Has Johnson failed/is failing to protect England?

I don't feel that the government have taken enough action. Our awful infection rate and now 150,000 people have died with Covid on the death certificates. I believe that makes us one of only 7 countries in the world to have hit this figure. With our expertise and the resources available we should not find ourselves in this position. I suggest that if any MP or their families become ill they should be forced to take their chance with 111 or `119 like their constituents.

THERE IS NO BORDER

There is no Welsh/English border either so having different rules is counter-productive.

I don’t think anyone is talking about a complete lockdown. But it seems strange being happy to keep nightclubs open and then having to bring in the army because the NHS is struggling to cope.

No point putting country into lockdown, no one wants that unless you’re working from home or a pensioner like me.we would just see people lose their livelihoods and youngsters stressed out when these should be their carefree years. Pubs and hospitality can’t take any more.If everyone got vaccinated the hospitals wouldn’t be burdened like they are.
I think Boris has it right.

Mamie - these are Worldometers figures as of this morning- in actuality the UK has tested more than France, Germany and Italy put together.

France is the closest population amount to ours and we have around 25,000 more deaths - not sure if France count ‘died with’ or ‘died of’ COVID but they have been registering more of late.

This pandemic isn’t over yet and I know that deaths per million is one way to measure how badly each country is doing but on that basis India and China will beat everyone won’t they.

Are your test figures up to date Pantglas2? Huge amount going on at the moment. And France counts re-infections.

Dinahmo

As at 3 January the total cases in France is 1.171 million and in the UK is 1.212 million. France is still playing catch up. The UK has had the more cases than the rest of Europe.

www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220104-new-covid-records-in-us-uk-france-as-omicron-runs-rampant

I’ve wondered for a while whether France cases would be as high as UK if they’d tested the same number.

We’ve actually tested double the number 418+million v 188+ million with only 3million difference in our populations.

25Avalon not according to the rail companies statistics.They say the travel was very light heading south from Scotland certainly no flocking or even flooding south .

There were of course still people coming NORTH into Scotland as there have been throughout the pandemic ,which when it looked as if we had it under control after two months of no deaths made us ask if we could close the border Bojo answered THERE IS NO BORDER ,so there is the answer for you if there isn't a border going north into Scotland there cant be one going south!!

Flocked?

Did anyone "flock" from, oh I don't know, Liverpool to London? Yorkshire to Newcastle? Leeds to Bradford?

Or is it only Celts who "flock"?

They flocked from Scotland over the border into England for the New Year, and now because Wales won’t permit spectators Welsh Rugby are thinking about playing their home games in England so their supporters can travel and watch. I really don’t know what to think.

love0c

IMO our government is going in the right direction over covid restrictions.

You mean by bringing in the army to help our beleaguered NHS workers ?

rosie1959

Luckygirl3

The higher numbers are why Wales is taking more care.

I am not entirely happy with BJ's "ride it out" message. If you unpick it, what this means is: high infection rates, more deaths, more hospital admissions and strain on the NHS, more long term post-viral illness.

I do not think the scientists are behind him on this, but he feels he cannot do the right thing because he does not have the support of his backbenchers. A sorry situation. A gang of privileged toffs holding us all to ransom.

Perhaps they actually realise that restrictions do not work you just have to take a look at the rates in France to see that

I believe the higher numbers in Wales are because they count reinfections whereas Scotland and England don't.

I don’t think we can afford to put the country into lockdown every time there’s a new variant or surge, so I think I broadly agree with the way the PM is handling it. I think the various UK governments should be looking more to protect the population from the massive hike in energy bills coming in the next few weeks. Judging from the exchange between the PM and Angela Rayner at PM’s questions, it seems the government is going to abandon hard working families to their fate, and that once again many are going to be forced to choose between heating and eating.

has had the most cases

As at 3 January the total cases in France is 1.171 million and in the UK is 1.212 million. France is still playing catch up. The UK has had the more cases than the rest of Europe.

www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220104-new-covid-records-in-us-uk-france-as-omicron-runs-rampant

LadyGracie

Drakeford has gone power crazy.

Man is just playing Politics. Its going to back fire on him in due course.

Just throw this in, it’s been worse before. The sad thing is, no discernable improvement.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59909860

rosie1959

Luckygirl3

The higher numbers are why Wales is taking more care.

I am not entirely happy with BJ's "ride it out" message. If you unpick it, what this means is: high infection rates, more deaths, more hospital admissions and strain on the NHS, more long term post-viral illness.

I do not think the scientists are behind him on this, but he feels he cannot do the right thing because he does not have the support of his backbenchers. A sorry situation. A gang of privileged toffs holding us all to ransom.

Perhaps they actually realise that restrictions do not work you just have to take a look at the rates in France to see that

Also Germany, plus the cost of policing the rioters
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/covid-lockdown-protests-vaccine-germany-b1986421.html.
Still their numbers are rising even with all the precautions.

I can't get over the amount of money that's been thrown around and wasted ! That " hump" in London, the supposed grassy knoll where all the plants and trees withered. The test and trace debacle which was a complete waste of time costing millions. Besides other failed projects.

Of course BJ has got to show concern over the pandemic, it's his only saving grace. Even that hasn't gone far enough.

Drakeford has gone power crazy.

Luckygirl3

The higher numbers are why Wales is taking more care.

I am not entirely happy with BJ's "ride it out" message. If you unpick it, what this means is: high infection rates, more deaths, more hospital admissions and strain on the NHS, more long term post-viral illness.

I do not think the scientists are behind him on this, but he feels he cannot do the right thing because he does not have the support of his backbenchers. A sorry situation. A gang of privileged toffs holding us all to ransom.

Perhaps they actually realise that restrictions do not work you just have to take a look at the rates in France to see that

The higher numbers are why Wales is taking more care.

I am not entirely happy with BJ's "ride it out" message. If you unpick it, what this means is: high infection rates, more deaths, more hospital admissions and strain on the NHS, more long term post-viral illness.

I do not think the scientists are behind him on this, but he feels he cannot do the right thing because he does not have the support of his backbenchers. A sorry situation. A gang of privileged toffs holding us all to ransom.

Whatever else we might think about this government, I think their handling of the covid crisis has been quite good.
Not perfect, but pretty darned good. Drakeford is totally wrong, i.m.h.o.

Drakesford must be squirming at the moment. As rosie1959 says the figures currently show much higher case numbers in Wales than England. This is despite the extra measures he has brought in. He is definitely playing at politics with some of his statements to cover his own back in my opinion!

IMO our government is going in the right direction over covid restrictions.