. It doesn't matter how well run a care home is, if coronavirus gets in there lots of people will die.

[Aruntraveller]

Yes, maybe, if you didn't want people piling on you should have stopped and thought before you posted something that was factually incorrect to rebuke somebody else.

Is one apology for me getting it wrong not enough?

Do you wish me to wear sackcloth and sit in ashes as atonement?

I know that you are always correct and never get anything wrong. Us mere mortals can only gaze in wonder and awe at your perfection.

[Gordon]

It would seem Boris's new slogan is yet another example of how not to bring forward a policy amendment, Nicola Sturgeon making it clear that all she knows about a slogan/message change is what she reads in the newspapers, and that she won't be immediately changing the message here at his behest.

From her twitter account (as posted in the Guardian live blog).

The Sunday papers is the first I’ve seen of the PM’s new slogan. It is of course for him to decide what’s most appropriate for England, but given the critical point we are at in tackling the virus, #StayHomeSaveLives remains my clear message to Scotland at this stage.

[jeremyp]

Is one apology for me getting it wrong not enough?

Do you wish me to wear sackcloth and sit in ashes as atonement?

If you like.

I know that you are always correct and never get anything wrong. Us mere mortals can only gaze in wonder and awe at your perfection.

Of course.

[jeremyp]

It would seem Boris's new slogan is yet another example of how not to bring forward a policy amendment, Nicola Sturgeon making it clear that all she knows about a slogan/message change is what she reads in the newspapers, and that she won't be immediately changing the message here at his behest.

From her twitter account (as posted in the Guardian live blog).

The slogan is just words. I don't know why Sturgeon would even care about it. I'm more concerned that the four governments seem to be unable to coordinate their actions.

[Roses]

The slogan is just words. I don't know why Sturgeon would even care about it. I'm more concerned that the four governments seem to be unable to coordinate their actions.

I think coordination is very important and the sooner the better. For instance, our youngest daughter lives just over the border in England, if she wanted to visit her aged old parents she could be prevented from doing so by the Welsh police, even though social distancing would be put in place when she arrived.

[Gordon]

The slogan is just words. I don't know why Sturgeon would even care about it. I'm more concerned that the four governments seem to be unable to coordinate their actions.

Hard to coordinate when you've got a PM who doesn't consult with the likes of our First Minister about policy initiatives like this but briefs the press about his intentions: and she's not the only one expressing concern.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/10/nicola-sturgeon-leads-criticism-of-uks-new-stay-alert-coronavirus-lockdown-advice

[jeremyp]

Hard to coordinate when you've got a PM who doesn't consult with the likes of our First Minister about policy initiatives like this but briefs the press about his intentions: and she's not the only one expressing concern.

The slogan is just words. I'd be more concerned if Sturgeon wasn't informed about the initiatives behind it (if any).

As far as "people might think it's over", the cat's already out of the bag on that one. The media have been speculating for days about what might be happening with the next phase, aided by copious leakage from all four of the governments in the UK.

[Gordon]

The slogan is just words. I'd be more concerned if Sturgeon wasn't informed about the initiatives behind it (if any).

As far as "people might think it's over", the cat's already out of the bag on that one. The media have been speculating for days about what might be happening with the next phase, aided by copious leakage from all four of the governments in the UK.

What has the Scottish Government leaked? As far as I can see the leaks were in the English and mainly Tory-supporting press.

There seems to have been no consultation on this: from Vaughn Gething, the Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Assembly.

I’ve seen the media briefings and changed message for England. There has not been a 4 nations agreement or discussion on this. The @WelshGovernment message has not changed. Stay at home and if you do go out observe the social distancing rules.

[Nearly Sane]

Interesting stuff


https://fivebooks.com/best-books/viruses-dorothy-crawford/?fbclid=IwAR1cT9UZ7rYcBg5dEKQFowxfn64dW8Xz8SrUz8Y-WdH-gIvsQQxxv6Z-PeQ

[SteveH]

No, Corona!

[Nearly Sane]

Utterly awful address from Boris. Unclear and then having been prerecorded no chance for any clarity.

[Gordon]

I do hope those who voted for this clown and his dysfunctional party are looking at this closely: I wouldn't trust them to take my dog for a walk (and I don't even have a dog).

Tonight's broadcast was an object lesson in how to turn a crisis into an even worse crisis while, at the same time, alienating large sections of the population while exposing other sections of the population to even greater risk - and in the background the Brexit clock ticks on.

John Crace's take.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/10/smart-suit-brushed-hair-it-was-just-the-speech-that-was-a-total-mess

[jeremyp]

Utterly awful address from Boris. Unclear and then having been prerecorded no chance for any clarity.

What was unclear about it?

[Aruntraveller]

The subliminals on the graphic are interesting. A change from red hatching (red for danger) to green hatching (green for go).

I fear not a lot of good will come of this latest attempt by Boris to circumnavigate our way out of this crisis.

And why wasn't this put before parliament?

[jeremyp]

The subliminals on the graphic are interesting. A change from red hatching (red for danger) to green hatching (green for go).

I didn't notice that. It's interesting because nothing in Boris's speech last night said it was time for us to "go". All he's given us so far is "you can exercise as much as you like and that includes sitting in the park". For a lot of people that just brings the rules in line with reality.

ETA: Oh and you're allowed to travel to work even if your job is non essential.

And why wasn't this put before parliament?

Because it doesn't need to be.

[SusanDoris]

I didn't notice that. It's interesting because nothing in Boris's speech last night said it was time for us to "go". All he's given us so far is "you can exercise as much as you like and that includes sitting in the park". For a lot of people that just brings the rules in line with reality.

ETA: Oh and you're allowed to travel to work even if your job is non essential.
Because it doesn't need to be.

Thank you for posting more calm responses, JeremyP. I find all the constant moaning about everything the Gov does or says quite  annoying.

[Aruntraveller]

Thank you for posting more calm responses, JeremyP. I find all the constant moaning about everything the Gov does or says quite  annoying.

No surprise there then.

[Nearly Sane]

I didn't notice that. It's interesting because nothing in Boris's speech last night said it was time for us to "go". All he's given us so far is "you can exercise as much as you like and that includes sitting in the park". For a lot of people that just brings the rules in line with reality.

ETA: Oh and you're allowed to travel to work even if your job is non essential.
Because it doesn't need to be.

And the details about what constitutes safe in terms of going to work won't be published till Tuesday but he didn't make that clear.

Plus, of course, in doing it this way he's effectively undercut the advice from the 3 devolved govts.

[Nearly Sane]

Thank you for posting more calm responses, JeremyP. I find all the constant moaning about everything the Gov does or says quite  annoying.

I suppose those people who have had relatives who have died because of govt incompetence and lies should just shut up then.

[SusanDoris]

I suppose those people who have had relatives who have died because of govt incompetence and lies should just shut up then.

No, of course not, and to take such a binary view is, I think, unjustified.

[Nearly Sane]

No, of course not, and to take such a binary view is, I think, unjustified.

The binary issue was caused by you presenting the criticism of the govt as not calm and moaning. I was just reflecting it back at you.

[Roses]

We listened to Boris's speech last night and found it confusing, it is no wonder people are complaining about it.

[Nearly Sane]

We listened to Boris's speech last night and found it confusing, it is no wonder people are complaining about it.

Part of the issue with it was that the prerecording of it meant no questions.

[jeremyp]

Part of the issue with it was that the prerecording of it meant no questions.

He said he would take questions tonight. So, no it wasn't an issue.