To largely agree with government guidelines over Covid-19

[Plentyofshit]

I rewatched BJ on Andrew Marr yesterday. I’m afraid that everything he said made sense to me. I agree that there have been big mistakes - but - from what I can see - this hasn’t been the smoothest ride for any European country, particularly those that have been badly hit.

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer you’re right - I probably am projecting. Strangely enough most of the people I know vote labour and are very strict about the guidelines. But are any political party anti lockdown? And why are people not isolating or ignoring guidelines - and do they see Boris’s failings as their reason to do so?

Do they realise that a different government would implement broadly the same set of measures - albeit in a possibly better way?

@Plentyofshit

Do they realise that a different government would implement broadly the same set of measures - albeit in a possibly better way?

plenty

If you think you’re projecting you’re probably not 😀

I was literally just saying similar to dh, macron and merkal were just on the news and i was saying that all the european countries were doing things slightly differently but we are all struggling

I think THIS government (not mays or camerons etc) have lied and made mistakes

I think that Mays government may well have done better and been more cautious BUT, germany have been pretty cautious and they haven’t beaten it

I think another government may have done better...but i dont think covid works on party lines

And obviously another government tory or otherwise may have been worse (I don’t reckon this myself but its only my opinion 😀)

I believe the whole strategy of attempting to suppress/eradicate the virus is fundamentally flawed and a vaccine isn't going to come to our rescue either.

I also have a huge issue with the extent to which the government has, to use Machiavelli's old adage, not let a good crisis go to waste.

'Because Covid', they have managed to force through new legislation that allows the state to hold a suspect for 8 months (yes, 8 months) without charge. That is to say that you can now be detained by the State, for 8 months, with no evidence at all against you.

This is a truly shocking departure from accepted legal norms and can in no way be considered Necessary in a Democratic Society (the usual legal test for legislation like this).

Tony Blair tried very hard to enact similar legislation under the guise of counter-terror 'protections' but he was (rightly) blocked.

Now that we are so wrapped up in Covid, we haven't even noticed it's imposition, I worry what will be next.

The problem with the government is that they won’t listen to criticism. Just watch BJ on PMQs when Keir Starmar challenges him on anything. He’s offended every time! This was especially the case with questions about T & T, he told him he was belittling the brilliant work that was being done and how dare he? How dare the Leader of the Opposition do his job basically?!

But it’s clear that the criticisms were spot on, with the virus once again out of control.

All that after having promised us a ‘world beating’ T & T system.

Actually, I did think BJ was on good form yesterday.

I do hope he holds his nerve and doesn't cave to the fear-driven pressure to impose national lockdowns.

I think Johnson’s point about Keir supporting the measures of be day and then not the next is true. Keir does flip flop and is also caught in a trap of not knowing what position to actually take. I don’t blame him, it is hard to know because no one knows. But I hate this idea of a circuit breaker and I think he is wrong on that. I prefer this local restrictions, tier system approach.
Labour mayors also seem to be acting differently. Sadiq pro restrictions and Burnham against. I think Burnhams position is the more labour position of the two as it is the working class that are most affected by lockdowns financially

I’m very pleased Keir said what he did about lockdown. There now seems to be a shift, and a greater acceptance that the guidelines are not ‘just Boris’ - and a realisation that - in fact - our other main political party is in favour of more stringent measures.

I'm also pleased that Labour are calling for more stringent measures, it makes it a lot less likely that Boris will cave in to pressure, as it will look like he has acquiesced to labour's demands.

I expect Rishi will find himself in charge soon, with Boris resigning for 'health reasons'. Then we will see some sensible leadership.

@sashagabadon

I think Johnson’s point about Keir supporting the measures of be day and then not the next is true. Keir does flip flop and is also caught in a trap of not knowing what position to actually take. I don’t blame him, it is hard to know because no one knows. But I hate this idea of a circuit breaker and I think he is wrong on that. I prefer this local restrictions, tier system approach. Labour mayors also seem to be acting differently. Sadiq pro restrictions and Burnham against. I think Burnhams position is the more labour position of the two as it is the working class that are most affected by lockdowns financially

Hi, it’s misleading to think of Burnham as purely Labour on this issue when in fact one of the key people supporting him is the Altrincham MP Sir Graham Brady, who is of course a very senior Tory as Chairman of the 1922 Committee.

OP - I hope your Mum is ok, and I understand your hope in the guidance and wish people would adhere to it. Just another viewpoint - my parents are super careful, with my mother being ill - I am fairly careful so I can support them - CV has stayed away - sadly the lockdown itself is effectively destroying them instead. Mobility and cognitively they have declined massively. My mum couldn’t have physio, dr f2f appointments etc and has just been in hospital due to prescribed medication overdose due to no proper review. She is now really bad and having 4 emergency care calls a day, whilst my dad is rapidly losing his limited mobility and both are really depressed with life. Speaking with one of the nurses this sort of decline is being seen regularly now. Also 3 of my daughters with varied types of jobs have lost or at risk of losing them impacting on their living situations and wellbeing. My carer daughter has had a dreadful few months with lack of PPE, residents returned to the home without tests etc and the sad results of that alongside little support for home educating her son and no zoom or anything set up for when he is now sent home for a million isolation reasons, impacting her wellbeing with it all. I have dealt with suicidal people at work, and increased abuse and not all good outcomes sadly. The uncertainty and changes by the gov’t with no real strong leadership or apparent plan has not helped any of these situations in my opinion. The lack of planning for schools and unis returning is beyond belief as well. I appreciate the wish to protect people from CV and I understand it is not easy to make decisions for the country. I also, though not a Tory fan, believe politics should not have to come into such as this where possible, but I can’t feel confident in the leadership we have at all. The draconian removal of liberties concerns me as well, not because it might not be necessary but because the powers are being abused, such as in not reviewed at set intervals, but this I think is something we may realise/have to deal with much later and not really your point. Best wishes OP to you and your mum - look after yourself as well.

@msjink I am so sorry. You sound like you are having to be strong to support many people. I also feel the guidelines have become too political - and my DM speaks about a coalition government - every time I see her. Perhaps this would have given us a better outcome.

Think this is Maslows hierarchy? I’m finding this quite useful, as how best to focus my priorities during the pandemic.

For your health and safety they are all in this together...