Prof. Van Tam

[itsgettingweird]

Wow. He's just made a brilliant clear statement on the daily update.

Hopefully he's allayed many fears and also explained to people why having the freedoms must remain within the guidelines.

I am a fan of Prof Van Tam. Clear, articulate, intelligent, calm.

When he mentioned tearing the pants off I realised even quite fancy him.

I've admired him from the first time he appeared.
I like his measured approach. I like his directness, and that he will say "I don't know" if necessary. Saves a lot of waffle. I like the way he's said, "let me take a moment to get this right", which shows how he takes the question seriously and is painstaking in his response.

I particularly like the way he condemned Cummings today, saying that the rules apply to everyone. He was happy to answer the question. He has integrity. A word that neither Boris or Cummings know the meaning of.

I take what he says very seriously, and what the government say, with a pinch of salt. Why? Because he has our health as his priority.

What he said:
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/30/dominic-cummings-jonathan-van-tam-lockdown-rules-apply-to-all

I did laugh when he said ...."rip the pants off the"... guidelines).

I love him, he looks like Dangermouse's sidekick Penfold.

Apparently Cummings is on his last chance and a person who said he saw him made it up.

I dont think it was a dig at Cummings. They asked him a question, he answered it that everyone in his opinion should follow the guidelines. I'm not sure what else he should have said to that question. He couldnt have said anything else.

Yes the person who said he saw him again in Durham at a later date made it up and altered his tracker to lie.

We are the Van Tam Clan

Meanwhile, "We are transitioning to Level 3."

• but you're still at Level 4 and ignoring your own guidance.

"But we are transitioning ..."

I saw him first, 2bazookas, he's MINE!!!

" I like him too. Although in my head he's the same person as the English rugby coach."

Ha ha. Me too

Eddie Jones.

Penfold!

Professor Vallance wrote a piece today

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chief-scientific-advisers-sunday-telegraph-article-31-may-2020?utmsource=5361f03e-3969-403d-afbe-ece837b20004&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=govuk-notifications&utmmcontent=immediate

I think the spring analogy is good!
Imo it is a metaphor that will speak clearly to a wide variety of people.
I liked the careful way that he expressed criticism of what Cummings did without actually directly criticizing him, I felt that he was trying to be as authentic as he could be whilst also being mindful of the limitations imposed by his position.

Tabby the question was actually about Dominic Cummings. Toby Helm from the observer asked directly about that situation. It appeared Oliver Dowden did wang want him to comment and the minister himself spoke the party line.
Then Prof Van Tam said. I'd like to say this ....

I think though it's finally dawned on Boris how damaging this has been. He's managed to get into the Mail (which is probably their biggest supportive newspaper and they should have cottoned on earlier how big this was when even they were negative!) that he's stood by him but will not again. And that he's angry that he sparked backlash with his attitude towards media when they asked him Saturday after the story broke.
No 10 have said no more media appearances and no more blogging and to keep out of the public eye. (I'm pretty sure DC was probably quite happy with that!)

So it hasn't been handled the way many thought. But hopefully the fact it didn't go away at Boris' instruction to move on he's learnt something valuable that will help him work for us in a more productive way.

@itsgettingweird

We are being treated like children when it comes to statistics.

Basically the Government has a position and it shows whatever statistics it believes support that position. Nothing that doesn't.

The Government were even ticked off by the ONS for misrepresentation - but that won't stop them unfortunately.

Whether it is Van Tam or any of the rest of the so called experts that are paraded each day doesn't matter - they know who pays their wages and will be paying them a nice pension in the future.

Good for Professor Van Tam. His meaning and views were very clear.

Can I ask the significance of the data and stadia mentionings and their context?

Data is the plural of datum

Stadia is the plural of stadium.

Nowadays, data is often used as the singular rather than plural (the data is ... ) and stadiums for the plural of stadia.

If you are used to the 'old' way, the alternative version jars and it's bliss to hear the expected version.

Like having your fur stroked in the right direction.

Yes, he is a brilliant role model as are the other scientists that appear at the press conferences. It is a shame that such horrible circumstances brought them to light but I would much rather see the likes of JVT on TV than the awful celebs that normally litter the screen.

Jenny Harries basically said what he said was correct and she agrees with him today.

I'm glad she did because Boris keot saying she stood up and said DC was right and had exceptional circumstance which was not what I took from her original statement.

She just confirmed there was a clause about extreme risk to life.

Jenny Harries, has now come out and backed Van Tam.
Good.
Glad that the journos are persisting with this.

Whitty and Vallence shut down by Boris was a disgrace.

And once again, now he thinks the fuss has died down, Boris has gone quiet.

But this won't go away.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/31/dominic-raab-i-had-no-idea-cummings-self-isolating-durham

Oh Lordy. No more scientists at the bulletins?? No more lovely Van Tammy to cheer me up?? The sunshine has gone out of my life! And I'm only half joking. Wail!!