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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the Government have done a reasonable job of handling this pandemic?

366 replies

EmbarrassedButIAdmitIt · 06/05/2021 22:49

I’ve actually just voted Conservative in my local elections because of it Blush. Not for Boris I might add who I cannot stand but the people actually doing the work behind him.

Considering we have not had a worldwide pandemic in over a hundred years, and the world has changed beyond recognition in terms of people movement since then, obviously it has been a massive learning curve, but I think on the whole we have been pretty well looked after with furlough, self employed support. top up benefits, vaccine production and rollout, etc.

I know there’s been ‘jobs for the boys’ but I don’t think any other political party would have been any different sadly.

We have had a higher death rate than other European countries but TBF we are a small overcrowded island populated by people who don’t like following rules and are stupid enough to believe hysterical conspiracy theories.

I am so grateful that I live in the UK and not somewhere like India, Brazil or even the US.

So AIBU?

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 07/05/2021 08:20

I've always loathed the Conservative party and the way they have handled the pandemic is unforgiveable.

Theworldisfullofgs · 07/05/2021 08:27

You do know there was a pandemic exercise, before covid and they shelved it?

They flung money at the problem from the magic money tree that didn't exist before to fund things like education. They got lucky with vaccinations.
They've spent ££££££ on things that havent worked like track and trace and now we will all be paying that.

skirk64 · 07/05/2021 08:29

@Jangle33

Tell me how can anyone vote Tory after this? Let alone the sleaze, the no free lunches (takes a sodding footballer to sort out), a housing market where no one can afford to get on the ladder, cutting international aid....
The "sleaze" is pretty low-level if at all and is much more a case Starmer and the BBC pushing whatever angle they can to generate a story when there isn't one. The Dyson thing was not sleaze. As for Johnson's flat redecoration most people really couldn't give a damn about that. A few hundred thousand is neither here nor there. It's not worth worrying over.

The free lunch thing - again, who gives a fuck? The term "free lunches" makes it sound like the government is deliberately trying to avoid giving out lunches that would have no cost. They're not free, they have to be paid for. Personally I believe that very few people genuinely can't afford to feed their children adequately but plenty who choose not to.

Cutting international aid - it's about time! Why we piss away money on countries like India who have a space programme is beyond me. We need to get our own house in order before giving money away abroad, especially given our weakened armed forces.

The housing market - well it's not like the Tories started the trend for unaffordable homes, that blame falls squarely on Labour. Houses have been made unaffordable since the early 2000s in many areas.

The main question of how can anyone still vote Tory is answered quite easily: the opposition are not a credible alternative. As some in the Labour party have said today, Starmer believes in empty soundbites above actual policy. While that's the case, it's more sensible to stick with the Tories who at least are doing something, whether or not you agree.

Personally, I didn't vote yesterday, because I consider the Tories to be a bunch of cunts, Labour to be (apologies for the language) a vacuous style-over-substance mess, and the rest to be a total laughing stock.

emilyfrost · 07/05/2021 08:33

YANBU. I think the government has done brilliantly.

Livelovebehappy · 07/05/2021 08:36

100% agree. People don’t understand that when covid hit over a year ago, no-one knew anything about it, how it manifests, how it spread. It was a learning curve and we had to adapt as it went on. I think the way the vaccines have been rolled out has been great, and proved that we were right in Brexitting when you see what a mess the EU made of it. But I’m surprised the voting is closer on this thread than it would have been, bearing in mind most mumsnetters are left leaning. Maybe there is also a sway on here towards Boris?

ShanghaiDiva · 07/05/2021 08:39

@emilyfrost

YANBU. I think the government has done brilliantly.
128000 people have died in this country and you think the govt has done brilliantly...
AMillionMilesAway · 07/05/2021 08:45

Looking objectively, a lot has been shit but some has been good.

I'll judge him on what he does now, though. If he properly funds the NHS going forward, for instance, then I'll believe he cares about peoples health and that the clap for carers wasn't just a massive PR stunt.

User135644 · 07/05/2021 08:46

@emilyfrost

YANBU. I think the government has done brilliantly.
They've been amazing tbh and deserve the results they're getting in the elections. The positive economic forecast yesterday was like the cherry on top.
ShanghaiDiva · 07/05/2021 08:49

@Livelovebehappy

100% agree. People don’t understand that when covid hit over a year ago, no-one knew anything about it, how it manifests, how it spread. It was a learning curve and we had to adapt as it went on. I think the way the vaccines have been rolled out has been great, and proved that we were right in Brexitting when you see what a mess the EU made of it. But I’m surprised the voting is closer on this thread than it would have been, bearing in mind most mumsnetters are left leaning. Maybe there is also a sway on here towards Boris?
Yes, it was a learning curve and the govt looked at what was happening in other countries and then made the most ridiculous decisions in this country: Allowed Cheltenham to go ahead Introduced a tier system, but did not stop movement between tiers thus rendering the tier system completely pointless Information at doctors’ surgeries focused on symptoms and visits to Wuhan, yet by 1st Feb 2020 the virus was present in every province in China Insufficient testing Test and trace system which did not appear to work
RedMarauder · 07/05/2021 08:53

@Theworldisfullofgs

You do know there was a pandemic exercise, before covid and they shelved it?

They flung money at the problem from the magic money tree that didn't exist before to fund things like education. They got lucky with vaccinations.
They've spent ££££££ on things that havent worked like track and trace and now we will all be paying that.

At least one of the vaccinations they backed - one by glaxo - didn't work.
MarshaBradyo · 07/05/2021 08:53

The positive economic forecast yesterday was like the cherry on top.

Most want to move on. The left has been in a position of criticism for a year, with a strong voice on SM at least. Here too.

But people prefer economic and social positivity and Labour can’t go from the negative to positive easily.

crossstitchingnana · 07/05/2021 08:58

I could not disagree more with you OP. I am flabbergasted that people don't see it?? He has been slow to react and we have one of the highest death rates in the world. What about cronieism? Giving mates contracts for nothing? Test and Trace? Delay in red listing travel and quarantine? All the while he is scamming donors for a £200000 refit on his home. Oh and the twat even caught Covid. Not giving nurses a pay rise. Oh but those at the top are now doing better. Awful.

Bearnecessity · 07/05/2021 09:01

@emilyfrost

YANBU. I think the government has done brilliantly.
This 🙌🏻 in spades.
pointythings · 07/05/2021 09:04

The only thing this government got right was the vaccine rollout. Which was the one thing not handed to their grubby little mates for profit. Everything else they have done pandemic-wise has been a giant shitshow.

I voted for my local independent who has done some real, tangible good in our town and who has a good shot at getting the Tory out.

Jangle33 · 07/05/2021 09:05

@skirk64. I’m astounded by your reply.

I should be a classic Tory voter, privately educated, relatively wealthy. But I never could because I do care about the fact we should help others, from international aid to feeding children. I can never ever agree with your views.

emilyfrost · 07/05/2021 09:09

128000 people have died in this country and you think the govt has done brilliantly...

@ShanghaiDiva Yep. That’s what happens in a pandemic. Unfortunately, people die.

This was an unprecedented situation, so yes, I think they’ve handled it brilliantly.

gildalily · 07/05/2021 09:13

@Stoptalkingtome - you're quite right. Today the Indian variant has been declared a 'variant of concern' anyone with eyes would have been able to see that weeks ago.

The government couldn't have been any worse during this I don't think. The success the country has had in vaccinating people is due to the NHS being organised. Very little to do with the tories.

Im really shocked that people are still voting for them and working under the belief that 150,000+ deaths is a good outcome. There's really no hope.

SecretSpAD · 07/05/2021 09:16

The vaccine roll out only worked well because the NHS has been in charge of delivering it and not one of Boris's mates.
If people can't see the damage that this govt has done to this country, or the fact that if we hadn't had 10 years of austerity the NHS would have been able to cope better (and maybe a shorter or less severe lockdown?), then frankly they deserve the govt they have.

foxyroxyyy · 07/05/2021 09:16

This reply has been deleted

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oppositeofbubbly · 07/05/2021 09:16

With the exception of:

  • seeing what was happening elsewhere in Europe but thinking we'll be OK and don't need to close borders/wear masks/stop shaking hands with people/take any measures
  • having failed to obtain and PPE etc supplies in accordance with emergency contingency plans for pandemics, failing to provide proper PPE to medical staff resulting in unnecessary deaths of medics
  • paying huge sums to their mates to supposedly provide PPE/track and trace etc that either never materialised or turned out to be too late and crap
  • making a total mess of 2020 exam assessments, doing several U turns, then failing to use the next 12 months to get a sensible and well worked out plan for 2021 just in case it was needed
  • failing for many years to properly fund the NHS, then voting down pay rises for nurses (but allowing pay rises for MPs) but encouraging everyone to clap for the nhs instead
  • failing to discipline key advisers for rule breaks, making it much harder for the public to get behind them
  • failing to provide adequate care for those most vulnerable to the economic impact of the pandemic, leading to huge numbers reliant on food banks
  • refusing to extend free meals for the most vulnerable children to school holidays as requested by parents, teachers, heads etc, until someone famous starts making a fuss

Yeh, but other than that they've done a great job!

ShanghaiDiva · 07/05/2021 09:19

@emilyfrost

128000 people have died in this country and you think the govt has done brilliantly...

@ShanghaiDiva Yep. That’s what happens in a pandemic. Unfortunately, people die.

This was an unprecedented situation, so yes, I think they’ve handled it brilliantly.

And you find the huge number of deaths acceptable? I don’t.
emilyfrost · 07/05/2021 09:30

And you find the huge number of deaths acceptable?
I don’t.

@ShanghaiDiva It’s a pandemic. I find them inevitable.

ShanghaiDiva · 07/05/2021 10:00

@emilyfrost

And you find the huge number of deaths acceptable? I don’t.

@ShanghaiDiva It’s a pandemic. I find them inevitable.

Deaths are inevitable, but for a developed country that number of deaths is not inevitable. Look at the figures for Vietnam, a less developed country, how do they compare? Much, much lower. Look at Japan, Taiwan, Singapore... We have handled the vaccine roll out well (I volunteer at a vaccination hub and have seen this first hand) but the handling of the pandemic was farcical in comparison.
MarshaBradyo · 07/05/2021 10:01

For a pandemic being connected globally Western, wealthier / older, even bigger isn’t a better start.

UrAWizHarry · 07/05/2021 10:01

The government have got 1 thing right - the vaccine rollout, and that was more by luck than judgement.

Other than that - no, are you taking the piss? They've been a shitshow.