England the only country that dissects and criticises everything the government say or do?

[Whatsthis1515]

So many other countries have schools back, various shops etc etc open.
Do you think people living in those countries also were up in arms when told they could return, dissecting and slagging off everything said?
Everyone here seems to think lockdown should either last forever or until September. I'm not quite sure what September will bring that June can't

So just wondering, is this criticism unique to England or do other countries do the same? I can't help but feel the people of England are so negative

It’s so left leaning it’s ridiculous. And to the poster who says it’s their way or the highway - yes. Totally true. Unless you subscribe to the incredibly narrow, blinkered and rigid view of the vocal few then be prepared to be called and accused of anything and everything

Yes. The Manichean conviction they are right. The total inability to acknowledge different views. The blinkered political tribalism.....

Governments should be held to account. It's a cornerstone of democracy. The fact a sloganeering government is making a mess in a crisis is understandably embarrassing for some.

If you think Mn is “left-leaning’, you really need to educate yourself politically. It’s pretty centrist.

I suspect a lot of it is also because they have handled this so badly so far that we are conditioned to expect more problems.

If they had brought in the lockdown earlier, not lied about there being enough PPE, not turned the testing numbers into a farce, organised sensible testing locations, not had two top scientists ignore their own advice, etc etc and so many other issues then maybe it would be easier to accept.

But while they continue to screw it up so badly, and while make such bumbling unclear announcements about the next steps (particularly when they do this on a Sunday night and say that some people should go back tomorrow, but before employers have had a chance to work out the logistics and what’s possible) - it’s a recipe for disaster that of course people are going to discuss. And it’s going to sound like nitpicking and complaining because of what the government has (or hasn’t!) done

Of course it's not just England that has people criticising their governments. That's a ridiculous notion. And you can't fairly compare each nations reaction to lockdown being lifted when the figures are so different. I can't imagine anyone would have had any complaints in New Zealand for example but why would they?

The amount of whinging I see on here about mumsnet being 'left wing' makes it obvious that that's bollocks. I might just start a thread about Jeremy Corbyn as a clear demonstration of how thats bollocks.

People get wound up by seeing opposing viewpoints so those are the posts and threads that stick in their minds. Lefties think this site is a hot bed of conservatism and righties think it's full of socialist revolutionaries. The happy truth is there are plenty of both types of people on here. Who wants an echo chamber really? We all just need to learn how to debate properly without throwing insults around.

Have you ever lived in another country?

EVERY country does the same. Some of them even go out and protest which the British seem rather more lax about.

Also, it's the British government, not English.

Many other countries acted more quickly than Johnson’s Government. From then on their people have continued to have confidence in them and their Governments generally have had the people’s support.

Johnson headed off in the wrong direction, then changed and then every night his Governments political representative has too often not told the whole truth.
No wonder the Government in England is being criticised.

A perfect example is yesterday’s announcement by Johnson.
He was leaking story’s for the previous few days (Happy Monday etc) and the BIG announcement was a confused damp squib.

Of course citizens of other countries criticize their government, constantly in Ireland.

I read the Spanish newspapers and there's been lots of criticism there to every decision made by the government. The criticism from the Option opposition party has been particularly harsh.

People in UK tend to complain quietly. We are not prone to huge riots, French style! There's been a lot of mistakes in the way this crisis has been dealt with, and I hope voters will remember when the time comes to voting again. For the moment, all we can do is follow the lockdown guidelines and hope the NHS reaches the point when they are coping, and therefore we can go back to our lives.

I don’t think Mumsnet is left leaning.

There are a few regular posters/threads who are discernibly centre right or centre left. Not that many.

Lot of voices from the middle.

Occasional influxes of posters who are more extreme from either direction.

I’d imagine it looks quite rightist from a European perspective, quite leftist from a US perspective. But only because those political cultures differ from the UK in terms of the place they occupy on the political spectrum.

Just a reminder of the leaked story from Thursday.

Though as others have pointed out, with a death rate is as high as I’m the UK it would be weird (and disturbing and unsettling) if the Government was not being closely and critically scrutinized. If anything, I would say the British media is overly deferential to the Government.

In the UK obviously, not I’m the UK...

Yes, in all nice human rights respecting countries citizens routinely question and criticise their government. It’s an essential part of the way that democracy works.

It's not just the UK, let alone just England.

NZ has had very few deaths, (and if those, they're mostly one cluster from an event) they have 'touch wood' pretty much eradicated CV & are doing their best to protect their borders whilst trying to retain relationships with other countries and some people are still complaining about the Govt, jacinta & other people. ‍🤷🏻‍♀️

Be glad we can complain.

(Though less glad we gave so much cause to! It's been a completely inept shit show)

@JessicaDay I think they meant in the absolute sense as opposed to relative to British politics. Which would make sense as British politics in general tend towards left of centre. Not many liberals in Britain.

No of course not. But the British government hasn't given as much detail on the roadmap has it? Lack of honesty, transparency and information is not decent leadership. Lack of decent leadership will create criticism. Lack of transparency creates a divide, which builds resentment.

I mean the caretaker government in a country near Britain (i mean Republic of Ireland) is getting criticised but let's face it the phased reopening of ireland has a lot more detail to it, so people understand what will be opened and when (Biggest concern your hair? No hairdresser appointment till July 20.) People have detail, so whilst they might not like it they have information and a bit of stability and control. (Plus, it was also published with enough time to allow people to prepare.)

What exactly did Boris say yesterday? I mean without people filling in the detail with assumption. Granted, you know you can sit on a bench in the sun when you're not staying at home when you can or maybe going to work at some point. When are schools reopening? Who is going to work, which businesses are re-opening? When are childcare facilities reopening for those that are returning to work?

I know there's people who claim that it was obvious what he said, but the fact that there seems to be a variety in these claims does show it was unclear.

I'm in Ireland people aren't complaining about it as much as in UK because the government here have dealt with it better.

From other countries the UK is a laughing stock in terms of how its dealt with the current crisis.

Piers Morgan is doing that he'll have a bloody heart attack before long.

I don’t think Mumsnet is left leaning.

OP! 30,000 + people are dead in just a few months. Some other countries have many times fewer deaths in comparison.

People are also confused by the unclear guidance especially about going to work...

What do you expect?! Fear of death + can I go to work and earn a living is pretty fundamental! ‘Nitpicking’ is certainly allowed with such circumstances!

Yes they do 'moan'! In fact I would say they are more critical.
despite the UK having the second highest death rate, we're not challenging the government enough on their plans.

I have a British friend in France who is a journalist. He says what’s missing there is the annoying point-scoring lobby journalist questions at the briefings. Like Hugh Pym : ‘Is the government embarrassed?” French news more likely to talk to doctors or scientists than to run pointless stories about ministers saying the wrong thing by accident or not having all the answers. BBC is very guilty of this.

Govt should be held to account but I don’t think our broadcasters do a very good job of it tbh.

I've lived in two Nordic countries where people trust their governments much more than the UK. I would regularly end up walking into peaceful protests against some government policy.

It is part of living in a democracy that populations hold their governments to account on their policies both directly and indirectly.

If you don't want that then I suggest you move to a country like Turkey, China, Russia or Saudi Arabia where you will be re-educated, have an "unfortunate" accident or otherwise disappear if you try.

Oh and Mumsnet is not left wing.

No, of course not. I don’t know why you would think this?

I suspect a lot of it is also because they have handled this so badly so far that we are conditioned to expect more problems.

I agree with this.