Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

7pm Boris speech thread - anyone want to join?

770 replies

Therealfatshady · 10/05/2020 18:51

I'm a nervy bee and thought it would be fun to watch with you all!

OP posts:
crispysausagerolls · 11/05/2020 14:21

Why weren’t people coming from anywhere outside the UK put in quarantine?

100% the govt didn’t do this as they were scared of the shouts of “racism” they were bound to receive if they did

Focusanddetermination · 11/05/2020 14:27

would think because if you go and sit in someone's garden you may be tempted to have a cup of tea, might need the toilet etc. exactly this.

I know baby boomers with multiple health conditions on furlough who are right now sat in the garden having invited friends over. In their minds they've had enough of this lockdown thing, and are entitled to do this etc.

And of course they'll just pop in use the toilet if they need to.

Mind you, nothing to the house next door to me where visitors (family, friends) have been in and out several times a day over the last month and still are. Lockdown never existed for them.

1forsorrow · 11/05/2020 14:33

Corbyn isn't the PM, he hasn't done anything for us to comment on. Saying what Corbyn would or wouldn't have done is just making things up.

1forsorrow · 11/05/2020 14:35

100% the govt didn’t do this as they were scared of the shouts of “racism” they were bound to receive if they did Yes because no one who is white has ever been on a plane.

CodenameVillanelle · 11/05/2020 15:48

Has everyone seen the full document? It answers many questions - early years are included in the beginning of June opening plan assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884171/FINAL_6.6637_CO_HMG_C19_Recovery_FINAL_110520_v2_WEB__1_.pdf

JamieLeeCurtains · 11/05/2020 15:52

How is Keir Starmer right now calmly and forensically dissecting the document and Johnson in the House of Commons, then? Johnson is all over the place.

It's on live.

JamieLeeCurtains · 11/05/2020 15:53

Johnson saying if people 'are impeded' from going to work then they can't go to work and must 'be protected'.

JamieLeeCurtains · 11/05/2020 15:55

Johnson says 'what's changed now is emphasis and encouragement ' 'to follow the original guidance' - so he's saying the guidance hasn't change about returning to work.

JamieLeeCurtains · 11/05/2020 15:58

He's now saying 'everybody understands' and appeals to 'British common sense'

RedToothBrush · 11/05/2020 16:16

The document itself appeals to the idea of British common sense.

HOWEVER that makes the assumption that most people are a) not selfish and b) do have common sense.

Its about ideals of liberalism and freedom, which I do very much support, but it also lets the government off the hook in terms of responsibility and it fails to address the very reasonable question of how people who ARE behaving in anti-social ways can be challenged in anyway because the crucial information about enforcement and enforceability is entire absent.

Thats hugely important.

Also, the next stages are hugely reliant on various public bodies and testing facilities and capacity being up to the job by the 1st June. I have huge doubts about the viability of this deadline. And whether if this is failed, we will go ahead anyway to avoid ministers embarassment of having to extend Stage 1 and delay Stage 2 and Stage 3.

The stuff about a phased return to primary schools is particularly tight on time too, given they have a target of ALL primary pupils having a month back before the school holidays. I have a strong suspicion that the school holidays may be shortened though this hasn't been explicitly said yet (Watch out for it).

In terms of the actual policy, its lacking in a number of details. Its more common sense than actual policy, if I'm honest.

Now we get to test whether the public are ready for that... it should be an interesting experiment if nothing else...

... unfortunately if it goes wrong, its a pretty expensive experiment in terms of economics and lives.

ineedaholidaynow · 11/05/2020 16:33

No guidance has yet been given by DfE or from anyone else for schools on how they can open for more pupils. The FAQ that accompany the Government guidance states that it will give guidance in the next few weeks, won't give the schools much time to implement the guidelines.

JamieLeeCurtains · 11/05/2020 16:35

Yes, indeed, how do the police enforce something so lacking in detail?

Johnson is now blathering about 'what we want', as opposed to what the enforcement rules are, and the legislative base (which is what Starmer was rightly asking about).

Daisy Cooper MP (Lib Dem) just asked a very good question about PPE - Johnson blustering.

BlackberryCane · 11/05/2020 17:18

The police have shown a willingness to simply make shit up to fill in the gaps on various occasions since lockdown. Hopefully that doesn't end up being the solution again.

RedToothBrush · 11/05/2020 17:22

The police have shown a willingness to simply make shit up to fill in the gaps on various occasions since lockdown. Hopefully that doesn't end up being the solution again.

And they got slapped on the wrist for doing so and acting beyond the limits of the law.

JamieLeeCurtains · 11/05/2020 17:28

And I think some counties' constabularies have been much more 'light touch' than others.

BlackberryCane · 11/05/2020 18:22

When it was filmed and identified they got a slap on the wrist. I shudder to think how often it might've happened unchallenged.

Focusanddetermination · 11/05/2020 18:28

RedToothBrush I really hope you're wrong about school holidays being shortened...

crispysausagerolls · 11/05/2020 18:55

Yes because no one who is white has ever been on a plane

I’m not saying cries of “racism” would have been justified, I’m saying they would have happened hysterically and ridiculously and the govt were scared.

StealthPolarBear · 11/05/2020 19:06

Aaegh they said it would be on radio 4 earlier. Wish they'd be more consistent

GabsAlot · 11/05/2020 22:30

anyone hear the quesiton about can people just drive to the lakesidstrict for example and all exercise there

he didnt evenn answer it just waffled about exercise can be taken and is unlimited

these sorts of places are going to be heaving come next weekend

StealthPolarBear · 12/05/2020 06:37

Yes. She pointed that out but i don't remember a response.
I get what they were trying to do, but why didn't they limit it, drive to your nearest beauty spot, which should be within 40 or 50 miles at the most, something like that

larrygrylls · 12/05/2020 06:51

Are many people really going to drive hundreds of miles to exercise and sunbathe in the current climate?

Although I do think Boris is not doing well, I do feel a tiny bit sorry for him. He became PM as he sees himself as a charismatic leader who can inspire others to follow (and do the details stuff).

Instead he has nearly died and, within a few weeks, is expected to master all the details of pandemic management. And it really is a details game...

He clearly cannot understand the science and is expected to respond to questions, on the hoof, which are a fine balancing of economic cost vs life gain.

In addition, it turns out that a sizeable minority of the U.K. population really does not give a damn about others. Covid probably does not spread much outdoors, especially in large areas like parks, with people trying to distance. So, the government is trying to give people the maximum freedom within the expert guidance it has received. However, there will now be large gatherings if the weather is nice, 2m will become 50cm and none at all as people start to get drunk, and people will extend parks to mean small urban gardens.

And the r(t) will go over one, and we will soon be fully locked down again...

A failure of both public policy and national character.

RosesandIris · 12/05/2020 08:30

@larrygrylls

He's also probably sleep deprived from having a newborn baby in the house. I think he's making a real mess of all this, but I do see he's had a huge amount to cope with ... new pregnant partner moving in, a divorce going on, a newborn baby, nearly dying, his partner being ill at the same time with worries about her pregnancy and survival etc, Brexit to deal with. He's just come into office, and it's been like an avalanche.

BlackberryCane · 12/05/2020 08:59

I bet he sleeps in the spare room with earplugs.

jcurve · 12/05/2020 09:23

He's also probably sleep deprived from having a newborn baby in the house. I think he's making a real mess of all this, but I do see he's had a huge amount to cope with ... new pregnant partner moving in, a divorce going on, a newborn baby, nearly dying, his partner being ill at the same time with worries about her pregnancy and survival etc, Brexit to deal with. He's just come into office, and it's been like an avalanche.

There will be a live-in nanny which is still permitted in lockdown. He won’t be getting up to give bottles at 2am.

A female leader would be torn to shreds if she was perceived to be dropping the ball due to relationship and childcare problems.

He’s absolutely been unwell but the problems are of his own creation by not having the confidence to appoint a strong deputy (largely because he’d be shown up).