How did we ever get to have such an incompetent government?

Dinahmo
Wrong. Gorden Brown was all in favour of the project.

I'm no fan of this government (understatement of the day) but they had to make a judgement call on which vaccines to pre-purchase. They have made a pre-order for the Pfizer one which is based on the same technology as the Moderna one. They spread the risk by pre-ordering from 5 (6?) different potential manufacturers using a variety of technologies.

If mRNA didn't work, someone would have been complaining about them putting all their eggs in one basket.

Slightly off topic but some years ago the EU started a solar panel farm in the Sahara desert. The UK was invited to join but rejected the offer.

What infuriates me is that the EU generously invited the U.K. to take part in the bulk purchase of the different vaccines, which would have meant of course we would have not paid so much due to the purchasing power of the EU and of course the confidence of having various vaccines we could call on.

The government turned the offer down. They did their asses kicked.

Whitewavemark2

@Peston
I received no further explanation or clarification, other than that we have “bio similar potential alternatives”. It is important for the Vaccine Taskforce’s Kate Bingham and Matt Hancock to explain why they did not buy Moderna Vaccine and whether that was a mistake

Dr John Campbell has been talking about the Moderna vaccine for a long time now and I got the impression that he thought it was the leading candidate. Then again he’s been talking about the need for for ventilation in buildings for months and the government have only just mentioned it. Waiting for the government to finally advise people to take VitD.

If this is how Boris Johnsons’s test and trace system works, no wonder he’s self-isolating

If you still think the Johnson government is doing a good job fighting Covid-19, you need to watch Channel 4’s Lockdown Chaos now.
The programme by the channels Dispatches team went behind the scenes at Randox, one of the private companies selected by Boris Johnson’s privatisation-crazy cronies.

voxpoliticalonline.com/2020/11/17/if-this-is-how-boris-johnsonss-test-and-trace-system-works-no-wonder-hes-self-isolating/

There are now, thank goodness, a number of vaccines which have been developed at breakneck speed by experts and have proven to be safe and effective.

Would the brexit believers prefer to take a vaccine developed by "the man in the street" or "the average voter" or perhaps "the average reader of the Daily Express"?

After all, they were told that "the British people have had enough of experts".

@Peston
I received no further explanation or clarification, other than that we have “bio similar potential alternatives”. It is important for the Vaccine Taskforce’s Kate Bingham and Matt Hancock to explain why they did not buy Moderna Vaccine and whether that was a mistake

Twitter

“Jul 2020: UK officially opts out of EU Covid-19 vaccine scheme.

Aug 2020: EU expands vaccine scheme with a 5th company, Moderna.

Oct 2020: EU fast-tracks Moderna approval.

Nov 2020: Moderna trial shows 95% effectivess from vaccine that doesn't need special storage.

Oh, well.”

There's a lot we don't know.

I have read that Cain has briefed against Allegra Stratton that she wasn't the best at interview and that she only got the job because she's a friend of Carrie Symonds.

Also, that she wanted journalists at the new press briefings to be allowed to ask questions whereas Cain didn't want that. It's hard to know who or what to believe but I am just glad Cain and his best mate Cummings are not there anymore.

It will be interesting to see who replaces them and what difference the new advisers will make to the general incompetence that is the subject of this thread.

Iam64

I may be way wrong but - my reading of it from two misogynists was Princess Nut Nuts (ie balls or testicles). It is truly offensive.

I'd thought of that, Iam64 but I really don't understand how it fits (unless it's her pet name for Boris...)

Without knowing what the 'nuts' are doing in this nickname I think the 'princess' bit is more insulting and offensive,

Should add 'princess' is a used as a dismissive term

I may be way wrong but - my reading of it from two misogynists was Princess Nut Nuts (ie balls or testicles). It is truly offensive.

MaizieD

^I can’t get past Princess nut nuts???^

I can't work out the significance of it. 'Princess' I can understand, but what the h*ll is 'nut nuts' all about? Why is it insulting? Am I being dreadfully naive?

(Just derailing a little bit here..

No nor me, but I am guessing it must be a description of her character I.e. “she is nuts” or something she said that they’ve picked up on.

I can’t get past Princess nut nuts???

I can't work out the significance of it. 'Princess' I can understand, but what the h*ll is 'nut nuts' all about? Why is it insulting? Am I being dreadfully naive?

(Just derailing a little bit here..

indeed, and why was it necessary to meet the MP for Lichfield all of a sudden, in a pandemic and with the EU agreement on the line ...

as said, unless it was the plan all along.

What is it about Johnson and co that the lockdown rules don't apply. He set out the guidance clearly - work from home where possible. He is working from home. Why can't he use zoom for meetings like the rest of the population who are fortunate enough to be able to do, thus reducing the possibility of this awful virus continuing to spread.

They even have an unsocially distanced, maskless photograph taken to re-inforce their message. Do as we say not as we do. Then they'll be surprised that the old Cummings defence is used by lots of 'ordinary' folks.

Alegrias You have highlighted one of the major problems with our democracy. There is such a high percentage of the electorate who do not bother to vote.
I get very irritated when I hear people say they don’t vote and then proceed to criticise the government. There are few excuses. It is easy to get a postal vote so, apart from getting the papers to the postbox, you don’t even have to leave the house.
I believe voting is compulsory in some countries but, there is the option to abstain. I wonder if we should be considering this?
The other side is that is, I suppose, that people will just vote for anyone without giving it any thought. I don’t know the answer but, I am sure there must be better systems.

well, unless that was the whole point?

So he invites any old MP to meet him, for whatever reason - take photos without masks, and he happens to just test Covid Positive - and PM goes into isolation.

If you read it in Mills and Boons, you would not believe the story line, would you?

Once again the rule makers have failed to follow their rules.

Photos of Johnson with MP who was subsequently found to be covid positive, not social distancing or wearing a mask.

What is the matter with these people?

Don’t they dare criticise others for following their example

vegansrock

Johnson self isolating? Will we notice the difference? Perhaps Carrie will be running the country now.

I can’t get past Princess nut nuts???

Johnson self isolating? Will we notice the difference? Perhaps Carrie will be running the country now.

varian

Has he not already had it so unlikely to get it again?

Antibodies decrease rapidly. It's 7 months since he had it before. Reinfections have been recorded.. often more severely than previously.

Yes, he could be likely to get it again

Has he not already had it so unlikely to get it again?

Twitter - makes sense to me. I think you are right biba

The suggestion that Johnson has to isolate for Covid is quite absurd. He could be tested every day to make sure he could work as normal. If that's not being done for the Prime Minister presume that it's entirely by choice. This is just another case of treating us with contempt