Todays briefing

[Cabinfever10]

Can anyone tell me why there are no scientists at todays briefing

I am sure I read before they are refusing to do it in frustration at how things have been going especially with regards Cummings

Ah thanks for that. Though 1 has just turned up, so why was Hancock doing the graphs.
This makes no sense

I read that they're going to scale back the briefings firstly stopping doing them on weekends.

Maybe they don't think it's a good use of everyone's time.

Only guessing.

Also does anybody else find it really patronising when Matt Hancock says “That’s a great question” to every member of the public who gets on there. Doesn’t do it to the journalists. And have you noticed how often they answer the questions in the wrong order (I’ll answer your second question first). Is it some sort of deliberate technique because they all do this.

does anybody else find it really patronising when Matt Hancock says “That’s a great question” to every member of the public who gets on there

Loads of people do that now, I think it must be a staple of presentation/taking questions courses!

It comes over very insincere, whether from Matt Hancock or anyone else.

It strikes me that "That's a good question" is what people say when they don't know the answer.....

@Sirzy

I am sure I read before they are refusing to do it in frustration at how things have been going especially with regards Cummings

Utterly ridiculous comment.

Who is there? Sometimes they have other experts/leaders eg Dame Louise Casey on the homeless? Not sure if they've ever had no scientist or medics though

Ds says “funny you should ask me that....”, but he is 14 and we all know he’s stalling

"does anybody else find it really patronising when Matt Hancock says “That’s a great question” to every member of the public who gets on there"
Surprised you havent noticed they all pretty much do that. They've been well trained in this. It not only gives them chance to think through the answer they will give, but also engratiates the asker. It's pretty standard stuff.

@Isitmyimagination

Also does anybody else find it really patronising when Matt Hancock says “That’s a great question” to every member of the public who gets on there. Doesn’t do it to the journalists. And have you noticed how often they answer the questions in the wrong order (I’ll answer your second question first). Is it some sort of deliberate technique because they all do this.

It buys his brain cells two more seconds of time in which to come up with some nonsensical waffle.

It’s becoming apparent they are all so uncomfortable with these sessions as time has gone on. Daily pressure from the media and every single word is scrutinised, every answer picked apart. They’ve lost so much kudos because of the way certain things have been handled. It’s occurred to me that the intense questioning of the SAGE committee members about their own personal views has led to a policy decision to reduce their exposure, we may see them rarely now.

They do seem to sprint out of there every day. Particularly Matt Hancock. He can’t get away fast enough.

The papers are reporting that Chris Whitty refuses to lower the alert level from 4 to 3 so they are probably keeping him and the other scientists well away from any difficult for the govt questions!

John Crace's view of today's briefing:
www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/01/following-the-science-is-so-over-for-matt-now-fetch-him-his-lucky-tie

Loved that article. Chris Whittey refusing to lower the alert level to suit Boris richly deserves its own thread here, if there isn't one already.

Whitty article

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/02/chris-whitty-vetoed-lowering-of-coronavirus-alert-level

I love the way at the briefing a day or two ago the Sec of State said we are "transitioning" towards level 3!
God, they think we're stupid.

"Matt Hancock raised his bullshit level to 5"

Final link from me today - but this is brilliant, - Marina Hyde's take on recent events.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/02/safe-ease-lockdown-matt-hancock-alert-system-britain

The science has gone out of the window.
The imperative is to divert attention from the Cummings story.

The imperative is to divert attention from the Cummings story.

Yep. Well we could all see this coming last week couldn't we. Made the mistake of reading the MailOnline article about the alert level - the comments. OMG. There are no words. But the anti expert/anti science feeling is strong in some people. Oh and CW wanting his 15 mins of fame....hmm, in which case someone should get him a better agent because Love Island surely would be a better bet.

@Cabinfever10

Can anyone tell me why there are no scientists at todays briefing

Professor John Newton was present. A scientist.

I don't understand why Matt Hancock is presenting the slides though. These are scientific slides and should be left for the scientists to explain.

The press briefings are a complete waste of space now. About time they are wound down to once a week. They do not need a 'scientist' at them anymore, journalists are just asking the same questions over and over. The politician can just read the slides out as their is usually nothing else to say and the 'scientists' can get on with their far more important work.

@ZombieFan

The press briefings are a complete waste of space now. About time they are wound down to once a week. They do not need a 'scientist' at them anymore, journalists are just asking the same questions over and over. The politician can just read the slides out as their is usually nothing else to say and the 'scientists' can get on with their far more important work.

I read that the weekend briefings are being scrapped. Not quite the once a week but feel like it's heading that way.

I don't think the government ever wanted to do these briefings really, and having the scientists present was just a way of trying to deflect responsibility away from the government.

Remember that Michael Gove said people in this country have had enough of experts.

I wonder if Prof. Van Tam's statement at the weekend: In my opinion the rules are clear and they have always been clear,” he said. “In my opinion they are for the benefit of all. In my opinion they apply to all. has contributed to the decision to reduce the time the experts spend in front of the camera?