Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

If the Government of any colour told me that I could spend any part of Christmas with our grandchildren or anybody else at all I would tell them to P*** O**.

ps ... I believe that I am the only person responsible for my life.

[screwy]

Damned if you do.........
Do you Honestly expect people to behave whatever the ruling may have been...I don’t.!
We all heard the cries...Oh we must have Christmas..Bollocks.!

And while I’m on a rant. Did you see the bbc news yesterday? Talking to Black and Ethnics regarding the Vaccine. Our culture treats illness with home remedies, said one.
God will look after me said another,we’ll sorry, not doing such a great job yet.!
And then the classic.....It’s just so they can track you.! Asked where he heard that....On What’s app.
Considering these people are complaining that it’s killing more Bame you would think they would welcome it.

Ok, I’m done...for now.

[Gill W]

25,0000 + new infection, 600+ deaths, more people hospitals than there were back in April and this Government is still allowing 3 families to meet up over Christmas

Please spare me ...."He can't do right for doing wrong" he's had the advice and yet he's prepared to allow our hospitals to be overrun.

This country needs a leader not a puppet.

You are being a harsh critic as usual Keefie. If you actually listened to what he and Whitty said at todays briefing then maybe you would understand and sympathise with his dilemma a little more.

You mean the bit where they said "little is better" lol

The man is reckless with people's lives and is playing this all wrong again imo...at the most we should be looking at a two day Christmas reprieve with one family plus 4 for Christmas dinner...can't leave Grans and Grandads out.

If you think my previous post was harsh then wait until our hospitals are overrun then l really will let rip.

My area is currently 2nd highest for infection rates and the next door council area is the highest, and infection rates are still rising sharply.

Both council areas are served by our local hospital, which is currently hanging on by a thread. Covid patients are now on every ward, including the children’s wards.

I didn’t think it was a good idea in the first place to allow a Christmas amnesty, but now it genuinely horrifies me.

Infection rates are already high amongst the over 60s in our area - so the situation is currently very grave - I think we are already close to the brink.

Keith, I think you will be letting rip at some point in the next 4 weeks

[oldbluefox]

I'm surprised there is a clamour for the government to tell people what to do. The infection rate and the death rate in this part of Cumbria is very low but nevertheless I know what we will be doing. Do you honestly think that if Christmas had been cancelled all the dimwits would have taken notice. You don't need to be the brain of Britain to know they would have ignored the regulations (just as they have been doing) and would do as they please.
I would enforce a curfew with heavy fines, shut the shops and have a full lockdown but then the snowflakes would scream police state and there would be ructions on the street, the media would be accusing the government of risking people's mental health, ruining their Christmas at a time when people had not seen their loved ones and being mean spirited.
It is now up to the sensible ones to have a trimmed down Christmas and be aware we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Whatever Boris had decreed that is what we would have done anyway.

[Stephen]

I like the idea of a curfew but would add a shoot on sight policy to anyone breaking it. Rubber bullets to start with of course. We don't want to come across as being too harsh.

Firm but fair

[oldbluefox]

That would be my criticism of the government. I cringe when I listen to police chiefs say their purpose is "to educate". A £200 fine would educate them, no questions asked. From what I have seen over the past few months we have been too understanding lax with the knuckle-draggers who are spreading the virus needlessly.

[david63]

I did like Mat Hancock's rebuff of Jonathan Ashworth this morning when Jonathan Ashworth was basically demanding more action by the Government to which the reply was along the lines that it is everyone's responsibility to do the sensible thing and no amount of rules will change that.

[Gill W]

I'm surprised there is a clamour for the government to tell people what to do. The infection rate and the death rate in this part of Cumbria is very low but nevertheless I know what we will be doing. Do you honestly think that if Christmas had been cancelled all the dimwits would have taken notice. You don't need to be the brain of Britain to know they would have ignored the regulations (just as they have been doing) and would do as they please.
I would enforce a curfew with heavy fines, shut the shops and have a full lockdown but then the snowflakes would scream police state and there would be ructions on the street, the media would be accusing the government of risking people's mental health, ruining their Christmas at a time when people had not seen their loved ones and being mean spirited.
It is now up to the sensible ones to have a trimmed down Christmas and be aware we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Whatever Boris had decreed that is what we would have done anyway.

If they shut the shops and had a real lockdown, you’d have people on this very forum screaming ‘ but the economeeeeee’.

[Gill W]

Kay Burley has a birthday party with 10 people - the forum froths at the mouth.

Tobias Ellwood goes to Christmas party with 27 people - tumbleweed drifts through the forum

[Onelife]

I'm surprised there is a clamour for the government to tell people what to do. The infection rate and the death rate in this part of Cumbria is very low but nevertheless I know what we will be doing. Do you honestly think that if Christmas had been cancelled all the dimwits would have taken notice. You don't need to be the brain of Britain to know they would have ignored the regulations (just as they have been doing) and would do as they please.
I would enforce a curfew with heavy fines, shut the shops and have a full lockdown but then the snowflakes would scream police state and there would be ructions on the street, the media would be accusing the government of risking people's mental health, ruining their Christmas at a time when people had not seen their loved ones and being mean spirited.
It is now up to the sensible ones to have a trimmed down Christmas and be aware we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Whatever Boris had decreed that is what we would have done anyway.

The Dimwits won’t take any notice Foxy but allowing a pick and mix of relatives popping in here, there and everywhere for 5 days over Christmas will have the grim reaper rubbing his hands together for sure. I actually think most sensible people would have been happy with one family plus 4…. what we potentially have now with three families mixing isn’t a family get together it’s a party!

[towny44]

I'm surprised there is a clamour for the government to tell people what to do. The infection rate and the death rate in this part of Cumbria is very low but nevertheless I know what we will be doing. Do you honestly think that if Christmas had been cancelled all the dimwits would have taken notice. You don't need to be the brain of Britain to know they would have ignored the regulations (just as they have been doing) and would do as they please.
I would enforce a curfew with heavy fines, shut the shops and have a full lockdown but then the snowflakes would scream police state and there would be ructions on the street, the media would be accusing the government of risking people's mental health, ruining their Christmas at a time when people had not seen their loved ones and being mean spirited.
It is now up to the sensible ones to have a trimmed down Christmas and be aware we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Whatever Boris had decreed that is what we would have done anyway.

If they shut the shops and had a real lockdown, you’d have people on this very forum screaming ‘ but the economeeeeee’.

You are correct Gill it would certainly keep a lid on the infection rate if there was a full lockdown. The difficulty for ours and all countries govts is that they still have to ensure they provide all the services that a western economy needs, and this all has to be financed. So they need to balance damage to the economy with the level of infections, and the capability of the health systems to cope.
I certainly would not want to have to make their decisions, it's a bit like trying to tightrope walk across Niagara falls, but they are not permitted to fall off.

[david63]

allowing a pick and mix of relatives popping in here, there and everywhere for 5 days over Christmas

One of the best ways to stop that is to say that nobody, university students included, travel anywhere over Christmas. In other words everyone, including family members, stays where they are.

[Onelife]

allowing a pick and mix of relatives popping in here, there and everywhere for 5 days over Christmas

One of the best ways to stop that is to say that nobody, university students included, travel anywhere over Christmas. In other words everyone, including family members, stays where they are.

I could have lived with this if it means thousands more will see next Christmas.

[towny44]

allowing a pick and mix of relatives popping in here, there and everywhere for 5 days over Christmas

One of the best ways to stop that is to say that nobody, university students included, travel anywhere over Christmas. In other words everyone, including family members, stays where they are.

I could have lived with this if it means thousands more will see next Christmas.

You still could, the govt have said the guidelines are a maximum, but individuals should make their own decisions as to how much or how little of the relaxation they decide to take.

[david63]

I could have lived with this if it means thousands more will see next Christmas.

Does that mean that you are not doing so? You can, and from what you are saying, you should be doing that.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Jeremy Vine's entry for plonker of the day.

"The government guidelines say we should stay local for Christmas. No one knows what that means".

Don't you Jeremy? We certainly do. It means we will be seeing our daughter and granddaughters who live 1 mile away in the same town. We won't be visiting my brother who lives 200 miles away in Devon.

For the record we will be five people from two households together for 8 hours with the windows open. I believe that meets the rules and guidelines. Is that okay Jeremy?

[Manoverboard]

For the record we will be five people from two households together for 8 hours with the windows open. I believe that meets the rules and guidelines. Is that okay Jeremy?

7 degrees max on Christmas Day where you live, is it a cold buffet event ?

[Stephen]

S*d the turkey, which I'm not keen on anyway. Mrs S and I will be having a curry. That'll kill or cure

[Onelife]

I could have lived with this if it means thousands more will see next Christmas.

Does that mean that you are not doing so? You can, and from what you are saying, you should be doing that.

As always, I like to set an example to others so this year, as opposed to previous years there’ll only be me, the wife and daughter for dinner…however, we have extended a Christmas invitation to our 86-year-old neighbour…. he lives alone and doesn’t have anyone to leave his money too so will appreciate a nice Christmas dinner.

We’ve had my sister’s family over most years but I’ve told them to go to McDonalds this year as I don’t want their grubby hands all over our silver cutlery. Boxing day would normally be spent with my best mates’ family in Stratford-upon-Avon but as they were a bit skinny with the Brussel sprouts last year I’ve decided to keep the phone off the hook this year.

So, David not only do I follow the rules I have exceeded them.

[barney]

Kay Burley has a birthday party with 10 people - the forum froths at the mouth.

Tobias Ellwood goes to Christmas party with 27 people - tumbleweed drifts through the forum

The Home Secretary certainly agrees with you, as do I.
He should be punished for breaching the rules.

[Stephen]

Toughest Covid rules extended in south of England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55350085

[Mervyn and Trish]

As do I. Maybe the reason the forum was quiet on the issue is you were quicker than most of us to see the news.

However the reason I, for one, was ready to criticise Kay Burley was her sheer hypocrisy. She was one of the media baying for Cumming's head on a plate. And while she held a party for ten he only had his family in the car for his ill advised journey.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Toughest Covid rules extended in south of England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55350085

And no relaxation for us despite steeply falling rates. But I was planning to go to the pub any day soon.

[Stephen]

Toughest Covid rules extended in south of England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55350085

And no relaxation for us despite steeply falling rates. But I was planning to go to the pub any day soon.

Don’t think you’ll find they’ll be open Merv

[Mervyn and Trish]

Toughest Covid rules extended in south of England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55350085

And no relaxation for us despite steeply falling rates. But I was planning to go to the pub any day soon.

Don’t think you’ll find they’ll be open Merv

Damn. So where can I get a scotch egg and three pints of Guinness?