Is this the start?

Lincslass. What did you mean please by “is this the start “?

He said some time ago that he would be returning to academic life.

Shropshirelass

I like JVT, but he has been on secondment to Nottingham University since 2017 and it was only a matter of time before he stepped down from being an advisor. He talked a lot of sense during an unprecedented time. I wish him well.

I think the original post possibly meant the start of the end of the pandemic. Let’s hope so.

Yes, that’s what I thought too.

If it hadn’t been for Professor Sir JVT and Scotland’s Jason Leitch, half of us wouldn’t have had a clue what was going on. Great communicators, these two.

As a true academic I doubt he really enjoyed being thrust into the limelight at a very difficult time. He must be relieved to get back to the land of academia which I believe he was destined to return to anyway.
I hope it is the start to the end of the pandemic for everyone.

Blinko

If it hadn’t been for Professor Sir JVT and Scotland’s Jason Leitch, half of us wouldn’t have had a clue what was going on. Great communicators, these two.

Totally agree!

It took a lot of courage for him to call out Cummings for what he did. I can still picture him in my mind gearing himself up to say what he did. I also remember him having to keep a low profile for a long time after that, until the government realised he was the only one that people trusted and they needed him to get their message across.

A brilliant man, for whom I have a lot of respect. I wish him well in this next phase of his career.

Van Tam's sudden resignation wouldn't have anything to do with the recent revelation that Sir Patrick Vallance was one of the cabal of four ( Fauchi, Farrer, Daszak & Vallance) who knew that the Wuhan Laboratory was the source of the Covid 19 virus, but decided, in the name of Science to divert attention away from the Wuhan Lab. and suggested it came from the wet market would it?

It’s probably more to do with the fact that he stood next to Johnson on the podium addressing the country and telling them that they should not mix socially to save lives, and then finding out a couple of days ago how hypocritical Johnson was being Urmstongran. My guess is he couldn’t live with that.

I think everyone loved him for his analogies, which I’m sure made a lot of people sit up and take notice of what he was saying, particularly those who may have kind of ‘zoned out’ when yet another scientist came on.

Chris Whitty is very knowledgeable of course, but he lacks JVT’s personality.

I interpret 'the start' as being deserters on a sinking ship

Kim19

I interpret 'the start' as being deserters on a sinking ship

Me too - a man of integrity wanting to distance himself from a Government with little integrity.

His job is done. He was never going to stay with the government.

A really good man who I found to be truthful and reassuring. I wish him good luck and new exciting challenges in his new role.