Lazy, lazy Boris

janeainsworth

Grannygravy That newspaper article is dated 17 March.
The lockdown referred to in the headline refers to the self-imposed Lockdown many Britons undertook before any specific instructions from the Government, being way more sensible and better informed than the Government Gave them credit for.

Official Lockdown began on Monday 23rd March. Matt Hancock knew this, you knew it when you posted that image.

Thank you for pointing that out. I was just checking my diary. It was definitely 23rd March, although I stopped going out on 18th March, which was when it was announced that school exams would be cancelled. There had already been a number of cases in my town and one person I knew had died.

Matt Hancock should not be making mistakes over that kind of information.

Seem to spend much time on these threads arguing with the Guardian. Original thought and opinion might be more interesting.

All countries are unique and the UK is no exception, comparing with other countries is not relevant. We are a very small island with a huge and diverse population. We are one of the world's most democratic and free countries.
Our Conservative government have given us advice and allowed us the freedom to assess our own risks as befits a free country. Most have followed the advice and a few irresponsible idiots have deemed themselves to be above catching a virus which is 'just the flu'.
It is impossible to implement a new instruction without giving time for preparation, for example wearing of masks after next week rather than we must start to wear masks from today, this gives the public time to procure masks and businesses time to have notices printed and to train staff in enforcing the rule. Also to put new rules in to law where necessary.
We are all capable of choosing to wear a face covering in public places today, nothing anywhere says that we have to wait until a given date.
As for Boris Johnson not reading every report thoroughly, there would not be enough hours in the day. Having run a business I know that it is easy to keep your finger on the pulse while the business is small but as it grows you have to be able to trust your managers to keep their finger on the pulse of their respective departments and keep you informed of the relevant facts. Government is not only just like a huge business but also has to deal with informing the public, fighting opposition from other parties quite often for the sake of it, answering the same pointless questions from an aggressive press and not only that but having life outside the job scrutinised, often twisted and gossiped about.
I don't perceive Boris Johnson as lazy or inept but as a man who knows how to delegate, to put together a good team and to drive the country with optimism and positivity.
He has been likened to Marmite, I love Marmite but for those who don't I would point out the health benefits.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/17/senior-tory-andrew-lansley-accuses-boris-johnson-of-blaming-nhs-for-governments-covid-19-failings

Now Lord Andrew Lansley, the former Conservative Health Secretary, has pitched in, claiming that the attempt to blame the NHS is an attempt to take pressure of the government's failings.

He also says that governmental failure to tackle problems such as housing, education, deprivation and Britain’s rising tide of illness were behind the NHS’s struggle to cope with the demand for care

Grannygravy That newspaper article is dated 17 March.
The lockdown referred to in the headline refers to the self-imposed Lockdown many Britons undertook before any specific instructions from the Government, being way more sensible and better informed than the Government Gave them credit for.

Official Lockdown began on Monday 23rd March. Matt Hancock knew this, you knew it when you posted that image.

No one had said that a Corbyn government would have done any better. No point in saying that because we do not know what they would have done. Flawed argument, yet again. What we do know is that the Tories are in power, over 45 thousand people in the UK have died with/of Covid 19, we have one of the very worst death/case ratios in the world, we have one of the highest actual death rates in the world, we have one of the highest excess death rates in the world, Boris Johnson has not read this very relevant report and the government is at odds with its scientific advisers. This government, looking at the FACTS, has not handled the pandemic well.

Regarding the dates for lockdown, I can half excuse Matt Hancock for having 16th March in his mind.
I can never understand why it takes a week or a lot more for a decision to be implemented. During the briefings we were constantly told we will get back to you next week with the details, when measures should have been put in place immediately. Same with lockdown. A friend was shown a memo 8 days earlier by someone who was in a COBRA meeting. Why can't they just jump on things within 48 hours? Why not get it done? Why give such a long date in the future for wearing masks?
Boris seems slow and slovenly in these respects.

The Prime Minister is the leader of Her Majesty’s Government and is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government.

Ultimately responsible

The leader of the opposition has taken the time to read the report, and he isn’t ultimately responsible and we know from reports from previous employers that Johnson is work-shy.

Where on earth did you get that idea QQ? Or is that your opinion, in which case make that clear.

It's a Prime Minster or any leader's job to delegate to the best people for each department, then for them to report a summary back with the important points. If you think Miss Abbot, Corbyn et al could have done a better job you must have very poor judgement is all I can say. ....and Boris is not responsible for any deaths, the Chinese government is.

Mr Blair, however, who also seemed to have an unelected advisor, was definitely responsible for many British soldiers deaths for a cause which had nothing to do with us.

EllanVannin

Who will do better in power then MaizieD ?

I know this question wasn’t directed to me but the answer is ‘we will never know who’ because that is speculation and we are lumbered with Boris?

It is clear he simply isn’t up to the job. Facts such as death statistics prove this beyond any doubt.

growstuff

Matt Hancock lied today about when lockdown started. He stated to a parliamentary enquiry that it started on 16 March, when it's a matter of public record that the country was ordered to stay at home on 23 March.

During that week thousands of people were infected unnecessarily and hundreds died as a result of infection. It also had an exponential effect for the weeks which followed.

Perhaps he was referring to this front page article in The Times?

Thank you for that link Dinahmo
A good read indeed.

I can’t believe people think johnson is doing brilliantly. His answer to one question was “ I have no hesitation in .....ummm, ...eeerrrrr,..... ummmm, ....eerrrr......” cue laughter in the background. Still that cheers people up. If cheering up and popularity are more important than leading the country competently let’s have Ant or Dec as PM. or maybe Michael Macintyre. Couldn’t do a worse job eh?

Having been woken up by one of my dogs and unable to sleep, I've been reading about Patrick Vallance's report to the science and technology select committee. John Crace at his best.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/16/tired-of-being-boris-johnsons-patsy-patrick-vallance-fights-back

Firecracker. I imagine Keir Starmer does what any leader of a major political party does, reads reports, makes
Policy decisions, prepares manifestos, keeps abreast of world issues, deals with constituency matters etc etc. You’re not seriously saying the only time he works is in preparation for PMQ ? Same question would apply to Johnson or Davey. Daft argument.

Matt Hancock lied today about when lockdown started. He stated to a parliamentary enquiry that it started on 16 March, when it's a matter of public record that the country was ordered to stay at home on 23 March.

During that week thousands of people were infected unnecessarily and hundreds died as a result of infection. It also had an exponential effect for the weeks which followed.

If Johnson had done a good job dealing with covid-19 we would all be happy to recognise that fact, despite our political leanings. Unfortunately he hasn't.

With regards to "the science" the govt had access to many scientists and chose to be selective as to which advice they followed - eg herd immunity. They have vacillated since the beginning of March telling us that they relied on our common sense. It wasn't good enough and they need to get their act together.

I can assure you that, if Johnson had turned out to be a brilliant leader during this pandemic I would have forgiven him for everything he had done previously. But he hasn’t been and it’s totally beyond me how anyone can look at the useless people we have in government and think they’re doing a good job. Yvette Cooper questioning Patel yesterday about immigration figures is a case in point. And half of the cabinet have, at one time or another been sacked for misdoings. I think Johnsons been sacked several times. The only other people I can think of that lose a job because they’ve done it so badly and then walk into an even better job are football managers.

MaizieD I agree with EllanVannin you can't answer my question or hers and you are deflecting.

Some posters on the Boris/Conservative bashing threads are still very angry and bitter over losing the EU referendum, the Corbyn fiasco, the defeat of Jo Swinson losing her seat. Boris's stomping 80 seat majority win. Will they ever get over it, I doubt it.

Sorry, that was fir MayBee

"We're following the science" was nothing but a pass-the-buck blame-shifting mantra.

For a start, anyone who uses the phrase "the science" as Prof Brian Cox says, knows nothing about science.

Unfortunately decisions were made because of politics, not informed, balanced scientific judgement, but the likes of Chris Witty and Patrick Vallance make good scapegoats.

Countries all over the world had access to "the science" but most made better judgments because their politicians prioritised saving lives, not saving their own political careers..

Ellianne:: I think the British public were adhering to lockdown perfectly well until a certain Dominic Cummings made people realise that rules were there to be broken.