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Original poster

Boris completely misunderstands the question

137 replies

PuzzledObserver · 30/04/2020 17:29

Michelle in Cornwall says they are getting inquiries about booking their holiday let from June onwards, but they are worried about people from cities bringing a second wave to Cornwall. How will tourism be managed in the coming weeks?

What Boris heard: when can I start getting income from my holiday let?

So he went on to assure her that she would be able to open when the time was right etc but it was important not to do it too soon. Completely missing the point, I think.

OP posts:
HRH2020 · 30/04/2020 18:07

The public's question is a pre recorded video so they can't respond.

PilatesPeach · 30/04/2020 18:10

same as when he talked about mental health after the question was raised and he talked about people who had existing mental health issues and people getting emergency help as NHS would not be overwhelmed. People with no previous mental health issues may well develop them as a result of current situation and whilst it may not be an emergency warranting sectioning or visit to A&E, it may still require urgent treatment or help. He hasn't a clue about how many are feeling or struggling.

Original poster
PuzzledObserver · 30/04/2020 18:12

I wondered whether she was angling for a financial handout so she can keep her let closed?

OP posts:
Shitsgettingcrazy · 30/04/2020 18:14

Completely confused about what she actually wanted to know.

If she opens her holiday let, tourists will come. Which can spread it. What is she actually expecting them to do? Make anyone going to Cornwall do 14 days quarantine first?

Did she want to know 'are we going to need to close until there's a vaccine?'

Not really sure what would have been a good answer that would have actually answered her question

slartibarti · 30/04/2020 18:19

I was confused by her question, thought she might have been trying to ask for a govt handout without appearing grabby.
They have thousands of "questions from the public" coming in. I wonder why that one was chosen?

truthisarevolutionaryact · 30/04/2020 18:21

The question was the problem. Michelle evidently doesn't want people from the cities contaminating Cornwall when the lockdown is ended. He was actually quite right to ignore it. The only possible answer would be to say that those in London and big cities would be issued with a bell and required to chant unclean if leaving the city. Confused

sunglasses123 · 30/04/2020 18:23

Michelle asked a very daft question. Does she really expect anyone to give a sensible answer. Maybe she wanted Boris to state its OK, dont open and we will pay you the money you will have lost...

I have relatives in Cornwall who are very funny about this sort of thing. Dont want anyone out of area. Well OK, but when people dont come you will be complaining that its a depressed area.

chocolatviennois · 30/04/2020 18:26

I think Michelle from Cornwall is hoping Boris will pay her all summer to keep her holiday let shut. like many people she probably doesn't understand the economic cost of lockdown. Apparently it is costing 6 billion a day. So I am hoping the government will find ways of easing the lockdown gradually keeping social distancing in place wherever possible. If Michelle doesn't want people coming to her holiday let this summer she does not have to take bookings. It is not fair for her to expect the tax payer to pay indefinitely.

GabsAlot · 30/04/2020 18:27

I didnt get her question either and im not boris fan-none f them answer except chris most of the time id prefer him to be there every day

FliesandPies · 30/04/2020 18:27

Funny lot, your Cornish.

WoollyMollyMonkey · 30/04/2020 18:33

Funny how we mustn’t compare statistics from other countries when ours are abysmal, but he trumpets how well we are doing comparably when it suits him.

ladyflower23 · 30/04/2020 18:34

I didn't get it either. On the one hand she seemed to be asking when she could open her holiday let and on the other saying she didn't want any one to come to Cornwall Confused

WyfOfBathe · 30/04/2020 18:35

Boris is awful at answering questions, but I'm another one who doesn't know what Michelle was actually asking.

If she doesn't want tourists in her let, she can choose not to take bookings. She doesn't need Boris to make that decision for her.

Coffeepot72 · 30/04/2020 18:35

We've booked a week in Newquay in mid August (fingers crossed). I would have no objections to being tested for COVID before crossing the Tamar.

Hopeful201 · 30/04/2020 18:37

I thought he said we all need to stay at home in his answer? I was getting annoyed he was going on about the money side but then he did say we need to keep staying at home. ie no you won't be getting any bookings any time soon? I'm so tired of listening to it all I could be wrong!

vanillandhoney · 30/04/2020 18:37

I think what she's saying is she needs income but doesn't think she'll be able to open safely by the time June rolls around, so what is the government going to do to protect businesses reliant on tourism? Because most tourism-heavy activities mean social distancing is all but impossible.

It's a real concern for areas reliant on tourism. We need visitors but at the same time if we have the visitors (coming from all over the world) social distancing becomes completely impossible and the virus will spread like wildfire.

Original poster
PuzzledObserver · 30/04/2020 18:40

I would have thought that for Michelle and her family, the risk of having people coming to their let would be minimal. They tell renters how to gain access, then go in afterwards to clean.

If shops and businesses are operating within whatever social distancing guidelines are in force.....

Me, I’ve had the festival which was going to be my main holiday this year cancelled, as well as a family wedding. Cest la vie.

OP posts:
cantory · 30/04/2020 18:40

@hellosunshine5 Mo Mowlam did, it was one of the reasons she was so popular

mrsspooky · 30/04/2020 18:42

That was an unbelievable cock up of an answer. Im really really really glad Michelle has at least raised the issue to government as Id like to think theyd listen, but that dodge of a question was the biggest dodge of a question ever.

Original poster
PuzzledObserver · 30/04/2020 18:42

Maybe you’ll need to have the green light from the NHS tracking app before you can cross the Tamar?

OP posts:
mrsspooky · 30/04/2020 18:43

alto the cartoon they showed us to 'help us understand the R' was also unbelievable! WTAF do they not think weve been listening all this time? cartoon?

loobyloo1234 · 30/04/2020 18:43

Maybe Cornwall residents can build a wall around itself to keep the rest of us out - see how they get on?

AvalancheKit · 30/04/2020 18:46

I noticed something very different.

He is still ill actually. He has not recovered. There are reports that some people can take months to recover from COVID-19 and in the meantime are left with impaired abilities. He was not as sharp or focused as he has been.

There was also the bit when Prof Witty mentioned the Guardian article and I heard Boris off screen say something like “But this is the BBC”. It is correct for interviewees not to plug rival press in open interviews but wrong for Boris to run the risk about making a deal of it. He should take more time out and I suspect we will see that happen soon. Personally I suspect there will be a change in Tory leaders before this government is through.

Roselilly36 · 30/04/2020 18:46

Politician giving a straight answer to a question? Your expectations are too high OP 😂

milveycrohn · 30/04/2020 18:46

Was she worried from the business point of view?
Or from the possibilty of incomers bringing a second spike of the disease?
The answer is 'don't take any bookings at the moment'.