To be very concerned that Boris Johnson said this

[Worriedmum54321]

From the Guardian:
Responding to the argument that a more stringent lockdown should have been imposed sooner, he said: “Don’t forget, it’s a very very demanding thing to ask a population to do – very tough – and so I think it was completely right to make our period of lockdown coincide as far as possible with the peak of the epidemic.”

It should be noted that for the past 12 years MN has been completely wrong with regards to politics and generally public opinion

Right wing posters on MN seem to love throwing this into arguments, as though it wouldn't be completely deranged to expect a website with a core user group of women aged what, 25-45ish, to be representative of the general population in a society where the older you are, the more right wing you're likely to vote, and where the average age of the population is increasing. I mean, you might as well go on a pensioner focused site and chide them for being massively more Conservative leaning than the general population and grossly underestimating the left voting majority in the UK, for all the logic in that approach.

This is even before we consider the fact that election results have absolutely nothing to do with the way in which this government is handling the pandemic, however much some posters might like to wave them around like a talisman in the face of criticism of their political team.

JudyCoolibar

those of you whowishedfor an earlier lockdown, did you initiate your own lockdown?”

Yes, worked from home and missed two weeks of College prior to restrictions. Saw it coming and because of particular personal circumstances employer and College in particular were very supportive, providing work by email from day 1 and assuring us absence was recorded as authorised.

We are very lucky. Not everyone could do so and some had to go into work/education feeling fearful.

I agree. We saw it coming. I was reading reports from all over the world, different press sources. I could see the way this was going.
We are both now retired so luckily could take action and not go out.

We were also due to see two of our DCs who live in London, staying for 3 nights. Off our own bat, we cancelled the trip because we all felt uncomfortable about it.

I am very concerned by EVERYTHING that Boris Johnson says. He basically makes it up as he goes along, just like he did when he was mayor of London. I don't trust that this government has any interest in protecting the population. They are only interested in protecting their image and maintaining power and control, hence a massive MSM propaganda campaign backed by the wealthy. Journalists don't/aren't allowed to criticise or ask difficult questions at daily briefings let alone at other times. We have been gaslighted and the general population seem unaware and feel the government have done an amazing job. The government needs to be held to account but we don't have an effective opposition. The only person that I trust at the moment is Nicola Sturgeon. Sadly I live in London and my stepdad died of COVID-19 on 8th April.

You do realise that he also stated that we went into lockdown earlier in the cycle than most other European countries? Forgot to mention that one OP? I don't mind debate, but selection of the facts with a pre-baked agenda helps no-one.

Yes but as far as I can make out this was a big, fat lie. In Italy, at least, lockdown started with just a handful of cases (less than 10) whereas this was in the hundreds for the UK.

One thing we could have easily done is ban large events and large gatherings.

We went from 'normality' to pubs and restaurants being shut to the current guidelines very quickly.

I honestly struggle to see how the scientists thought that mass gatherings like football, Crufts, Cheltenham etc were a good idea.

If we had banned large gatherings earlier, we would have saved lives.

Stlll, I am sure we will see the alleged 'we followed the science advice' on Cheltenham in any enquiry that happens.

langdale2016 so sorry to hear about your loss.
Totally agree with your post.

At one of the press briefings, Raab or Little Matty Hancock were asked about why the Cheltenham Festival went ahead and should they have cancelled it.

Yes, you've got it...
'We followed the science' was the answer.

I had the common sense not to go, but obviously that was lacking in this Govt.

No I am not concerned that he said this - there is a balance here, the impact on the economy is immense as well of locking down

It’s alright sitting in your armchair passing judgement that a man has to make to try and keep millions safe, he couldn’t do right for doing wrong.

He was led by the experts and scientists and had to make a decision headed on the expertise current advice at that time.

It also relays back to earlier statements by Chris’s Whitty on waiting until nearer the peak. Although we know it creates the peak that’s how I interpreted it.

@langdale2016 sorry to hear that.
And you are spot on!

Please read this New Yorker article which explains the role of public health professionals in a pandemic. If politicians decide to take the lead there is a good chance the public will be non compliant, unless there is one clear and solidly trustworthy voice who is being completely transparent about is known about the current situation. It contrasts the response of Washington State and its major metro area, Seattle, on the West Coast with New York State and its major city NYC on the East Coast.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/05/04/seattles-leaders-let-scientists-take-the-lead-new-yorks-did-not
I live in Seattle, and while we were already staying home and getting ready for an anticipated lock down, I watched the UK with alarm as Boris did absolutely nothing to prepare. The UK also lost its amazing geographic advantage as an island nation like New Zealand, Taiwan, and Australia to control new arrivals via test, trace and quarantine. You can see how the Republic of Ireland has done so well in comparison by having a medically trained Dr (Leo Varadkar) as leader.

No I am not concerned that he said this - there is a balance here, the impact on the economy is immense as well of locking down

How does that have any bearing on whether or not what he said made sense? The economy doesn't come into whether or not the peak follows the timing of lockdown or vice versa. Even if it was relevant, an earlier lockdown would have likely been shorter so better for the economy.

@MarshaBradyo...yes, I do vaguely remember that but still can't make it make sense. I hope they explain.

I am very sorry langdale

@NoLongerAnEasyTarget - what is a soft fascist government?

I'm not sure what it means, but was watching the news yesterday, with everyone clapping at 8pm, including lots of nurses in uniform, standing outside their hospitals, so cameras could see them, clapping (for who? themselves?) and then the big focus on Tom's 100th birthday, and I felt really queasy. Like our entire nation had been brainwashed to do as we're told, however inane and pointless the instruction. No one will survive because we all clap, and we're all being laid off work, our economy has tanked but we have pooled 30 mill for NHS because the government doesn't have a money tree to pay for the essentials our high taxation rates are supposed to cover. I now find the clapping creepy and controlling.

It seems like a hideous nightmarish cartoon world that we are living in, grinning and bashing our tin teapots punctually at 8pm while we slide into abject poverty. Meanwhile Dyson gets a contract he can't fulfil because he props up the Tories and Branson asks for government handouts...

@Chillipeanuts

Our household locked down about two weeks before the government did as we are high risk and we are all well and still alive. Didn't want to take the risk of this sluggish government responding. We would have all been dead by then.

we've done very well, the point I was making is there has to be a fear element (of catching the disease), and early on with a handful of deaths and a 100 cases or whatever the numbers were that wouldn't be there. If you lock down too early then lockdown can only last so long it's only tolerable for a certain amount of time so the stage you do it is all important. People are getting irritable now even

I think 26k deaths, around 50% in the excess deaths category, is not doing well.
Because we locked down late and a very weak lockdown at that, we will have a far longer period of restrictions, after 5 weeks Germany is relaxing restrictions and its R rate is still 0.7% despite what Raab tried to say....
Germany has tested 2.5m people, UK 780k (as of 28/4) for every 1 positive test, Korea tests an additional 56, the UK tracks just 5...
Hancock has focused on this 100k test rate but we also need to be testing the right people.
Our daily infection rate is still very high and we have only kept the hospitals from being overwhelmed is by not admitting CV patients until very ill and by cancelling almost all other treatments.

Because Johnson told the nation that CV wasn't so serious, the population followed his lead and didn't take it seriously either, so yes a lockdown in Feb/early March would have been met with incredulity, If he'd been more serious, we would have followed.

Listening to his speech yesterday, i still don't think he has grasped the seriousness of this pandemic at all, to him and his "advisors" its all about the politics.

He was led by the experts and scientists and had to make a decision headed on the expertise current advice at that time Yes the decision was originally heard immunity acknowledging some people will lose loved ones. Thank fuck he changed from herd immunity. I can't understand why there was images of 1000's of coffins from Italy. Bodies stored in ice rinks in Spain. New York stacking bodies in trucks on the street with pallets of ice. Yet AFAICS it is all rosy in the UK and Ireland the media are keeping it quiet. I've unfortunately had to visit the hospital the staff in Dublin hospital on Covid wards don't wear PPE unless in direct contact with a patient. In the waiting drop off reception I saw porters carers cleaners doctors nurses all working walking in the non covid and communal areas with no masks.

*Herd

It’s alright sitting in your armchair passing judgement that a man has to make to try and keep millions safe, he couldn’t do right for doing wrong

It's got to be hard.

I do struggle though with the decisions such as Cheltenham. That does not seem like a difficult decision to make.

"PM, there is a virulent disease going around. It's killed a lot of people in China and it's in the UK. Do you think we should have many 1000s of people gather together at a major racing festival. Also, it has taken hold in Spain, and Madrid has been shut down. Do you think we should allow Madrid fans to come to Liverpool/"

He was led by the experts and scientists and had to make a decision headed on the expertise current advice at that time

The advice he followed wasn't what any other nation was following apart from the USA or Brazil, it certainly wasn't what the WHO was stating either.

The day before Cheltenham, Italy had already locked down 16 million people, when the Liverpool Madrid match went ahead, inc flying in 3000 spanish fans, Spain had banned all football.

I had the chance to go out to some pub events - and some group walks outside.

I decided not to. It was a few weeks before the official lockdown and I decided to do what I could to reduce the risk. I didn't need the Government to tell me to lockdown.

I remember the threads on here complaining about people talking about the virus before it became 'real' for many

Complaining about people who arent in Johnson's position passing judgement is ridiculous. He's the Prime Minister. That job comes with scrutiny from millions and he not only volunteered for it but took a number of irresponsible decisions to get there. If he doesn't want the attention, lots of other jobs are available. As are lots of other prime ministerial candidates. And we're supposed to scrutinise our leaders.

Not sure why you are concerned about this. They've been quite open about it, it's notsomething that's just been revealed.