Current Affairs

[Onelife]

I'm just boggled that anyone can be upset that we have 5,500 fewer Covid deaths than we thought.

The reality is there isn't a single consistent way of counting them within the UK, let alone world wide. One could equally criticise Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for counting their deaths differently from England, indeed have accused them of cooking the books to keep their numbers lower.

But having reviewed the system the number crunchers have decided to adopt their approach. I don't see that's a reason to criticise the government.

As for unprecedented times, when Blair and Brown flogged the family gold and led the country to the brink of bankruptcy they blamed an unprecedented global financial crash outside their control. They can hardly moan about the language now and blame the Tories for a global pandemic where all countries have had to learn on the hoof and the WHO has been totally useless and inconsistent in its advice.

Yes we got some things wrong. But I use that word again. HINDSIGHT. The way out of this will be to pull together, not keep bleating about how to we got here.

If learning on the hoof is anything to go then the sooner they get to see a farrier the better imo. A few mistakes yes but sadly the few mistakes they have made have been the fundamental ones which could have been avoided had they stopped the dithering they’ve done at the start… and throughout this pandemic… shutting the gate after the horse has bolted is no way to install confidence in the owners’ the trainer is supposed to represent. No point in blaming the horse if the trainer keeps making the wrong calls

They were late in implementing lockdown, they were late in controlling our borders, they’ve been totally incapable of setting up a track and trace system, they were late informing people to social distance, they were late implementing face coverings etc etc.

Talking of donkey’s there’s one running Saturday called Badenscoth (Newbury) currently trading at 25/1…should run better than his odds suggest.

No bleating if it goes down'just blame Boris

[Onelife]

More on Malta

He’s hardly been “ruthless” where France is concerned more like a pussy cat…infection rates have been increasing dally but he’s still listening to Macrons bleating

[Mervyn and Trish]

When Italy and Spain were overwhelmed in their hospitals, our advice was....... was your hands ?

And built new hospitals in record time and opened additional intensive care capacity and..... our hospitals were not overwhelmed. Sounds like good news to me.

[towny44]

More on Malta

He’s hardly been “ruthless” where France is concerned more like a pussy cat…infection rates have been increasing dally but he’s still listening to Macrons bleating

Infection rates are rising here as well, so it's just a question of who puts who on quarantine first, us,Malta or France

[towny44]

When Italy and Spain were overwhelmed in their hospitals, our advice was....... was your hands ?

And built new hospitals in record time and opened additional intensive care capacity and..... our hospitals were not overwhelmed. Sounds like good news to me.

I think that maybe you and I Merv are the only sane ones on this forum.

[Onelife]

With the announcement that France, Netherlands and Malta are to be added to the quarantine list the government would be well advised to introduce a new ‘shop your neighbour’ Covid save your community scheme. Basically, the scheme works by reporting those who breach their quarantine conditions after returning from listed countries.

Would you be a good neighbour?

[Happydays]

I think it would be a difficult thing to do, unless you're moving house soon

[Onelife]

I think it would be a difficult thing to do, unless you're moving house soon

Hi Happydays. ...knowing me as you do, do you really think l would be suggesting this if had had any immediate neighbours ...squeak! Squeak!

Naah! I was thinking more along the lines of those 'sane' towny people

[Stephen]

I think it would be a difficult thing to do, unless you're moving house soon

Hi Happydays. ...knowing me as you do, do you really think l would be suggesting this if had had any immediate neighbours ...squeak! Squeak!

Naah! I was thinking more along the lines of those 'sane' towny people

Her first mistake

[Kendhni]

They were late in implementing lockdown, they were late in controlling our borders, they’ve been totally incapable of setting up a track and trace system, they were late informing people to social distance, they were late implementing face coverings etc etc.

That's what I don't understand, every step of the way the government has been very slow to react or blusters and phaffs about wondering when to adopt the advice it is given. Those continually trying to rewrite history by cowering behind words like 'hindsight' does nobody in this country any justice and shows just how tolerant some elements of society have become of 'their' governments crass incompetence.

[towny44]

They were late in implementing lockdown, they were late in controlling our borders, they’ve been totally incapable of setting up a track and trace system, they were late informing people to social distance, they were late implementing face coverings etc etc.

That's what I don't understand, every step of the way the government has been very slow to react or blusters and phaffs about wondering when to adopt the advice it is given. Those continually trying to rewrite history by cowering behind words like 'hindsight' does nobody in this country any justice and shows just how tolerant some elements of society have become of 'their' governments crass incompetence.

I think I rather prefer the bluff and bluster of our current govt to the total stupidity shown by you two. In the past I have tried to be subtle but to no avail, so the gloves are now off.

[Mervyn and Trish]

It is those using the power of hindsight who try to rewrite history Ken. Many of the things you say are true. We were late to do some things. But much of the evidence to do them wasn't there at the time. Not just us. The world didn't understand this new virus. And now the government is acting decisively to impose quarantine on returnees from countries with fast rising rates people are bleating about that too. And Towny we don't agree on everything. According to the excellent Kings/Zoe research app infection rates here are pretty stable at present. They've more than doubled in France in the last ten days. Though of course the Boris bashers won't agree we're doing anything better than France or Spain. They have it all under control.

[Kendhni]

It is those using the power of hindsight who try to rewrite history Ken. Many of the things you say are true. We were late to do some things. But much of the evidence to do them wasn't there at the time. Not just us. The world didn't understand this new virus. And now the government is acting decisively to impose quarantine on returnees from countries with fast rising rates people are bleating about that too. And Towny we don't agree on everything. According to the excellent Kings/Zoe research app infection rates here are pretty stable at present. They've more than doubled in France in the last ten days. Though of course the Boris bashers won't agree we're doing anything better than France or Spain. They have it all under control.

I would disagree with you - the evidence was there, visible from what was happening in other countries. The calls from other parties were there - even the P&O onboard news sheet had articles asking the government when they were going to apply a lockdown. On 26th Feb I ahd a doctors appointment and she was talking about the total lack of PPE and lack of advice being provided by the government, she even said that given the situation and published comments from the medical field, she would be 'very surprised' if we got away on our holiday in March. My brother was also telling me that it was likely he would have to close his surgery by the end of February (based on evidence from Spain and Italy), and he was still awaiting any governmental guidance (in the end he had to unilaterally choose to protect his staff and patients and closed 2 weeks before the government got its together)..

So nearly a month prior to the government actually doing something it was being well talked about with plenty of evidence available. Rightly or wrongly the government put commerce first, that was its choice. Ultimately we have ended up as having one of the worst records in Europe when, as an island, we should have been able to protect ourselves much better.

[Kendhni]

They were late in implementing lockdown, they were late in controlling our borders, they’ve been totally incapable of setting up a track and trace system, they were late informing people to social distance, they were late implementing face coverings etc etc.

That's what I don't understand, every step of the way the government has been very slow to react or blusters and phaffs about wondering when to adopt the advice it is given. Those continually trying to rewrite history by cowering behind words like 'hindsight' does nobody in this country any justice and shows just how tolerant some elements of society have become of 'their' governments crass incompetence.

I think I rather prefer the bluff and bluster of our current govt to the total stupidity shown by you two. In the past I have tried to be subtle but to no avail, so the gloves are now off.

Given that all you seem to have is 'we would have been worse under Corbyn' (something you can neither prove nor disprove), I am sure your woolly mittens will be glad for a bit of respite.

[oldbluefox]

There is an assumption that what other countries have done is right, assumptions which are totally unfounded or unachievable given population, levels of administering measures, population densities or different cultures. Apples and pears.
Likewise the Boris bashers will see that nothing the government does or has done is laudable whilst the Boris supporters will see nothing wrong. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, as it will with the governments of all other countries.
I don't believe that how the government has handled the Covid situation covers them in glory but neither do I believe the 'crass incompetence' theory either. My feeling is that the government has relied too heavily on believing the British people will do the right thing. I don't share that confidence and, as an example, lockdown should have been applied much stricter.

[screwy]

I only go to the Doctor to discuss an ailment, I don’t enquire about ppe or government advice. If he/she has time for that then maybe they could treat you and fit in another patient....

Being flippant I know..

[Onelife]

They were late in implementing lockdown, they were late in controlling our borders, they’ve been totally incapable of setting up a track and trace system, they were late informing people to social distance, they were late implementing face coverings etc etc.

That's what I don't understand, every step of the way the government has been very slow to react or blusters and phaffs about wondering when to adopt the advice it is given. Those continually trying to rewrite history by cowering behind words like 'hindsight' does nobody in this country any justice and shows just how tolerant some elements of society have become of 'their' governments crass incompetence.

I think I rather prefer the bluff and bluster of our current govt to the total stupidity shown by you two. In the past I have tried to be subtle but to no avail, so the gloves are now off.

Just weighed in at 85.4 lbs…Ding! Ding!

[Stephen]

That's what I don't understand, every step of the way the government has been very slow to react or blusters and phaffs about wondering when to adopt the advice it is given. Those continually trying to rewrite history by cowering behind words like 'hindsight' does nobody in this country any justice and shows just how tolerant some elements of society have become of 'their' governments crass incompetence.

I think I rather prefer the bluff and bluster of our current govt to the total stupidity shown by you two. In the past I have tried to be subtle but to no avail, so the gloves are now off.

Just weighed in at 85.4 lbs…Ding! Ding!

Each leg

[Onelife]

I think I rather prefer the bluff and bluster of our current govt to the total stupidity shown by you two. In the past I have tried to be subtle but to no avail, so the gloves are now off.

Just weighed in at 85.4 lbs…Ding! Ding!

Each leg

Middle

[Stephen]

Didn't know you had one

[Onelife]

Didn't know you had one

Neither does my wife

[Kendhni]

I only go to the Doctor to discuss an ailment, I don’t enquire about ppe or government advice. If he/she has time for that then maybe they could treat you and fit in another patient....

Being flippant I know..

The advantages of having a private GP, they aren't all 'yeah yeah yeah, here are some pills, good bye" and trying to get you out of the door as quick as they can - they actually care about their patients both medically and mentally.

Equally flippant

[Stephen]

Didn't know you had one

Neither does my wife

Join the club

[Stephen]

I only go to the Doctor to discuss an ailment, I don’t enquire about ppe or government advice. If he/she has time for that then maybe they could treat you and fit in another patient....

Being flippant I know..

The advantages of having a private GP, they aren't all 'yeah yeah yeah, here are some pills, good bye" and trying to get you out of the door as quick as they can - they actually care about their patients both medically and mentally.

Equally flippant

Do they charge by the minute or by the consultation though Ken

[Onelife]

There is an assumption that what other countries have done is right, assumptions which are totally unfounded or unachievable given population, levels of administering measures, population densities or different cultures. Apples and pears.
Likewise the Boris bashers will see that nothing the government does or has done is laudable whilst the Boris supporters will see nothing wrong. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, as it will with the governments of all other countries.
I don't believe that how the government has handled the Covid situation covers them in glory but neither do I believe the 'crass incompetence' theory either. My feeling is that the government has relied too heavily on believing the British people will do the right thing. I don't share that confidence and, as an example, lockdown should have been applied much stricter.

Another balanced response Foxy

Oh! I don’t suppose you could have a word with towny as he’s threatening to punch my lights out…squeak! Squeak!