Govt have locked down everyone so they don't piss off their key demographic

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

The virus affects most those over a certain age. Or, essentially, a large portion of Tory voters.

The simplest thing to do is say

1. everyone over 65 stays home for 6 months
2. everyone with x y and z illnesses also stays home for 6 months
3. everyone under 65 with no known health issues remains working and moving around as usual but tries to keep on top of their handwashing and excess socialising

I honestly believe if this virus mainly affected kids and was known to be spread by kids, those over 65 would insist on going about their daily business and insisting on keeping the kids shut away. So why not the other way around?

I agree with this and actually think they’ve been very clever to achieve what they wanted anyway.

Lots of over 70s are scared and will now willingly self isolate even as lockdown lifts.

There is a section of over 70s that are not scared and would rather have freedom. 5-10% of these will die saving them money in pensions. But not so many that the NHS will be overwhelmed.

They haven’t forced this on that age group specifically so will continue to get their vote. As long as the country can continue to afford to pay their pensions (debatable after this period and no deal brexit which is to come).

If they hadn’t had to consider their votes, the best way might have been to force the over 65s and others who are vulnerable to shield. Let the rest of us get enough immunity to wipe the virus out. The over 65s would have been out of lockdown in months, whereas it could be years if waiting for an effective vaccine.

Only problem - other countries haven’t done the same so the risk would still be there. But once we had herd immunity for the under 65s, the R number should be low in the UK.

Care homes would still have been a problem though.

The trouble is, over 65s plus those with existing conditions adds up to about 15 million people - a considerable proportion of whom are working age. So we have around 20% of the country shut away. And what about their families, friends, employees and employers? 'Getting back to normal' for most people will involve time spent with someone in that 20%! We are not talking about limiting a small minority for the clear benefit of the vast majority here.

Would the government put in place employment protections for all of those people? Bear in mind the current shielded group is about 2.5 million and even they aren't receiving employment protection.

There are a lot more younger Tory voters than you think.

Not all over 65's are Tory voters either.