To think the unlock / delay announcement will depend on the football result?!?

[FusionChefGeoff]

At every stage during the pandemic, these big announcements have been leaked by Thursday, confirmed by the press on Sunday (Times generally) and then formally announced on Monday.

I've not seen much of that this week and today's news is dominated buy the footie.

Based on how much of a populist Boris Johnson is and how much of his policies are shaped by 'what will make people like me' rather than 'what will work best for the country' AIBU to think that it could come down to the result???

So, I reckon they might actually want to delay a bit more as hospitalisations are going up and the impact of isolation on everything is a massive issue.

But if England lose they cannot possibly risk that.

But if we win, they might just get away with it - or at least going ahead with some opening up but making some other changes at the same time to keep it a bit more constrained.

Im in the app so no idea if voting is automatic but

Yes - don't be silly the football result won't even feature in their discussions
No - I agree that the mood of the country abs therefore the result will play a part on what is said tomorrow

You haven’t enabled voting; it’s not automatic.

You are being silly, very silly. They won’t base such an important economical, health related, political decision on a football match, no matter how important Joe Bloggs down the road might think it is.

I share your suspicion actually I think the mood of the nation will be taken into account

You'd hope not, wouldn't you. But I wouldn't put anything past this lot to be honest.

You are being silly, very silly. They won’t base such an important economical, health related, political decision on a football match, no matter how important Joe Bloggs down the road might think it is

Are you sure? This is the Brexity Tory government we're talking about?

You know what, I’ve been wondering for a while if that was the reason they’re delaying what seems to be inevitable, given the way hospitalisation numbers are going. I kinda felt that was too cynical even for me, but I see that you’re a fellow cynic.

We’ll know tomorrow morning as it will be all over the papers

By the time the kids have finished school we’ll know enough to make the announcement ourselves.

Eid is this month, 20th I think. That could effect a lot of unvaccinated people. Hope they don’t change things the night before after Muslim people have made plans again.

Given how late previous decisions have come (first lockdown, Christmas, schools back in Jan, etc), I wouldn't believe anything is set in stone.

Popular opinion seems to be for masks to remain indoors, so I reckon that's what they'll go for... eventually. I would be very relieved.

I think it's unlikely that decisions would be made like that. You know that the semi final was only a couple of days ago. The logistics of setting policy based on unknowable outcomes would be impossible.

I'm a cynic too, and have little faith in this government to be sensible, but I still think you're wrong, because I don't think an England win would help them 'get away with' anything. I think people are just as likely, or maybe even more likely, to react badly to having a downer put on their post-run euphoria as they would be to have badnews after losing. Plus of course there are all the many people who don't give a monkey's about the football anyway.

Well, it can’t be proved either way, so you will carry on believing what you believe.

Btw my thinking was not that it would help them ‘sell’ the policy, it was that they wouldn’t want to ‘spoil’ the upbeat mood or have to reduce permitted attendance levels at the games. So they are waiting til it’s over before taking action.

@pinkcircustop

You haven’t enabled voting; it’s not automatic.

You are being silly, very silly. They won’t base such an important economical, health related, political decision on a football match, no matter how important Joe Bloggs down the road might think it is.

It’s a standard political practice to announce bad news when other things dominate the headlines.

I think there will be a massive surge in infections in ones weeks time. No one is going to follow the rules this evening. Everyone will be gathering for the football.

A close relative of mine is going to friends for a party to watch the football. His son has developed a cough (covid is rife in the school) and won’t take a PCR. Relative is planning to lie and tell them the DS has had a negative test and take him to the football party. And I’m sure this will be repeated country wide.

@whatswithtodaytoday

Given how late previous decisions have come (first lockdown, Christmas, schools back in Jan, etc), I wouldn't believe anything is set in stone.

Popular opinion seems to be for masks to remain indoors, so I reckon that's what they'll go for... eventually. I would be very relieved.

I agree, I would not at all be surprised if they do u turn on mask.

Out of everything this seems to be the one which people want to keep the most.

You'll notice that lots of government guidance has omitted 19 July recently in favour of 'step 4' with no date. Our department started making those changes last Tuesday...

He can’t delay it again, he knows most of the public won’t accept this. I’ve already noticed most people are dropping the masks and there’s no way many are sticking to the ‘rule of 6’ anymore.

Last Saturday when I met a friend in the pub almost everyone put on a mask to go to the toilet. Yesterday, in the same pub, I didn't see a single person put on a mask. Many people have already moved on.

I know quite a few people who say they will still wear masks. I probably will on public transport, if it's busy. However people adapt quickly so I suspect that within weeks there will be very few wearing masks. Unless the requirements change, of course.

I'm ashamed to say I dont even know what the current rules are - I thought it was rule of 6 or 2 households indoors....but what happens when you go to a pub? Do you have to sit in groups of 6 or 2 households....?
DH mate invited him to their house to watch the football (and said wives could watch something else in a different room if they wanted ) but the invite would have included far more than 6 if they all accepted. But if they went to the pub, there would be a whole pub full of people watching.

@Pinuporc

I'm ashamed to say I dont even know what the current rules are - I thought it was rule of 6 or 2 households indoors....but what happens when you go to a pub? Do you have to sit in groups of 6 or 2 households....? DH mate invited him to their house to watch the football (and said wives could watch something else in a different room if they wanted ) but the invite would have included far more than 6 if they all accepted. But if they went to the pub, there would be a whole pub full of people watching.

Hold the phone.

You are sitting in the other room because of covid, or because DH mates husband is a FUCKING CUNT?

@Itsprobablynotcominghome

No I think the inference was wives could sit in the other room because we're ladies who cant possibly be interested in football, and can watch a nice period drama or programme about flower arranging instead
Thankfully DH didnt want to go anyway (before the additional info about wives being segregated!) because he wants to watch at home with me and DS. (He pretends DD will also watch it but she isnt interested)

Deaths are going up. 33 yesterday and they are three weeks behind infections. It’s not going to look pretty if he doesn’t do something. And yes, the football could impact decisions.

So @FusionChefGeoff what do you think now?