Covid inquiry

[Onelife]

he following day, Vallance wrote that the then Conservative chief whip, Mark Spencer, said “I think we should let the old people get it and protect others.” Johnson backed this statement, according to Vallance, allegedly responding: “A lot of my backbenchers think that and I must say I agree with them.”

I wonder if he agreed with his backbenchers before or after receiving 2 on 1 nursing care when he contracted covid?

Apparently, there won’t be any charges attached to this inquiry…shame because Johnson should be behind bars, Imo

[oldbluefox]

One way of thinning the House of Lords down...........

All joking apart I am pretty amazed by some of the revelations coming out although we have yet to hear all sides of the story. It must make pretty harrowing listening for those who lost loved ones as a consequence of Covid.
Sadly nobody seemed to know how best to handle the situation, neither in this country nor elsewhere and in hindsight we could all have done things differently. Personally the corridors of power are coming across as a right nest of vipers with everybody stabbing everybody else in the back,

[Stephen]

We’ve all heard of ‘pass the parcel’, it’s now pass the buck.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sounds to me like a lot of unpleasant people trying to score points and settle scores.

The only real conclusion for me is that noone here or anywhere else had all the answers.

[paultheagle]

The whole things a bit a joke to be honest. Nothing's happened that we didn't already know. What's the point if it? No one is going to prison, just a bit of bad publicity Johnson and his cronies are used to that.

[david63]

The thing that I am not liking about this is all of these "private" messages being put in the public domain and being quoted out of context. I am not disputing that they were said as they exist but who in the workplace has not referred to someone else in a derogatory way in a private conversation.

Of course in that situation every wacky idea that there was would be bounced around but to just quote an idea without the rest of the discussion is, in my opinion, irresponsive and headline grabbing.

Covid regulations were broken every day in No 10 - now I have never been in No 10 but I would imagine that it is an old rambling rabbit warren of a building where it would be impossible not to break the regulations doing what they were doing, and I don't suppose for one minute that nowhere else broke the regulations.

This is definitely a case of "the long knives are out" and I am surprised that anyone can get anywhere near the sink with so much hand washing going on and we all know that Cummings has an axe to grind.

As was to be expected everyone seems to have all the answers after the event knowing what they know now.

At least the UK government have kept all of the messages unlike the Scottish who deleted them all!

[CaroleF]

I agree David with your assessment of what happened. I can't believe that every other work place that was still being used obeyed all the rules without question. Knives are certainly out.

[Onelife]

I would imagine most of disparaging messages are the result of a dysfunctional government, with so many camps within the conservative party it is not surprising that you have so many disgruntled members/employees,
If we are to keep this present merry-go-round political system then they (Conservatives) should use the coming 5 years (in opposition) as a way of finding a leader that the voters can have some faith in, and in doing so leave behind the cronyism that has exacerbated this party’s downfall.

The conservative party have destroyed themselves from within so only have themselves to blame, imo,

Bring back Theresa

[Mervyn and Trish]

Ironic isn't it that the woman saying rules were broken every day was a very senior civil servant and herself fined for a party to which she took a karaoke machine. Talk about pot kettle black.

[towny44]

This enquiry is going exactly as predicted, only now second rate actors are being feted for pointing out the shortcomings of the people who were responsible for carrying the buck.
Why any govt ever bothers with these sort of enquiries is beyond comprehension. By the time they all start the facts have been poured over by everyone, and they all now have preconceived ideas of the "truth" , which of course varies depending which side of the arguments you support.
It would be a lot cheaper and more entertaining for the likes of Sally Wainnwright to write the script for them to be a TV drama, and she would probably come up with more acceptable lessons learned.

[Onelife]

Perhaps she could be persuaded to write a script for a pantomime…lets face it she would have her pick of shady characters to choose from.

[poole boy]

our near neighbours are secretary and treasurer of a labour party club but they still had barbecues 2 or 3 times a week during covid so pherhaps we could start the list with them instead of hearing onelifes boring and one sided list of conservatives

[Onelife]

our near neighbours are secretary and treasurer of a labour party club but they still had barbecues 2 or 3 times a week during covid so pherhaps we could start the list with them instead of hearing onelifes boring and one sided list of conservatives

Hi poole boy , if you felt that your Labour Party neighbours were breaching covid rules then you should have done the right thing and reported them.

[Onelife]

Total incompetence….

https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1098

[towny44]

Total incompetence….

https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1098

Why keep digging up old reports Keefie, can't you find any current ones?

[Onelife]

Total incompetence….

https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1098

Why keep digging up old reports Keefie, can't you find any current ones?

Oh, come on John, you above all should know better than to challenge me with that task…. how many do you want?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm sure someone will have done one on the magical powers of Hindsight.

[towny44]

I'm sure someone will have done one on the magical powers of Hindsight.

The main issue for me is the total waste of money, most of the lessons wil have already been learnt and implemented, or dismissed as far too expensive for a once in a lifetime, or less, event.
So as just a finger pointing exercise it seems far too long winded, as well as mean spirited.

[david63]

As I see it the inquiry is more to appease the likes of the Covid Families who want somebody to blame and/or punish. This has all the makings of another Hillsborough which will be going on for years until they get their pound of flesh.

[Onelife]

I'm sure someone will have done one on the magical powers of Hindsight.

Not always, but in most circumstances, hindsight allows us the insight to foresee a better way forward…’foresight’ allows us the ability to avoid mistakes of the past. Whilst we all come with human frailties the lack of joined up thinking at the highest levels of government is a consequence of not being up to the job.

There has been far too much “lets try this and see if it works” governance within this conservative party, so its time to face up to reality and accept that our political system needs a complete overhaul.

How we go about it is another matter but going round in circles will never put the GREAT back into our fast-becoming un-United Kingdom.

[Stephen]

I agree......with everyone

[oldbluefox]

I think a few heads at the top of the tree should roll and the rest told they will be joining them if they don't shape up. I can't believe the arrogance of some of these who have been sanctimoniously testifying. What a great example of fine leadership they have provided to their junior staff....not.
And the Met who were providing security to No10 are not without blame. Were they not aware of the parties going on, the amount of alcohol passing through the gates? Or were they aware and turned a blind eye?

Then we can start on Boris and any other ministers caught up in this charade.

[Slapstick]

As I see it the inquiry is more to appease the likes of the Covid Families who want somebody to blame and/or punish. This has all the makings of another Hillsborough which will be going on for years until they get their pound of flesh.

It's not that often I'm lost for words but I am with this post.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm sure someone will have done one on the magical powers of Hindsight.

The main issue for me is the total waste of money, most of the lessons wil have already been learnt and implemented, or dismissed as far too expensive for a once in a lifetime, or less, event.
So as just a finger pointing exercise it seems far too long winded, as well as mean spirited.

I agree 100% John. I wonder if we will have actuwlly learned anything new by the time we are enjoying that pint/coffee/whatever in the sun in Funchal next March. I doubt it.

[Onelife]

The way I see things is without this inquiry we will just sweep past mistakes under the carpet with those doing the sweeping still holding the broom come the next crisis…. those who decided to do it their way need to have their brooms taken away.