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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are we know in a totalitarian regime or something?

347 replies

Lastfreakinglegs · 09/02/2021 21:37

10 years in prison for a lie. Of course a lie a out this is reprehensible, but..... Wtf.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-travel-rules-red-list-prison-b1799698.html

OP posts:
jasjas1973 · 09/02/2021 22:11

And think about it, they bring a virus in, spread it and people die as a direct result, then 10 years is not a lot of time

We don't normally jail people for things that might happen.

But we then allow someone from the USA et al who brings in a deadly variant and kills people, with no sanction.

snowydaysandholidays · 09/02/2021 22:12

It is a manslaughter offence if you kill others with Covid, legally, if proved. That is where the the number of years for a custodial sentence came from no doubt.

I don’t think we can be in any doubt that the British government are very rattled by the latest information. We are yet to be told what that might be.

Original poster
Lastfreakinglegs · 09/02/2021 22:12

@felineflutter I was thinking exactly same.

OP posts:
littlepattilou · 09/02/2021 22:14

@harridan50

Has anyone watched the handsmaids tale... chilling

Handmaids Tale, AND also George Orwell's '1984.' It is feeling very draconian and very 'Big Brother.' It's actually freaking me out now, and I am not one to normally get bothered by stuff like this.

@Wildswim

Me too. But I've been very disturbed by the increasingly draconian lockdown measures and the suspension of our human rights for quite a while now.

This. ^

Thomasina2021 · 09/02/2021 22:14

@snowydaysandholidays

I was really shocked, and I work in the judiciary. I am minded to now think the new variants are just about to become much more dangerous or already are, and there are ‘details’ we are not yet aware of. That is the most likely reason.

Or the entire civil service and government have totally lost their minds. Ten years....

Agree - these variants are going to basically get us back to square one if they get a hold. Sobering stuff
MaxNormal · 09/02/2021 22:14

I am minded to now think the new variants are just about to become much more dangerous or already are, and there are ‘details’ we are not yet aware of. That is the most likely reason

I honestly don't think so though, I follow the science if the variants a bit and the science is out there for all to read and there's nothing to suggest any of them are more virulent so unfortunately the latter option you suggested seems to be looking most likely Sad

MaxNormal · 09/02/2021 22:16

And there hasn't been a variant yet that evades the vaccines. The South African one doesn't prevent mild disease but does seem to prevent it becoming serious.

Raindough · 09/02/2021 22:17

I have only skimmed the article, is the 10 years not the maximum penalty? As in, it won’t be frequently offered, presumably there’s softer punishments that will be generally issued first?

Original poster
Lastfreakinglegs · 09/02/2021 22:20

I had a dream / nightmare last night that I was trying to get out of this god forsaken country to go on a holiday. Doesn't seem so far fetched now.

OP posts:
LaMontser · 09/02/2021 22:23

Passenger Locator Forms are self reported. They’re not cross referenced. It’s cheaper and probably easier for the govt to threaten massive fines that put appropriate governance in place. It’s not uncommon to see a PLF completed by a Mr mouse, from magic kingdom. Or a Ben Dover or whoever.

Thomasina2021 · 09/02/2021 22:23

@MaxNormal

I am minded to now think the new variants are just about to become much more dangerous or already are, and there are ‘details’ we are not yet aware of. That is the most likely reason

I honestly don't think so though, I follow the science if the variants a bit and the science is out there for all to read and there's nothing to suggest any of them are more virulent so unfortunately the latter option you suggested seems to be looking most likely Sad

But details such as what ?
ktp100 · 09/02/2021 22:26

FFS, one minute it's people are being 'OTT' for stringently sticking to Covid rules, now we're living in a feckin' 'totalitarian regime'!

This is what happens when too many people take the piss and drag this shit out.

The people of this country are absolutely reaping what they sowed.

echt · 09/02/2021 22:28

I do wish posters would actually look up what totalitarian means, or in what ways "The Handmaid's Tale" and Nineteen Eighty-Four' have anything to do with the way the pandemic is being: "managed".

Hyperbole much? Hmm

Original poster
Lastfreakinglegs · 09/02/2021 22:31

It's used perfectly correctly

Totalitarianism is a concept for a form of government or political system that prohibits opposition parties, restricts individual opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high degree of control over public and private life.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lastfreakinglegs · 09/02/2021 22:34

Even the economist reported the UK is a flawed democracy. Thin end of the wedge. Get these bastard tories out.

OP posts:
littlepattilou · 09/02/2021 22:35

@ktp100 @echt

Oh do calm down, and get off your high horse!

People are entitled to vent, and be pissed off, and make comparisons to what all this shit we're going through feels like.

It's tough for many, so bore off with your finger wagging, and sanctimonious, snarky comments.

Snowsnowglorioussnow · 09/02/2021 22:36

I wonder if the people of New Zealand felt the same op, when you dream of a holiday, is it to New Zealand, the place that has stamped it out?.

AuntieStella · 09/02/2021 22:37

Of course it's hyperbole.

Too many posters on the other thread pointing out boring things such as this is the maximum sentence for repeat offenders, for the specific offence of lying on your location form (so travelling from a non-quarantine country and saying you had been there for the previous 10 days, but that being a lie because you'd arrived there only 48 hours before from a quarantine country)

We need effective and well respected quarantine regimes. We don't know where the next variant will appear, but once it does emerge, we might want to seal down against it quickly and effectively.

The consequences - vaccine-escaping new variant in circulation could cost many lives and plunge us into another lockdown.

Jaxhog · 09/02/2021 22:38

@Chloemol

It’s like anything else, if you do t want to pay, go to prison etc then obey the rules

I have little sympathy with anyone travelling abroad in a pandemic ( and none for those who whinge when rules are changed when they are away which is always a possibility).

And think about it, they bring a virus in, spread it and people die as a direct result, then 10 years is not a lot of time

Me too. And to those saying 'it's less than manslaughter' - ignoring this rule is exactly that.
Wildswim · 09/02/2021 22:39

New Zealand, the place that has stamped it out

Viruses can't be stamped out.

You can't lockdown forever.

ichundich · 09/02/2021 22:41

Together with the 'reporting your neighbours', the lies and nepotism that are rife within this government it certainly smacks of East Germany before 1989 😔.

IDKNABYBIF22 · 09/02/2021 22:42

@Lastfreakinglegs

Totalitarianism is a concept for a form of government or political system that prohibits opposition parties, restricts individual opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high degree of control over public and private life.

...did just copy that from Wiki?! That definition doesn't really have anything to do with the government making it an offence to saunter off to the Seychelles on holiday, and then lie about it on your return. You can still go for Christ sake, just be honest and quarantine properly when you get back. Or is expecting people to take some personal responsibility in a global pandemic out of the question?

God knows what people who actually live in totalitarian regimes would make of some of the comments on this thread Hmm.

SpudsandGravy · 09/02/2021 22:43

It's not for a lie. It's for potentially exposing huge numbers of people to the virus.

Floridaflipflops · 09/02/2021 22:44

What I’ve found alarming is the amount of people enjoying living in an authoritarian society. They just love it and expect every one else to lap it up too.

“Oh I hate it too but it’s for the good of mankind...’

Ten years for telling a lie about where you have been on holiday. Bloody scary especially since 98% of the population can fight the virus off and we are seeing a quick decline in cases already due to the rapid roll out of vaccines, In fact we are already at October’s level of cases.

But still ten years inside..

Floridaflipflops · 09/02/2021 22:45

@SpudsandGravy

It's not for a lie. It's for potentially exposing huge numbers of people to the virus.
What the virus that 98% of the population will fight off/be symptomless?