Covid Inquiry

But there again.....I do believe you are a member of the Johnson fan club? It must be difficult for you seeing on screen what many of us have said for years, namely that Johnson was morally unfit for the job and a proven liar. Thoughts and prayers 🙏

Unnecessarily goody HPQ.
Prayers are best saved for serious concerns in my opinion.

*goady

Johnson must never hold office of any kind again. He is unfitted to be a PM or any other position of responsibility. Those Tories who voted for him should be ashamed.

I thought that Hugo Keith gave Johnson an easy time and they just said the same on Sky News.

He’s just deflecting everything and not remembering anything.

With respect Grantanow Those Tories who voted for him should be ashamed I’m not in the least bit ashamed. Historically I lent Boris my vote as, at the time, he was the only politician promising to Get Brexit Done. The referendum was being disregarded by Labour (2nd referendum vote anyone?) and Lib Dem (Jo Swinson 🤣🤣 ‘lets just cancel it’).
😱
Democracy was staggeringly ignored at that time. It was frustrating to hear MP’s opinion the HoC tabling all those bluddy Indicative Votes. What an absolute farce that was! We NEEDED Boris (those of us who voted for Brexit) to lead us out of the fudge and obsfucation.

“Comets the hour, comets the man”.

Unfortunately the pandemic cometh too. The rest is history.

Anyway, I’m voting Reform next GE. 😁

Predictive text ha! 🤣
Electrical goods anyone?

I'd be interested to know just how well Johnson's answers to the inquiry barristers tally with his witness statement.

In the other sessions I've watched there has been reference back to the witness's written statements. I didn't see this during the time I watched Johnson's session (which wasn't the entire session because I couldn't take any more of the waffle and evasions).

His witness statement will have been written with legal help. I wouldn't be surprised if the story he tells in it diverges widely from his oral evidence. I believe the witness statements are being published, as well as the transcripts of the sessions and the videos.

It has been said that he's been working on preparing for the inquiry for a year. In which case it's hard to understand why he is making such a poor fist of his oral evidence. Unless, of course, it just demonstrates that he is incapable of retaining information...(as other witnesses have pointed out)

Urmstongran

With respect Grantanow Those Tories who voted for him should be ashamed I’m not in the least bit ashamed. Historically I lent Boris my vote as, at the time, he was the only politician promising to Get Brexit Done. The referendum was being disregarded by Labour (2nd referendum vote anyone?) and Lib Dem (Jo Swinson 🤣🤣 ‘lets just cancel it’).
😱
Democracy was staggeringly ignored at that time. It was frustrating to hear MP’s opinion the HoC tabling all those bluddy Indicative Votes. What an absolute farce that was! We NEEDED Boris (those of us who voted for Brexit) to lead us out of the fudge and obsfucation.

“Comets the hour, comets the man”.

Unfortunately the pandemic cometh too. The rest is history.

Anyway, I’m voting Reform next GE. 😁

Most (all?) of the people/politicians that pushed for Brexit have been discredited since. Johnson, Bannon, Cummings etc.

MaizieD

I'd be interested to know just how well Johnson's answers to the inquiry barristers tally with his witness statement.

In the other sessions I've watched there has been reference back to the witness's written statements. I didn't see this during the time I watched Johnson's session (which wasn't the entire session because I couldn't take any more of the waffle and evasions).

His witness statement will have been written with legal help. I wouldn't be surprised if the story he tells in it diverges widely from his oral evidence. I believe the witness statements are being published, as well as the transcripts of the sessions and the videos.

It has been said that he's been working on preparing for the inquiry for a year. In which case it's hard to understand why he is making such a poor fist of his oral evidence. Unless, of course, it just demonstrates that he is incapable of retaining information...(as other witnesses have pointed out)

I think his replies work in his favour in that you actually forget part way through what he’s talking about. In parliament he used to deflect criticisms against him as being criticisms of eg the NHS (which wasn’t the case). He’s doing the same here. It’s taking him so long to not answer the questions that time is running out to ask more questions.

Maybe we should change the title of the thread to "let's all jump on the "we hate Boris" bandwagon" - this enquiry is just a blame game by any other standards. Trial by media .......

Rather than blame the Government for how it handled the pandemic - and let's be honest, none of us know what the outcomes would have been had it been handled differently, because we haven't got a bloody crystal ball, how about blaming bloody China for releasing the virus onto the world in the first place? I wonder how many of you who are so critical of those who had to handle the pandemic have actually still been visiting China, buying chinese goods and generally supporting the Chinese economy since it happened? Put the blame where it belongs - in China!

And before any of you pile on - my husband was in intensive care with the virus. I don't blame the Government of the day - I blame China.

paddyann54

Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish scientists wanted to lockdown earlier ,before the Cheltenham races,football matches and massive concerts AND closed Airports.They were rubbished all over the media.Patrick Vallance said in HIS statement that she should have been listened to....it would have saved over 30,000 lives IN THE FIRST MONTHS .

Ms Sturgeon was using Covid for political point scoring, was rather pathetic to watch. There was also the controversial Nike conference in Edinburgh which infected many, so lets not pretend that everything was the fault of Johnson and his inept government. I loathe him and everything he stands for by the way.

Opal

Maybe we should change the title of the thread to "let's all jump on the "we hate Boris" bandwagon" - this enquiry is just a blame game by any other standards. Trial by media .......

Rather than blame the Government for how it handled the pandemic - and let's be honest, none of us know what the outcomes would have been had it been handled differently, because we haven't got a bloody crystal ball, how about blaming bloody China for releasing the virus onto the world in the first place? I wonder how many of you who are so critical of those who had to handle the pandemic have actually still been visiting China, buying chinese goods and generally supporting the Chinese economy since it happened? Put the blame where it belongs - in China!

Are you aware of Operation Cygnet, run under the supervision of Hunt as Health Secretary and Cameron as PM?

Sorry to hear about your husband, hope he has made a decent recovery.

Do you mean Cygnus? Yes, I'm aware. I'm not sure of the point you are making though?
Thanks, yes he made a good recovery.

Opal

Maybe we should change the title of the thread to "let's all jump on the "we hate Boris" bandwagon" - this enquiry is just a blame game by any other standards. Trial by media .......

Rather than blame the Government for how it handled the pandemic - and let's be honest, none of us know what the outcomes would have been had it been handled differently, because we haven't got a bloody crystal ball, how about blaming bloody China for releasing the virus onto the world in the first place? I wonder how many of you who are so critical of those who had to handle the pandemic have actually still been visiting China, buying chinese goods and generally supporting the Chinese economy since it happened? Put the blame where it belongs - in China!

I'm sure we'll all feel better once the gods and goddesses of Revenge have been unleashed on China!

Personally, I'd rather find out how to deal with such allegedly malign forces in future.

Opal

Do you mean Cygnus? Yes, I'm aware. I'm not sure of the point you are making though?
Thanks, yes he made a good recovery.

The fact is that the government didn’t act on the findings of Operation Cygnus and that the PPE that was stored away was out of date when the pandemic started and had to be thrown out.

MayBee70

Opal

Do you mean Cygnus? Yes, I'm aware. I'm not sure of the point you are making though?
Thanks, yes he made a good recovery.

The fact is that the government didn’t act on the findings of Operation Cygnus and that the PPE that was stored away was out of date when the pandemic started and had to be thrown out.

Apologies for referring to Cygnus, as Cygnet. My point was that the findings of the study were filed away as 'too difficult, too expensive', and no efforts were made to ensure reliable sources of PPE etc. The rest is history. I have had to turn the TV off. It was on while I unpacked the shopping, but listening to Johnson blathering, obfuscating and blaming everyone for his inadequacies was too much. My only hope is that is his public and political career is finished, but given the British public's appetite for anyone who promises them what they want to hear (Tice, Farage etc), I am not holding my breath.

growstuff

Opal

Maybe we should change the title of the thread to "let's all jump on the "we hate Boris" bandwagon" - this enquiry is just a blame game by any other standards. Trial by media .......

Rather than blame the Government for how it handled the pandemic - and let's be honest, none of us know what the outcomes would have been had it been handled differently, because we haven't got a bloody crystal ball, how about blaming bloody China for releasing the virus onto the world in the first place? I wonder how many of you who are so critical of those who had to handle the pandemic have actually still been visiting China, buying chinese goods and generally supporting the Chinese economy since it happened? Put the blame where it belongs - in China!

I'm sure we'll all feel better once the gods and goddesses of Revenge have been unleashed on China!

Personally, I'd rather find out how to deal with such allegedly malign forces in future.

Well, it seems that most people on here will feel better once the Gods and Goddesses of Revenge have been unleashed on Boris! What's the difference?

Its right there is an enquiry to learn from this pandemic so that our government and public support systems ( Health/ economy/ laws/ freedoms and responsibilities ) are better prepared and managed in the future .
What upsets me is how vindictive and/ or sensationalist the press and some people are are. People died and others lost their health or lively hoods. Its a serious matter and should be taken seriously not an opportunity to jeer, tell lies or score political points.

He’s still got police protection and a massive pension. Plus the money he gets for his public speaking. How much has his new house cost?

HousePlantQueen

MayBee70

Opal

Do you mean Cygnus? Yes, I'm aware. I'm not sure of the point you are making though?
Thanks, yes he made a good recovery.

The fact is that the government didn’t act on the findings of Operation Cygnus and that the PPE that was stored away was out of date when the pandemic started and had to be thrown out.

Apologies for referring to Cygnus, as Cygnet. My point was that the findings of the study were filed away as 'too difficult, too expensive', and no efforts were made to ensure reliable sources of PPE etc. The rest is history. I have had to turn the TV off. It was on while I unpacked the shopping, but listening to Johnson blathering, obfuscating and blaming everyone for his inadequacies was too much. My only hope is that is his public and political career is finished, but given the British public's appetite for anyone who promises them what they want to hear (Tice, Farage etc), I am not holding my breath.

I've had the Inquiry on all afternoon. Your take on what he is saying is completely different to mine. I agree his speaking manner should be more direct and concise - we could say that about a lot of politicians - but he is not blaming everyone else. Some of the questions have been ridiculous, unhelpful and blatantly trying to point the finger, rather than being designed to "learn lessons". Kangaroo court.

Urmstongran

Iam64

I’ve been listening to the questions from the barrister representing families. Mr Johnson soon became irritated when asked to answer the question rather than deflect.
His fan club may reject this inquiry as a waste of money - it isn’t.

I certainly don’t think ‘an inquiry’ is a waste of money Iam.
Just ‘ours’!
Yes we need to work out where we went wrong and where things could have been done better etc but our UK inquiry seems inferior to that of Sweden’s.

Well - most of what we do seems inferior to Sweden and other scandi countries, sadly. They have better social and health care, education and their criminal justice system isn’t just lock em up and throw away the key.

I get drawn in to listening to the forensic approach of the KCs. Johnson doesn’t like being challenged but he’s bringing his best deflect, obfuscate, make clever jokes (aka be a smart a**se) approach, just as he always has.

I don’t know enough about the aims and limits of this inquiry but it’s got a great chair in Baroness Hallet.

MayBee70

He’s still got police protection and a massive pension. Plus the money he gets for his public speaking. How much has his new house cost?

Yep, in line with every other ex-PM! Your point is ....?

People died and others lost their health or lively hoods. Its a serious matter and should be taken seriously not an opportunity to jeer, tell lies or score political points.

It is precisely because so many people died, or have suffered long term consequences, and that covid is still with us and still killing people or leaving life changing consequences, that I am so angry that firstly, tory austerity and privatisation over the years since 2010 left the NHS in no fit state to deal with a pandemic and secondly, that we had a totally inept government in place to deal with it, 'led' by a lazy, self absorbed,mendacious, incompetent PM..

I expect a government's duty, whatever 'colour' it might be, is to keep the populace as safe as possible during an emergency, be it war, natural disaster or disease. Emergency planning and preparation is part of their duty. Tories have failed to do their duty.