Alok Sharma self-isolating, awaiting Covid19 test, gave statement in Commons today

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

This is appalling. I hope he isn't too unwell and makes a rapid recovery, of course, but this is on JRM and the PM. Those scenes from the Commons yesterday were just ridiculous and those MPs are now fanning out across the country going back to their constituencies.

"It’s the staff in Parliament I feel most sorry for. The MPs chose whether to attend but the staff now have no choice. Cleaners, catering staff, security staff, legal staff, procedural staff, political staff all made to travel in and now all exposed and probably all travelled back on public transport after exposure."

Thankfully, most staff in Parliament (I am one) are working from home. A very small number have been in throughout all this, but the vast majority have been told to continue working from home, and have been very well supported in doing so. I think the House authorities have actually done a very good job with their staff. So I don't think the numbers will have increased by more than a few this week. MPs own staff have been encouraged to stay at home too, no idea if they all have been.

In late February up to mid March I and a large number of my colleagues were unwell. MPs going between Westminster and their constituencies was a huge problem then, and will be now. I do wonder now how many of them will just stay in London.

JRM's idea of Parliament scrutinising legislation involved preventing some MPs from voting on it.

His idea of facilitating debates involves preventing some MPs from taking part in them.

Mm-hmm.

I think they need to be in. If they are sending everyone else out to catch it. Hypocritical otherwise.
But if they werent doing such a rubbish job then they should wfh.
They dont get to say teachers should be in with 15 kids wiping bums etc being coughed on by kids who will not say they feel ill and might cuddle them if they arent willing to sit at 2m ! Distance from each other.

Also last time this happened we got a wave. Seems unlikely only 8k people have it at the moment and one is at parliament.
Will be interesting to see if BJ gets symptoms again, though i guess his antibodies are good it may be the people who got it mildly.
Also dont they now think masks might have been a good idea in a 2m SD still im interested in how much it spreads round the room.
There is probably a 1/5 chance there is now someone else there who is asymptomatic.

Coronavirus: Business Secretary Alok Sharma tests negative www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52924944

Good news, but the whole situation should never have happened in the first place.

Good news, but the whole situation should never have happened in the first place.

This.

We're going to get groundhog day with this one, every time an MP becomes sick.

A negative test doesn't mean someone is negative though,

70% sensitivity

Agree (shouldn’t have happened). God, and I thought I loathed JRM ^^before this shit show

Of course they want the MPs back .. have you seen BJ trying to manage PMQs without his braying mob ?

He looks even more inept than usual and has now to face a QC and ex DPP .. couldn't be a worse scenario for someone who thinks they can 'cure a pandemic by quoting Virgil' ...

Totally agree!

have you seen BJ trying to manage PMQs without his braying mob

Bit like watching some excruciating old sitcom without the canned laughter.

Unfortunately for Bozo he's pissed off a lot of his own MP's lately so even with more bums on seats he might find the support a bit less enthusiastic than before..

No one actually believes if he was positive with the virus that the Tories would admit it do they?

Positive or not he still shouldnt have gone in if he had symptoms.

But then its only guidelines when it comes to them
When its the general public its rules.

Well that was quick. How long do testa usually take?

[cynical]

Well there was a care worker on a news programme or the daily briefing, (i cant remember which) who has been waiting for over a week for his result.

So he's still at work then?

It's all a complete mess- but some tests are coming back really quickly in London. A teacher at my school had a test on Tuesday and had the results by Wednesday.