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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Mark Drakeford is a power mad dictator?

999 replies

LittleLapwing · 24/10/2020 07:37

Half the shops covered in plastic. Can’t buy clothes, duvets, books, DVDs, tins but not tin openers.
All the Halloween and bonfire night stuff that’s just been stocked is behind a cordon. Presumably now destined for landfill.

Autumn half term after a shitty year and I can’t even do a few seasonal treats for the kids.

AIBU to think that Mark Drakeford is a power mad dictator, and that his ridiculous game of Covid oneupmanship with Nicola and Boris needs to stop!?

OP posts:
cologne4711 · 24/10/2020 08:27

@Fairyliz

Another little man with power choosing to abuse it. It’s actually really scary how the population is being shut down and policed.
I agree.
Original poster
LittleLapwing · 24/10/2020 08:27

@Noideawottodo

Is it a political thing? Is it purely because they are Labour and want to do stuff to annoy Westminster?
Yes.
OP posts:
FlyingFlamingo · 24/10/2020 08:28

That’s the point - there is no ‘list’, rightly or wrongly, so the shops have had to decide for themselves. So in discussing the facts of the matter I’m not ‘trolling’.

And the 17 days thing has been made clear - on Monday he clearly stated that we won’t see any effects of the lockdown during the next 2 weeks, due to how Covid spreads and the time lag between infection and serious health effects - what we are doing is hopefully slowing the spread now so that in 4 weeks we have some ITU capacity.

cologne4711 · 24/10/2020 08:29

@MiracletoCome

People must have voted for him though...
They didn't, he replaced a different leader who stepped down in uncertain circumstances
cologne4711 · 24/10/2020 08:30

@Noideawottodo

Is it a political thing? Is it purely because they are Labour and want to do stuff to annoy Westminster?
Quite possibly. Egos over peoples' lives. I hate posturing politicians.
Original poster
LittleLapwing · 24/10/2020 08:31

There’s no list, but there’s a heavy threat to close down any shop found selling ‘non-essentials.’ Although he won’t define what they are.

We have plenty of ITU capacity and we did before.

I haven’t spoken to ANYONE at work (NHS) who agrees with this. Whatever their band.

It. Is. Nuts.

OP posts:
RoxytheRexy · 24/10/2020 08:32

I’m in Cardiff and on the whole I think the handling of the pandemic in Wales has been pretty good. However this is ridiculous!

We barely got any notice about this ‘None essential’ crap. I didn’t for 1 minute think that they would cross of aisles of Tesco. I’ve got bits I need to buy that I don’t want to to buy online. I need birthday cards and some more cheap drawing paper to get us through half term. I’m going shopping later so just assumed I would put them in the trolley but I can’t

Yes I know I could buy them online but birthday cards are more expensive and my DD likes to write them to her cousins. And we have no drawing paper and my DD like to draw so it will be a couple of days before it appears. No I don’t have Amazon Prime so I can’t get it tomorrow before anyone suggests

AcornAutumn · 24/10/2020 08:32

@Natsel84

My father died Thursday, from covid . ( dont even ask ) covering clothes and non essential items , will not cure covid ... I have the rage!
I’m really sorry to hear that. I can imagine this situation on top must be rage inducing. 💐
cologne4711 · 24/10/2020 08:33

Are newsagents open? They might have birthday (and other) cards. Likely to be more expensive though.

Noideawottodo · 24/10/2020 08:33

I’m in Cardiff and on the whole I think the handling of the pandemic in Wales has been pretty good. However this is ridiculous!

This is how I feel. It's a shame because they really did seem to be handling it well before.

plunkplunkfizz · 24/10/2020 08:33

Ludicrous and absolutely arbitrary categorisation. If he wants people to stay at home as much as possible then surely buying everything in one hit at the supermarket is better than half a dozen delivery drivers going to a house, then another, then another, and so on.

I’d be more inclined to stay home if I could stock up on luxuries like DVDs, craft material and “luxuries” like a tin opener or shoes if I needed them.

IncandescentSilver · 24/10/2020 08:33

I cannot believe that in part of Britain, the State is making access to buying winter vessebtials such as gloves, coats and hats difficult!

Is therexsome geuine logic behind this? Such as a competition law threat from smaller retailers?

In Scotland, 5 business associations have threatened to sue the Scottish Government over the restrictions. The Scottish Government is actually sued quite often by businesses due to its legislation frequently beaching EU competition law. I think when a government is making a habit of being sued by its own people and businesses, it tells you something is going very wrong.

tempnamechange98765 · 24/10/2020 08:34

YANBU I 100% agree. And I do support a lot of his decisions although I hate them and he drove me nuts in the summer with the flipping 5 miles rule, but I much prefer his logic than BoJo.

But OH MY GOD this is ridiculous. The stationery, I'm sorry but surely that's more of an essential over half term than ever? Homework, crafts? Halloween stuff, kids can have loads of fun at home with a load of Halloween tat and sweets, so again, whilst not essential, not encouraging any rule breaches?

MiracletoCome · 24/10/2020 08:34

cologne4711

Oh, I didn’t know that it wasn’t actually him that people voted for, he didn’t seem that popular before this debacle.

Original poster
LittleLapwing · 24/10/2020 08:34

@cologne4711

Are newsagents open? They might have birthday (and other) cards. Likely to be more expensive though.
NOWHERE is allowed to sell ‘non-essentials.’

Except amazon 👍

OP posts:
Freysimo · 24/10/2020 08:35

Mark Drakeford was not elected. He inherited his role and and plans to step down before next election, so he doesn't give a damn. I live in anarea of Wales with low covid infections and this is going to kill small businesses.

Bollss · 24/10/2020 08:35

@SebastianTheCrab

I thought he was until I read that he did it because smaller stores are being forced to shut so this stops supermarkets being given yet more of an advantage. It may be untrue though, I don't know.
Except people aren't going to wait for the shops to re open. They're going to shop on line. The non essential independent shops lose out either way. If he can't understand this he shouldn't be in charge of a hamster let alone the entire of Wales.
rachelvbwho · 24/10/2020 08:35

I generally think I have been supportive of covid restrictions but this is just taken too far.

How can you eat tinned food if your can opener breaks?
How can you do school work without stationary?

Last week our dog was sick on our child's duvet... There was no salvaging it but luckily I was able to quickly pop to Sainsbury's and buy her a new one... Under these regulations she would have just had to be duvet-less for 17 days...

It's just madness. And if people "survive" these 17bdays whose to say it won't be extended or brought in again in a few weeks/months.

If the shop is already open let people buy whatever the hell they want there!

BooksAreNotEssentialInWales · 24/10/2020 08:37

As he copied England by placing people in care homes without testing I completely disagree that the Welsh Government handled things well.

pomegranatepie · 24/10/2020 08:37

You are being unreasonable. He is making incredibly difficult decisions, and genuinely cares about the people of Wales. In order to keep schools open, we need to restrict unnecessary contacts elsewhere and if people are browsing for tat in supermarkets it will be harder for people to nip in and out quickly for essentials. It's only two weeks ffs, I'm sure we can manage.

TroysMammy · 24/10/2020 08:37

People won't adhere to a lockdown especially during half term. When the weather is shitty which it is, people go shopping, they won't stay at home which defeats the object.

If your kettle breaks down, boil some water in a saucepan on the stove. If your tin opener breaks, buy tins with ring pulls or not buy tins.

The likelihood of items breaking within the next 17 days for everyone is pretty low.

Halloween is definitely not essential and considering merchandise has been on sale in shops for weeks, people should plan better.

PickAChew · 24/10/2020 08:37

@LittleLapwing

Mark Drakeford, fighting Covid one half term homework project at a time.

Nobhead.

So pens and paper are non essential? Ffs.
BenWyatt · 24/10/2020 08:38

It’s a daft thing to do but calling him a dictator is also a bit daft.

Noideawottodo · 24/10/2020 08:39

@TroysMammy

People won't adhere to a lockdown especially during half term. When the weather is shitty which it is, people go shopping, they won't stay at home which defeats the object.

If your kettle breaks down, boil some water in a saucepan on the stove. If your tin opener breaks, buy tins with ring pulls or not buy tins.

The likelihood of items breaking within the next 17 days for everyone is pretty low.

Halloween is definitely not essential and considering merchandise has been on sale in shops for weeks, people should plan better.

This puritanical line really irritates me. Can't people see how nonsensical it all is?!
Freysimo · 24/10/2020 08:40

Except that it won't be just two weeks.