Senior RMT official suspended for saying he’d throw a party if Boris Johnson died

Ditto, lemongrove

And my family too, we are quite a diverse lot in our political opinions.

You remember wrongly, lemon. It was Laura Pidcock.

Yes, I knew that people wouldn't like my comment. But I don't care for double standards. Fine for Johnson to condemn thousands to death but shocking for someone to be less than sympathetic towards him.

POGS I hadn't read your comments on the other thread before posting last night. I've no problem with criticisms of the impact of the last nine years of so called austerity on all our public services, especially the NHS. I live in hope that this pandemic will shift Conservative thinking back to a more compassionate, less each individual for themselves approach.

MaizieD - the initial response by Mr Johnson and his cabinet was imo far too slow. You say many people think what the awful Hedley said. I certainly don't share Hedley's views and I know none of my family or friends do either. Absolutely loathsome individual. A bully who makes comments like this isn't fit to represent others.

criticising the government for lack of compassion is giving
some a reason to excuse what this union man said surely?

Anniebach, my point was that criticism of the impact of 9 years of austerity on the ability of public services, especially the NHS to respond to this crisis, is something many of us have been doing throughout.

My use of the word compassionate was to link to some old style conservative MPs who were known as 'compassionate conservatives'. My feeling is that the LP lurched too far one way, the conservatives lurch too far another way. I would never support what Hedley or the Labour mayor, then a Labour councillor have said about Mr Johnson's health.

If MaizieD is right, and Steve Hedley simply voiced what a considerable number of other people are thinking, that demonstrates to me that a considerable number of people have lost their moral compass.

Yes indeed Chewbacca and it's my belief that the majority have not.

Perhaps they never had a moral compass to begin with Chewbacca.

There can be no doubt that Johnson’s initial plan was to adopt the herd immunity strategy. The consequence of this strategy, until he eventually understood what his strategy would mean, will have been needless loss of life, maybe in the thousands.

Twickenham, Cheltenham, Liverpool v Milan and a pop concert, should never have been allowed to go ahead, and even when Johnson finally decided to go ahead with the lockdown on Friday 20th Match, he prevaricated until the following Monday. Each and every day will mean thousands of death within the month. Our figures will exceed both Italy and Spain.

This knowledge, together with the fact that Cummings, is an enthusiastic eugenics believer, and who stated that a loss of a few old grannies hardly matters in the scheme of things, means that there are many of us in the U.K. (almost certainly the majority) who are appalled at their lack of humanity and care.

We now have the spectacle of a government in chaos, who rather than being proactive as you would expect is constantly trying to catch up and reacting as best they can.

Yesterday Hancock, when questioned about the lack of PPE had the temerity to suggest that perhaps the NHS staff were being wasteful and going against all guidelines suggested that PPE could be worn for the session rather than changing frequently. He also sidestepped a question about loss of clinicians lives because of lack of protection, passing it on th the chief nurse, who I must admit showed a distinct lack of empathy when failing to answer the question.

Then ask yourself, if, knowing all this is it reasonable for people to get angry? My reply is yes. People when angry will say and occasionally do intemperate things. Things that I find appalling and do not wish to listen to.

But energy spent on condemning such intemperate language is imo wasted energy. It would be put to better use towards constructive criticism of governmental actions.

Iam I understand why you spoke of it , but I think
bringing politics into this does soften what that man said

It was one human being speaking of another human being

I just looked at the thread about Johnson going into hospital,
those who had posted sympathy and good wishes are now
called ‘sanctimonious’

Bloody Hell!

Moral compass?

Where was Johnson's moral compass when he was perfectly happy to condemn us all to getting Covid19? Knowing that many thousands would die of it?

I'm on twitter. Iam64. Are you? You cannot believe how appalling some people can be. I don't follow the nasties, they just stray into people's timelines on occasion.

No, Annie.

People can post as many good wishes as they want. The sanctimonious ones are the ones who are condemning people who don't have the same feelings as them.

It is absolutely clear that Johnson gives not a toss about 'the people'. Not even, from time to time, about his supposedly nearest and dearest (like, wives). Put two and two together.

I’m so sorry you seem to be taking the flack for the link that I posted POGS . How on earth anyone could defend this disgusting man (and plenty more like him it would seem) or try to dumb down his words by attacking government policy is beyond me.

No MaizieD I don’t remember ‘wrongly’ at all!
I could hardly confuse these two women, So if Laura Pidcock
Said the same as Dawn Butler ( re not knowing or wanting a friend who voted Conservative) then it shows a similar narrow minded mindset.Unfortunately this kind of thinking seemed to creep in with Jeremy Corbyn at the helm.

Even Johnson’s marriages and affairs have now been brought
into this.

That is below the belt Anniebach . What on earth does his private life have to do with this?

No idea gillybob , for the first time I am not comfortable with GransNet,

gilly....Annie is merely commenting on what others are saying, ( and not facts...just their own opinions ) as MaizieD just upthread at 10.05.05.

There have been a lot of discussions on GN about the importance of free speech but it seems there are limits to this belief. They seem to be that no one should say anything nasty about our PM. Really? There is a long history of posters denigrating politicians but now because one of them is ill everyone is supposed to say nice things about them? Why?
If you believe anyone should be reprimanded for saying the unthinkable then most of the comments made about Diane Abbott on GN are totally unacceptable and those people should apologise. Lots of the things said about Meghan Markle would come in the same category. But I won't hold my breath because the same posters who made those remarks are now the ones up in arms because someone has said something nasty about Johnson.
I don't want Johnson to die because I want him and the pathetic people now running our country to be answerable for the chaos they have caused. But I can understand people who do and I don't see why they should have to pretend they care just because some sanctimonious people don't like to hear the truth. I'm with Nye on the Tories- ill or not.
"So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin," he went on. "They condemned millions of people to semi-starvation. I warn you young men and women, do not listen to what they are saying, do not listen to the seductions of Lord Woolton. They have not changed, or if they have they are slightly worse.

Thank you lemon

It must be very hard for you trisher......being so angry all the time politically speaking, especially with the LP never getting into power for years and years ( and unlikely to now for another five or even ten years.)
Nye lived a long time ago....don’t live in the past with your thinking!

trisher no one has wished Diane Abbott or Megan Markle would die.

Lucca expressed the way that I feel by saying "POGS. I honestly don’t think anyone here disagrees that mr hedley has expressed appalling views. Obviously what he said was unacceptable. But you seem to imply still that we must all cease any negative comments about the conservative party ? Everyone has said they wish the prime minister a full recovery.
Please don’t make a connection between that man hedley and any “opposition” comments."

There certainly seems to be a wish to silence all criticism of the Govt, pretending that criticism somehow means wishing harm.

Also, somehow implying that because this Hedley person has made those remarks, they must be the views of any and all union members or officials.

Anniebach No one on Gransnet has wished Boris Johnson would die either.