Current Affairs

[barney]

Talking of cake and eating it Keefy, have you seen the reports on the 'negotiations' so far.

Barnier still seems to be in denial of the fact that the UK has left and is imposing ridiculous pre-agreement conditions.

Surely they know that the UK has full details of trade agreements with other third countries.

There is no way that the UK can agree to their conditions.

It's almost as if they want the UK to leave without any formal agreements.

[towny44]

Talking of cake and eating it Keefy, have you seen the reports on the 'negotiations' so far.

Barnier still seems to be in denial of the fact that the UK has left and is imposing ridiculous pre-agreement conditions.

Surely they know that the UK has full details of trade agreements with other third countries.

There is no way that the UK can agree to their conditions.

It's almost as if they want the UK to leave without any formal agreements.

I suspect Barney that Barnier and the EU are scared to death that the UK free from EU restrictions will prove far too successful, and as a result set a few other N European member states wondering if they too would be better off outside the EU. That would very quickly spell the end of Jaques Delors' rather foolish federal european adventure.

[david63]

It's almost as if they want the UK to leave without any formal agreements.

That can be arranged!

[Mervyn and Trish]

So the media are now reporting it looks likely the test target of 100,000 per day with be met or very nearly met (my daughter who work in a care home got one today). So now the critics are lining up with their "yeah but, no but" comments. Rather than say "well done, we were wrong when we said you couldn't".

Meantime, shock horror, research shows the highest mortality rates are among the most deprived people living in the most densely populated areas. Now I'm no expert but I suspect it is the density of their housing rather than the level of their income which is the factor, though oddly that's not the headline. There is extreme poverty in rural areas too but they don't seem to have been worse affected than their wealthy neighbours. There is also enormous wealth in badly affected London. A huge disconnect between cause and affect I feel.

My Dad died a few days after watching an episode of Coronation Street. I suspect that is also true of a significant percentage of Corona victims. Can I get a large grant to show it's a factor?

[Quizzical Bob]

We ate cows for centuries. Why did BSE/CJD only emerge when it did? Viruses mutate all the time. Therin lies the problem with them.

The problem arose when abattoirs started including the brains and spinal cords in the products, especially the stuff that went into burgers.

I call it ‘stuff’ rather than meat.

[Manoverboard]

We ate cows for centuries. Why did BSE/CJD only emerge when it did? Viruses mutate all the time. Therin lies the problem with them.

The problem arose when abattoirs started including the brains and spinal cords in the products, especially the stuff that went into burgers.

I call it ‘stuff’ rather than meat.

From sheep it is whispered in these ere parts

[Frank Manning]

I suppose it was predictable. When the government appear to have met the testing criteria and they announce it, the miserable media start trying to belittle the achievements by nitpicking them. In my book they are digging them selves even deeper. The government might have been slow 'out of the blocks' but the achievements in the past month have impressed me.

[Frank Manning]

We ate cows for centuries. Why did BSE/CJD only emerge when it did? Viruses mutate all the time. Therin lies the problem with them.

The problem arose when abattoirs started including the brains and spinal cords in the products, especially the stuff that went into burgers.

I call it ‘stuff’ rather than meat.

From sheep it is whispered in these ere parts

Was Cjd/BSE a viral disease? I just looked it up and is thought to be a prion. protein, different from a virus but nevertheless crossing the species in diseased animal feed. I'm not nit picking you, a chap I know died from it and at the time I was consuming burgers after going sailing in Poole harbour and stopped because of the link.

[Onelife]

Talking of cake and eating it Keefy, have you seen the reports on the 'negotiations' so far.

Barnier still seems to be in denial of the fact that the UK has left and is imposing ridiculous pre-agreement conditions.

Surely they know that the UK has full details of trade agreements with other third countries.

There is no way that the UK can agree to their conditions.

It's almost as if they want the UK to leave without any formal agreements.

Hi Barney,

I’ve only loosely been following proceedings but what i do know is that we are all now playing on a level playing field... especially where trade negotiations are concerned. This being the case I much prefer our position in having the ball and chain removed from having to support/prop up EU’s 26 dependent countries.

[Onelife]

I suppose it was predictable. When the government appear to have met the testing criteria and they announce it, the miserable media start trying to belittle the achievements by nitpicking them. In my book they are digging them selves even deeper. The government might have been slow 'out of the blocks' but the achievements in the past month have impressed me.

A very fair appraisal of where we have come from and where we are now…please don’t tell the others but I have dropped Theresa and am now giving Boris my full support.

[Manoverboard]

Was Cjd/BSE a viral disease? I just looked it up and is thought to be a prion. protein, different from a virus but nevertheless crossing the species in diseased animal feed. I'm not nit picking you, a chap I know died from it and at the time I was consuming burgers after going sailing in Poole harbour and stopped because of the link.

I wouldn't mind if you were nit picking me Frank but I believe you when you say that you are'nt.

Before BSE became common knowledge our youngest, who was an enviomental scientist-ish, told me " Dad don't buy mince any more because it could contain up to 20,000 different animals. From that point on we only puchassed casserole steak in large pieces and minced it ourselves in our brand new mincer. A custom we have continued to this day.

[david63]

So 122,000 tests yesterday - what can we (the media) winger about now?

Oh I know - you only wanted to do 100,000!

[Mervyn and Trish]

The problem arose when abattoirs started including the brains and spinal cords in the products, especially the stuff that went into burgers.

I call it ‘stuff’ rather than meat.

From sheep it is whispered in these ere parts

Was Cjd/BSE a viral disease? I just looked it up and is thought to be a prion. protein, different from a virus but nevertheless crossing the species in diseased animal feed. I'm not nit picking you, a chap I know died from it and at the time I was consuming burgers after going sailing in Poole harbour and stopped because of the link.

You're right Frank. The point I was making was we get new diseases all the time. Not just because someone lets them loose from a lab. Maybe Spanish Flu is a better example. One minute it's not there. The next it's killing millions.

[Onelife]

So 122,000 tests yesterday - what can we (the media) winger about now?

Oh I know - you only wanted to do 100,000!

...very good David

[Gill W]

I think a lot of effort has been put into increasing tests, and it is good news that more and more people are being tested.

I don’t think it really matters whether or not the target was achieved - the main thing was that tests were increased, and will continue to increase.

With that as a background, the figure of 122000 has been massaged, as it includes test kits posted out, not tests actually done.

This is just for information. I make no other comment.

[towny44]

I think a lot of effort has been put into increasing tests, and it is good news that more and more people are being tested.

I don’t think it really matters whether or not the target was achieved - the main thing was that tests were increased, and will continue to increase.

With that as a background, the figure of 122000 has been massaged, as it includes test kits posted out, not tests actually done.

This is just for information. I make no other comment.

TBH Gill I dont think the number of new cases is anywhere near a low enough level to make track and trace a viable option. We need to get well below a 1000 a day for it to begin to be effective so the ability to test 100000 a day is rather wasted. It's good news that we can do it, but with over 6000 per day new cases it would tie up hundreds of thousands of people to effectively track and trace their potential contacts, to try and isolate possible new cases before they can pass it on further.

[oldbluefox]

Pity that wet Nelly Jon Ashworth chose to go nitpicking over the figures. As GillW says it doesn't matter whether the target was achieved or not. I would have had more respect for him had he acknowledged the progress made and celebrated another step towards overcoming this virus. Of course some people just relish any opportunity to be negative, something we could do well without.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Pity that wet Nelly Jon Ashworth chose to go nitpicking over the figures. As GillW says it doesn't matter whether the target was achieved or not. I would have had more respect for him had he acknowledged the progress made and celebrated another step towards overcoming this virus. Of course some people just relish any opportunity to be negative, something we could do well without.

I agree100%. The way we get out of this is together, not scrapping over "my Dad is bigger than your Dad".

[Frank Manning]

Pity that wet Nelly Jon Ashworth chose to go nitpicking over the figures. As GillW says it doesn't matter whether the target was achieved or not. I would have had more respect for him had he acknowledged the progress made and celebrated another step towards overcoming this virus. Of course some people just relish any opportunity to be negative, something we could do well without.

I agree100%. The way we get out of this is together, not scrapping over "my Dad is bigger than your Dad".

From what I read, the message coming from the public about press negativity, could not be clearer, but the likes of Keunssberg, Peston and Ashworth are so 'up themselves' that to them they are the only ones who count.

[Manoverboard]

... "my Dad is bigger than your Dad".

We always use the " My Chicken is bigger than your Chicken " alternative ... just saying.

[barney]

A consequence of the UK leaving the EU in January 2020

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-citi ... ronavirus/

So maybe, just maybe, the EU negotiators will now realise that things are not the same as they were.

You rock up and try to claim benefits in most EU countries and see how you get on, even before we left.

[Onelife]

A consequence of the UK leaving the EU in January 2020

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-citi ... ronavirus/

So maybe, just maybe, the EU negotiators will now realise that things are not the same as they were.

You rock up and try to claim benefits in most EU countries and see how you get on, even before we left.

I do have a little sympathy for those who are just falling short of having UK status but they must have known the rules before they entered our milking parlour/ benefits system. If they didn’t or thought they would get around it then they only have themselves to blame. rules be the rules.

As for those who have UK status but are struggling because of poor English to navigate their way round the DWP benefits application process then they also only have themselves to blame.

[towny44]

A consequence of the UK leaving the EU in January 2020

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-citi ... ronavirus/

So maybe, just maybe, the EU negotiators will now realise that things are not the same as they were.

You rock up and try to claim benefits in most EU countries and see how you get on, even before we left.

I do have a little sympathy for those who are just falling short of having UK status but they must have known the rules before they entered our milking parlour/ benefits system. If they didn’t or thought they would get around it then they only have themselves to blame. rules be the rules.

As for those who have UK status but are struggling because of poor English to navigate their way round the DWP benefits application process then they also only have themselves to blame.

A bit harsh for you Keith, ,I think these circumstances are totally unexpected, and those who were intending making the UK their home should receive exactly the same treatment as UK citizens.

[oldbluefox]

Unfortunately for some you have to have a cutoff point somewhere otherwise all and sundry would take advantage (as they have done in the past) of our generous welfare system.
I wonder how any Brits working in the EU are faring, whether they will be receiving any benefits. Maybe a reciprocal agreement is in place although I doubt it and our EU neighbours are not always as sympathetic as we are.

[Onelife]

A consequence of the UK leaving the EU in January 2020

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-citi ... ronavirus/

So maybe, just maybe, the EU negotiators will now realise that things are not the same as they were.

You rock up and try to claim benefits in most EU countries and see how you get on, even before we left.

I do have a little sympathy for those who are just falling short of having UK status but they must have known the rules before they entered our milking parlour/ benefits system. If they didn’t or thought they would get around it then they only have themselves to blame. rules be the rules.

As for those who have UK status but are struggling because of poor English to navigate their way round the DWP benefits application process then they also only have themselves to blame.

A bit harsh for you Keith, ,I think these circumstances are totally unexpected, and those who were intending making the UK their home should receive exactly the same treatment as UK citizens.

When you can tell me which of those intend to make the UK their home as opposed to those who use our country for free hand outs, housing, health care and crime then I will retract what I have said.