Lazy, lazy Boris

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

Thank you for that link Dinahmo
A good read indeed.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Peardrop50

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

I could have paraphrased it if you preferred Peardrop, but it wouldn't have been an efficient use of my time. Are you suggesting that the Guardian has misquoted Lansley?

Hahaha! In what way is the team Johnson has put together good? They're totally inept.

And I don't need a pound shop comedian to drive me with optimism and positivity (not that Johnson does anyway).

No Growstuff, I am suggesting that a large percentage of your posts come directly from the Guardian which most often is Tory bashing.

Growstuff I stopped going out on 18th March
Ditto. I cancelled lunch out with a friend on the Thursday and cancelled friends who were coming round for a meal on the Friday.
Everyone concerned was relieved but hadn’t wanted to be the ones to cancel. I really didn’t want to cancel the restaurant booking & in mitigation said that both my friend & I were over 70 & felt vulnerable. The restaurant owner was lovely about it though and said she only wished her own mother was as sensible! Everyone was already aware of the dangers.
I’ll never forget that week - the feeling that something about which we knew so little, but which had the potential to be catastrophic, was coming, and the only safe place was home.

The Government merely followed public opinion and example, as it is doing now, and the link that Dinahmo posted illustrates the extent to which the government disregarded the scientists’ advice.

I do admire nurses, doctors, auxiliary staff, paramedics, etc. I also admire the dedicated work of care home staff but I think it is right to question the poor performance of management in the NHS and in care homes. The government can't be held responsible for everything that goes on in every aspect of life.
One of my sons is a services manager for a large city council. He has no particular contacts but does listen to the TV news and became aware of this potential crisis back in January. He procured enough PPE for all of his refuse collectors, park wardens and office staff to such an extent that when he heard that a neighbouring borough was without he was able to share. If he could do that why did highly paid procurement managers in the NHS and care homes fail so miserably.

growstuff

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

The person responsible for removing between 60 and 80 billions from the NHS and transferring those funds to clinical commissioning groups. Some of those were groups of GPs but the Health and Social Care Act of 2012 allowed many private businesses in to the health system.

There's a lot of Tories like him coming out of the woodwork now to criticise the govt. Fair enough, no problems with that, but why didn't they do it when they were in office.