A question

The current government are certainly not doing a good job supporting the NHS.

I think that's what people mean when they get exasperated with some of the attitudes on here. Some minister telling us they're doing a good job supporting the NHS doesn't mean that they are actually supporting the NHS.

BTW - I acknowledged that the vaccine program is going well. I just don't think that has anything to do with Johnson. You know that management thing? Lead, follow, or get out of the way. At least he got out of the way.

Ps...well done for getting both your brain cells to work at the same time?

Totally agree Holysox. I do think most people are not bothered by politics. This may very well be due to the fact that if they offer any opinion that differs from others, they are immediately slated. This thread...and all threads like them, show this. Posters resort to being unpleasant, and I for one end up taking the ‘ can’t be bothered’, stance. I’m sure I’m not alone.

Talullah

*Interesting post, though, Holysox, because it illustrates why Johnson is still up in the ratings. It's because people don't take much interest in politics and they don't really know what is going on. Or what is detrimental to the country..*

You've hit the nail on the head, MaizieD. Many people just aren't remotely interested.

Problem with people who are interested in politics is they are usually biased. They end up taking one political point of view and often become bigoted. As I said ‘they can’t see the wood for the trees.’ This thread is a good example. As far as I know the current government have been doing a good job supporting the NHS, supporting people financially during lockdown and now getting us vaccinated. A number of posters on this thread just can’t, or won’t, acknowledge this.
This is both of brain cells talking!

Interesting post, though, Holysox, because it illustrates why Johnson is still up in the ratings. It's because people don't take much interest in politics and they don't really know what is going on. Or what is detrimental to the country..

You've hit the nail on the head, MaizieD. Many people just aren't remotely interested.

halfpint1

My friend in England , same age, had her vaccination 2 weeks
before me in France and I had my second, 2 weeks before her,
just saying , tortoise and hare spring to mind.

You still have a long way to catch up!

UK fully vaccinated - 48%
France fully vaccinated - 26%

But it's not really a race. We just want as many people to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Usually public opinion has brought change. For instance,, Cummings has gone.

That wasn't public opinion. If it was 'public opinion' he'd still be there because the government doesn't give a monkey's about public opinion. It was Carrie Symonds who got rid of Cummings. Johnson had to choose. Advisor or bedwarmer...

Interesting post, though, Holysox, because it illustrates why Johnson is still up in the ratings. It's because people don't take much interest in politics and they don't really know what is going on. Or what is detrimental to the country...

My friend in England , same age, had her vaccination 2 weeks
before me in France and I had my second, 2 weeks before her,
just saying , tortoise and hare spring to mind.

Holysox you do know that Hungary, which is in the EU is ahead of the UK for total population fully vaccinated already I assume. We aren’t that wonderful.

I would think rolling out a vaccine as soon as possible will saves more lives.

One might think so, definitely. However....

UK deaths per million 1,877

Spain, 1,727; France, 1,696, Germany, 1,086

Haven't seen Boris stepping up to claim that statistic.

I am also sick of all these disparaging remarks from people who like nothing better than to put the government down all the time.

How can we hold the government to account -any government- if we aren't allowed to criticise them when they're failing in their duty?

Can somebody then build this government up instead – but not by repeating the vaccination success or ”got Brexit done” argument.

However, if the worst fault we can find is that our PM may have gone over budget on refurbishing a public building (no. 10).

If you think that's the worst thing about Johnson you really haven't been paying attention.

Alegrias1

HolySox

Alegrias thanks for the chart showing how far the UK is in terms of vaccination compared to the rest of the EU. Call me misguided then, but Boris seems to be doing o.k. in this respect, which is probably the single most impotant issue of the day. COVID certainly put Brexit into perspective.

A picture paints a thousand words. Tortoise and the hare. Etc etc.

It doesn't matter how often Johnson turns up to bump elbows with some unsuspecting vaccine candidate, it didn't have much to do with him. The much maligned Mr Hancock found the money and Kate Bingham did the work.

I would think rolling out a vaccine as soon as possible will saves more lives. Good to see our European neighbours getting their daily vaccinations numbers up - they need to to catch up with us. I don’t think this is a ‘Hare and Tortoise’ situation.

When I say Boris I mean in the sense of his government. Matt and Kate work for him.

MaizieD I started with “Don’t really bother with politics” so don’t see myself as a ‘Tory follower’. My experience over the years is there has always been controversy with our politicians. However, I feel that our media has been ‘free’ and the public have always been able to criticise our politicians and am grateful to live in this country. Usually public opinion has brought change. For instance,, Cummings has gone.
However, if the worst fault we can find is that our PM may have gone over budget on refurbishing a public building (no. 10). Awarding government contracts to ‘mates’ not sure about - but at the time the criticism was get PPE, get it now!
Of course, we could live in China where the government has control over the vaccine because they have total control over the people.

Terrible formatting fails today. Apologies...

^ I am also sick of all these disparaging remarks from people who like nothing better than to put the government down all the time.^

Never mind, I get sick of all the appalling remarks about the Labour Party when it is a) not in government and b) not flaunting unchecked corruption, incompetence and law breaking in front of us. We just have to suck it up, I feel...

Kali2

No it didn't - all propaganda.

Which way round are you talking about? What’s propaganda?

The OP thinks adultery is not what she wanted discussed - but surely cheating on your wife, husband or partner falls into rule-breaking, dishonesty and deceit.

Hancock's affair is private, nothing to do with the government. Things peripheral to it are, like contracts for cronies and unscrutinised appointments, but once we go down the Hancock rabbit hole the point of the question is completely lost.

BTW, it wasn't the OP who was objecting to the Hancock deviation, it was me.

So how about telling us how much of the OP's list would you tolerate before no longer supporting the whole government?

^ I wanted to make the point that Boris is open so perhaps appeals to the average voter, many if whom can relate to the breakdown of his marriage with divorce at such a high rate in the UK.^

I'm sure that the average voter strongly relates to serial shagging and unknown numbers of offspring; don't we all have that going on in our lives? Of course, Johnson needs our empathy because he is the injured party here, isn't he?

Sorry, this just makes me laugh...

HolySox

Alegrias thanks for the chart showing how far the UK is in terms of vaccination compared to the rest of the EU. Call me misguided then, but Boris seems to be doing o.k. in this respect, which is probably the single most impotant issue of the day. COVID certainly put Brexit into perspective.

A picture paints a thousand words. Tortoise and the hare. Etc etc.

It doesn't matter how often Johnson turns up to bump elbows with some unsuspecting vaccine candidate, it didn't have much to do with him. The much maligned Mr Hancock found the money and Kate Bingham did the work.

HolySox it’s OK. Used to it on here. I just remind myself empty vessels make the most noise.

HolySox

25Avalon sorry you got shouted at. I didn't mean I thought Blair was actually 'Squeaky clean' but he certainly presented this persona to get elected. Afterall, we should expect all politicians, certainly the top man, to be honest, upright, moral people. I wanted to make the point that Boris is open so perhaps appeals to the average voter, many if whom can relate to the breakdown of his marriage with divorce at such a high rate in the UK.
The OP thinks adultery is not what she wanted discussed - but surely cheating on your wife, husband or partner falls into rule-breaking, dishonesty and deceit.

Well I guess adultery does fall into that category, but I think it can be questioned whether it impinges on a persons ability to do their job to a high level of competence.

What my beef is that this lot do nothing with any degree of competence except shagging and making money at the tax payers expense.

No it didn't - all propaganda.

Kali2

Covid, added to Brexit- certainly has! In short, the first made the seond even worse, many times so.

Sorry don't understand. I think Brexit put the UK is a stronger position to fight COVID. You think it made things worse?

25Avalon sorry you got shouted at. I didn't mean I thought Blair was actually 'Squeaky clean' but he certainly presented this persona to get elected. Afterall, we should expect all politicians, certainly the top man, to be honest, upright, moral people. I wanted to make the point that Boris is open so perhaps appeals to the average voter, many if whom can relate to the breakdown of his marriage with divorce at such a high rate in the UK.
The OP thinks adultery is not what she wanted discussed - but surely cheating on your wife, husband or partner falls into rule-breaking, dishonesty and deceit.

Smileless2012

Being judgemental about the government is one thing Whitewavemark, being judgemental about other posters because of the opinions they hold, is totally different, unacceptable, unnecessary and does nothing to enhance the discussion.

I don’t normally, but sometimes my judgemental side pops up uninvited.

But there you go it’s a cross I have to bear