Current Affairs

[MaureenB]

The government is dammed if it does and dammed if it don't by the public and media.

They are doing they're best for the country. OK, they might not get everything perfect, who would. But I for one will be supporting them.

My feelings exactly. Well put.

[Onelife]

The government is dammed if it does and dammed if it don't by the public and media.

They are doing they're best for the country. OK, they might not get everything perfect, who would. But I for one will be supporting them.

My feelings exactly. Well put.

Well it certainly could be worse, I dread to think where we would be if the Labour Party got in

[Frank Manning]

Even allowing for my personal prejudice against the guy, I'm firmly of the opinion that Johnson is the weak link in the current cabinet. I imagine him and Peston together. Would either of them actually say anything sensible? For me Raab is the Tory s strong man, and even Gove is more consistent and coherent than Johnson. It comes to something when even the Daily Wail is critical of Johnson. Starmer will have his measure alright.

[Onelife]

Even allowing for my personal prejudice against the guy, I'm firmly of the opinion that Johnson is the weak link in the current cabinet. I imagine him and Peston together. Would either of them actually say anything sensible? For me Raab is the Tory s strong man, and even Gove is more consistent and coherent than Johnson. It comes to something when even the Daily Wail is critical of Johnson. Starmer will have his measure alright.

Gove, love him or hate him has his head screwed on and would have been my choice for the top job......Johnson is looking a bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights at the moment....Oh! Stop it Keith.....He will grow into the job won't he?

[Frank Manning]

I don't think he'll grow into anything except a bigger pair of trousers. He has been lucky recently, he was up against Corbyn and as a result he got a comfortable majority. What can he do with It? Covid 19 has diverted most people's attention. I want the government to be successful, but I just don't trust them under his leadership.

[david63]

I am not sure that with the first set of restrictions there will/should be much difference.

For those who are being "encouraged" to go back to work - how many will be affected?

• Many businesses will still not be able to re-open (pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, etc.)
• Businesses that have shut down because they cannot enforce social distancing will remain shut because they will still be unable to enforce social distancing.
• Business that shut down because they could not get sufficient raw materials to operate will probably not be able to re-open until the supply chain recovers.
• Business that shut because they have no customers may be able to re-open in the coming weeks when their customer base recovers.

That then leaves businesses that decided to close down "because it appeared the right thing to do" but were not required to do so, and some of those probably did so for ulterior motives.

Going out more is not really that big an issue as any "meeting" of families is to be a one on one, in the outdoors and maintaining social distancing.

Going for a drive will only be an issue if you have an accident!

As for putting the economy before lives well that decision has to be made at some point and I am glad that I am not the one that has to make it. There is an argument that prolonging the economic shutdown will have an affect on some people resulting in some suicides. Also bear in mind that yesterday's Covid19 deaths in the UK was in the 200s and that some of those may have died anyway from other causes and that the "normal" average death rate in this country is 1,400 per day.

[johnds]

Does anyone know what has happened to the daily briefing from Downing Street usually at 5 p.m.
Haven't seen it for a couple of days and it isn't on the BBC1 schedues this week

Is it on the BBC News channel or has it been abandoned

I'm missing my daily chuckle at the reproters

[jacksparrow]

Problem is Smurfy that yesterday was Monday and deaths are always lower after a weekend let alone a bank holiday. It may spike again today. I hope not though.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Does anyone know what has happened to the daily briefing from Downing Street usually at 5 p.m.
Haven't seen it for a couple of days and it isn't on the BBC1 schedues this week

Is it on the BBC News channel or has it been abandoned

I'm missing my daily chuckle at the reproters

On Sunday it was replaced by Boris's evening statement. And last night by his post-statement press conference at 7pm. Don't know if it's back to normal tonight.

I think we need a new section where the public can ask the idiots from the media questions. Today the ONS have issued more non-hospital death figures and I have seen two analyses by the media. One says Care Home deaths soaring. The other says Care Home deaths declining!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Even allowing for my personal prejudice against the guy, I'm firmly of the opinion that Johnson is the weak link in the current cabinet. I imagine him and Peston together. Would either of them actually say anything sensible? For me Raab is the Tory s strong man, and even Gove is more consistent and coherent than Johnson. It comes to something when even the Daily Wail is critical of Johnson. Starmer will have his measure alright.

Starmer couldn't measure a piece of wood accurately. He's doing nothing but electioneering for 2024.

[johnds]

On Sunday it was replaced by Boris's evening statement. And last night by his post-statement press conference at 7pm. Don't know if it's back to normal tonight.

I've looked on the iplayer schedule for BBC 1 and its not there any day this week

[screwy]

I wonder just how many so called media experts and forumers would like to be in government right now,making decisions that are literally life and death.I know for sure I wouldn’t. And yes I know they put themselves up for the job, but still, would you like it.?

[Stephen]

UK furlough scheme extended by four months

That will please some!


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52634759

[Manoverboard]

UK furlough scheme extended by four months ...

Which really demonstrates just how unsafe it is out there.

ps ... no way would I wish to work for any Government Department during this particular crisis

[Jonty S1]

On Sunday it was replaced by Boris's evening statement. And last night by his post-statement press conference at 7pm. Don't know if it's back to normal tonight.

I've looked on the iplayer schedule for BBC 1 and its not there any day this week

Back on this afternoon as per the norm! The press questions is the switch off moment!

[screwy]

Beth Rigby and Peston are the biggest switch offs.

[towny44]

I notice that the BBC seem to have furloughed Laura K a bit, seem to be more of the junior Male politicos popping up asking the odd question, and they seem less vicious than LK.

[barney]

After watching PMQs I’d say that if Sir K can keep Momentum in their box and Johnson is still leading the Tories at the next election, Labour will be a shoe in.
He’s hopelessly out of his depth.
Mumble Bumble Mumble ohh argh
Sounds more like Frankie Howard

[anniec]

I notice that the BBC seem to have furloughed Laura K a bit, seem to be more of the junior Male politicos popping up asking the odd question, and they seem less vicious than LK.

Plus they sometimes use the excellent Hugh Pym. Wish more of the media outlets would use their health/science correspondents.

[towny44]

I notice that the BBC seem to have furloughed Laura K a bit, seem to be more of the junior Male politicos popping up asking the odd question, and they seem less vicious than LK.

Plus they sometimes use the excellent Hugh Pym. Wish more of the media outlets would use their health/science correspondents.

I agree Hugh Pym is always level headed, and I doubt there is much love lost between him and Laura, he seemed to be overlooked as a natural replacement for Nick Robinson when LK was promoted.

[johnds]

Back on this afternoon as per the norm! The press questions is the switch off moment!

Ah yes
I see they've changed the schedule on iPlayer
Thanks

[screwy]

After watching PMQs I’d say that if Sir K can keep Momentum in their box and Johnson is still leading the Tories at the next election, Labour will be a shoe in.
He’s hopelessly out of his depth.
Mumble Bumble Mumble ohh argh
Sounds more like Frankie Howard

Ive known a lot of people who could string a sentence together, didn't make them good leaders of men.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I reckon there are two main groups of people in this crisis.

The first, into which I would put most, if not all, the contributors to this forum, are sensible pragmatists. We may disagree on politics but we recognise this is an unprecedented crisis with no right answers. We listen to what the government has to say and interpret it realistically to our own situation. Some of us may be more cautious than others. Some may have different pressures and priorities. But we recognise there can be no universal apply-to-all simple message and we take on board the interpretation right for us. If we had all taken the headline "Stay at Home" literally, without common sense we'd all be dead now, because the supermarket workers and doctors would have done so. It is the same with "Stay Alert". We will interpret as appropriate. In some cases that still means stay at home. But as others are encouraged or feel they can go back to work it means something different for them.

The second group either don't listen to what the government says or do so with the sole object of picking fault and finding a loophole so they can try to justify doing what they want. Hence those who now say that because it no longer says "stay at home" that means they can go to the seaside. Or travel 150 miles to go rock climbing as some were found doing near here last week. Or go to Dorset and have to be rescued after being cut off on the beach by emergency services. Though of course they still can't go to work. That's too dangerous.

I include in this latter category most opposition politicians and most journalists. If Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had Conservative administrations would they be taking a different tack now? I doubt it. If Boris had said he was extending lockdown for another three weeks they'd be demanding relaxation now. Boris's biggest mistake in my book was not involving the opposition in a cross party group of some sort at an early stage. Then they couldn't be sniping from their trenches now.

Prize chump of the week goes to Mrs Krankie for her quote "I don't know what stay alert means". For God's sake don't let her babysit your grandchildren or drive you on the motorway!

[Gill W]

I don't think he'll grow into anything except a bigger pair of trousers. He has been lucky recently, he was up against Corbyn and as a result he got a comfortable majority. What can he do with It? Covid 19 has diverted most people's attention. I want the government to be successful, but I just don't trust them under his leadership.

I think Johnson is lazy and inept and COVID19 has exposed him for what he is. What he says has no content, it's just a word salad punctuated by ums and ahs.

He wanted this job, and thought he could wing it, just like everything else he's done in his life. He might even have got away with it, if it hadn't been for COVID19. The 24 hour period from Sunday night to Monday night was the worst of his Premiership so far. He's avoided scrutiny for a long time, but when the spotlight was turned on him, the flaws were clear to see, I didn't see the press briefing yesterday evening, as I literally couldn't take any more.

It's very troubling that, in our worse crisis since WW2, we have to rely on Johnson to led us through it. Most of the Conservatives that I rated are now gone. Sunak shows promise, though.

I think Starmer is good when he's asking the questions - he has a calm, measured way about him, and his question asking style has been described as 'forensic'. Johnson's blustering is shown in even sharper relief when compared to Starmer.

Meanwhile, I intend carrying on as I have done for the last 54 days, since my official social distancing started. There's nothing else that can be done really. I'm just glad that I am at a stage in my life where I can keep my head below the parapet, and not have to worry about work

[Ray B]

I don't think he'll grow into anything except a bigger pair of trousers. He has been lucky recently, he was up against Corbyn and as a result he got a comfortable majority. What can he do with It? Covid 19 has diverted most people's attention. I want the government to be successful, but I just don't trust them under his leadership.

Just think if Corbyn had won the election he would more likely be the PM now. What a frightening thought, to think how he would have managed this situation.