Boris is right

[redgin]

And I bet he's desperate to tell everyone to stop being stupidly selfish.

Everyone knows schools and unis were going back in September and it was everyones responsibility to keep infection rates low.

And what about the governments responsibility to provide enough tests and a proper track and trace system?

Wow, something I'd never thought I would see on Mumsnet.

I really think if the nation had got behind the government, any government, at the beginning of all this then the country's mood wouldn't be so low and there wouldn't be so many people ignoring the restrictions and we could all be in a better place.

@Juststopswimming

The only ones who should hang their heads in shame are the government. Oldest political trick in the book - get the peasants to turn on each other and we retain control.

Those saying what a great speech, we need more restrictions etc etc - do you really not think the track and trace and testing fiascos have contributed to this mess? Do you genuinely put all blame for this mess on people who have been having too much of a good summer?

Yep,totally agree. Having read this and numerous threads the Government really have achieved their divide and conquer strategy. Get them to turn on the young people for going out,then get them to turn on the kids for going back to school. Then get them to turn on the small minority of individuals not wearing masks. But for fucks sake,don't let them blame us for not doing our jobs properly

@Bloomburger

Wow, something I'd never thought I would see on Mumsnet.

I really think if the nation had got behind the government, any government, at the beginning of all this then the country's mood wouldn't be so low and there wouldn't be so many people ignoring the restrictions and we could all be in a better place.

this is just such a two dimensional way of thinking.

Do you think that is what people in 1930's Germany said to themselves as well?

@Juststopswimming

Everyone knows schools and unis were going back in September and it was everyones responsibility to keep infection rates low.

And what about the governments responsibility to provide enough tests and a proper track and trace system?

I agree track and trace and the test issues are a concern and should be a priority of the government.

However it’s only a part of it. You could have those working perfectly but it won’t stop people travelling and not quarantining, it doesn’t suddenly make the non mask wearers wear one (not genuine medical exceptions), neither will it make everyone follow SD, rule of six, sending in sick children to schools etc.

Some will follow the rules hoping to keep their families safe as well as others but we have large amounts of people who put their own wants above everything else.

@Bloomburger I did get behind the Government at the start of this. I was retweeting their messages!

Giving up testing in the community in early spring was concerning. As was double counting of PPE e.g counting a pair of gloves as 2 items of PPE. The lack of any testing, control or quarantine at the borders was scary and dangerous.

I stayed away from my recently widowed mum watching her upset and alone on FaceTime while i followed the instruction to ‘stay at home’. But according to the Government it was completely reasonable for their man DC to gallop around the country to family. Just prior to this Prof Ferguson’s position was untenable and he was according to them ‘right to resign’. Johnson senior buggered off to Greece.

Then we had the ill conceived Government policy to release Covid patients and untested people into care homes with tragic consequences.

The dodgy contracts awarded to companies that have nothing to do with PPE supply (pest control and confectionary)

Schools starting back in Summer term only open to cherry picked years. WFH while home schooling was hard!

Now when testing is crucial it’s completely unravelling and we all knew it was essential for when schools reopened in Autumn.

I know someone with a business who has just got people back in the office who today is trying to work out who will wfh and keep the company running smoothly. They are following the rules trying to keep their staff safe but it’s not easy.

I’ve followed their instructions but they let us down when they didn’t. I don’t want my cough to lead to someone else’s death, I want tests to be readily available locally. That shouldn’t be too much to ask from our Government.

Um he didnt actually write the speech you know.

He did deliver it well though

@Bloomburger

Wow, something I'd never thought I would see on Mumsnet.

I really think if the nation had got behind the government, any government, at the beginning of all this then the country's mood wouldn't be so low and there wouldn't be so many people ignoring the restrictions and we could all be in a better place.

What utter bollocks.

Compliance with the measures was actually extremely high in case you didn’t realise. The problem has been a bumbling buffoon of a PM who treated precious time at the outset as one big jape, spouting a load of crap about “sending Coronavirus packing in 12 weeks”, opening everything up too quickly, mixed messages, and supporting an adviser who flouted the rules whilst gaslighting the rest of us

Forgot to watch. Hope it's on iPlayer

@Juststopswimming

Everyone knows schools and unis were going back in September and it was everyones responsibility to keep infection rates low.

And what about the governments responsibility to provide enough tests and a proper track and trace system?

It's my understanding that the UK is testing as many, if not more than other European countries. 250,000 a day. A couple of things contributed to it not being enough, but it was at least in part people getting tested that didn't need to be tested.

Also graduates going back to uni who had worked in labs. And schools sending whole bubbles home saying get tested. And people coming back from holiday. And people wanting to go on holiday and needing a test.

Track and trace should be to make us not have to isolate if you get a negative test if you have symptoms. If you have been told to stay home from track and trace you need to stay home regardless of a negative test, which I think is a message that's been lost a bit.

We need track and trace but it still doesn't change the fact that people need to be responsible and use it appropriately. And I know the message has changed from get tested even with no symptoms, no contact but people need to take responsibility to not put themselves or their families in unnecessary contact with other people.

School and work and university is necessary. It was necessary to stimulate the economy over summer with eat out etc. To get back on the high street. Sports and social activities are necessary, as long as they are covid secure.

What hasn't been necessary is the pub we went in a couple of weeks ago with absolutely no social distancing between large groups, a tracking system of a notepad and pen where people had written Mickey Mouse, where there was no hand sanitiser etc. Large house parties cos they can. People ignoring symptoms. Nightclubs reopening as pubs. Groups of teenagers congregating around the local parks and beauty spots and having mass parties.

As a family we've had a lovely summer, we've done sports and activities outside, been on long walks and picnics, met up witb family and friends. Been out for a few meals, even a few drinks (once cos see above). It's been entirely possible to enjoy the relaxing of rules without being absolute knobheads.

It's no good keep blaming the government, the scientists, the NHS, track and trace etc. Everyone needs to take responsibility. You can't guarantee you won't get it, but if we get it, it will have been from being sensible not because I've gone to a party, or got pissed in a pub with a load of others.

*It's my understanding that the UK is testing as many, if not more than other European countries. 250,000 a day. A couple of things contributed to it not being enough, but it was at least in part people getting tested that didn't need to be tested.

Also graduates going back to uni who had worked in labs. And schools sending whole bubbles home saying get tested. And people coming back from holiday. And people wanting to go on holiday and needing a test.

Track and trace should be to make us not have to isolate if you get a negative test if you have symptoms. If you have been told to stay home from track and trace you need to stay home regardless of a negative test, which I think is a message that's been lost a bit.

We need track and trace but it still doesn't change the fact that people need to be responsible and use it appropriately. And I know the message has changed from get tested even with no symptoms, no contact but people need to take responsibility to not put themselves or their families in unnecessary contact with other people.

School and work and university is necessary. It was necessary to stimulate the economy over summer with eat out etc. To get back on the high street. Sports and social activities are necessary, as long as they are covid secure.

What hasn't been necessary is the pub we went in a couple of weeks ago with absolutely no social distancing between large groups, a tracking system of a notepad and pen where people had written Mickey Mouse, where there was no hand sanitiser etc. Large house parties cos they can. People ignoring symptoms. Nightclubs reopening as pubs. Groups of teenagers congregating around the local parks and beauty spots and having mass parties.

As a family we've had a lovely summer, we've done sports and activities outside, been on long walks and picnics, met up witb family and friends. Been out for a few meals, even a few drinks (once cos see above). It's been entirely possible to enjoy the relaxing of rules without being absolute knobheads.

It's no good keep blaming the government, the scientists, the NHS, track and trace etc. Everyone needs to take responsibility. You can't guarantee you won't get it, but if we get it, it will have been from being sensible not because I've gone to a party, or got pissed in a pub with a load of others.*

I agree with you that everyone has a duty to be sensible - of course they do - however the government are placing the blame for the increase in cases solely on individuals - and you can see from this thread alone that people are lapping that up. Turning on each other instead of expecting a bare minimum service from the government. Its a very convenient narrative for Boris isnt it?

@Bloomburger

Wow, something I'd never thought I would see on Mumsnet.

I really think if the nation had got behind the government, any government, at the beginning of all this then the country's mood wouldn't be so low and there wouldn't be so many people ignoring the restrictions and we could all be in a better place.

Johnson's approval ratings were actually really high earlier in the pandemic anyway. They were almost 70% in April. That's a lot for any sitting PM. It's particularly high for one who was elected on the basis of a controversial policy that over 50% of voters didn't actually want at the time he won his majority: that means a significant minority of people who opposed his flagship policy still thought he was doing a good job as PM. Compliance was also very high then too, possibly higher than expected. Unfortunately, they didn't manage to build on this exceptionally high level of approval to actually construct the functioning track and trace systems we so desperately needed, but the getting behind part was certainly there.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Boris pissed this away himself over the Dominic Cummings fiasco. The data we have is very clear: this led to a significant loss of trust, and there's no evidence of it having been reversed. You cannot bullshit the population like this without consequences.

Which is why so many people saw the speech last night, heard what he said about people not sticking to the rules and immediately heard Cummings, hypocrite, one rule for your lot and one for me. And why, however desperate he might be to tell people to stop being so stupidly selfish, that door is closed to him now. Because of his own actions.

I don't like Boris, but he made sense.

He was very matter of fact and to the point and probably the most honest he's been in a while.

And I'm grateful he squared up to people who just say the vulnerable should stay in their box while the rest crack on because some of us vulnerable have jobs to do, shopping to buy and places to be and we can't just choose not to go out while every one else cracks on.

So yes, well done Boris.

The problem isn't the message, it's the person delivering it. Inevitably it is diluted, because people realise it's coming from a hypocrite who defends rule breaking if it comes from someone he needs.

Nah. Was the trip to Italy 🤣

That comment was about the lighter hair, highlights or not

@Couchbettato

I don't like Boris, but he made sense.

He was very matter of fact and to the point and probably the most honest he's been in a while.

And I'm grateful he squared up to people who just say the vulnerable should stay in their box while the rest crack on because some of us vulnerable have jobs to do, shopping to buy and places to be and we can't just choose not to go out while every one else cracks on.

So yes, well done Boris.

But if he'd got on top of testing and track and trace; and maybe if he hadnt opened up so many things so quickly over the summer, then we ALL would've been more able to crack on.

He is not honest. And he does not deserve any "well dones"

Test and trace would make things better, definitely. But even without EOTHO etc the virus would still be rumbling around.

At least now we’ve got a few more people hopefully immune or less likely to experience it badly or transmit it so easily Without having a major impact on the vulnerable.

I’m not short of critical thinking. Since jan I’ve been reading as much as I can from all perspectives.

I know he didn’t write it and I’ll never forgive his mistakes so far but the content was reasonable for the stage we’re at.

I also wish Boris would acknowledge that the testing system has de-railed. We all know it has - people being directed to places miles away for a test, postal tests being unavailable, teachers & children off school still awaiting results. Hancock has admitted they now have to ration tests and that pupils will be a low priority despite Williamson pledging to parliament that testing would be available to staff, pupils and families for the Autumn re-opening.

So it's frustrating when Johnson retorts that we are 'testing more than elsewhere in Europe' still trying to suggest that the system is 'world-beating'. Can he not just for once apologise that the system has been overwhelmed and that they are addressing it rather than blame the public (who are trying to make sure their cough isn't the death knell for someone else). A little bit of honesty on occasion would help.

But to explain why the testing system has failed would admit utter incompetency on his part. His Churchillian ego would be a barrier to that.

Lets make no mistake - the awful and tragic outcomes in England are as a result of laziness and corruption at the heart of govt. Johnson is indicted as a criminal, in these circs. He knows this and blusters away hoping the legal eagles will be stymied by pubic opinion. He knows he is done and is clinging on.

I disagree, he didnt outline the rules and during the entire speech I was asking "so what about cummings"
Hes trying to sow the seed to blame us for the spread and it's not.
It's the government's pure and simple. If so many people are breaking the rules that its lead to this then they need to find the reason why and deal with that. Aka when dominic Cummings drove hundreds of miles and neglected his child. Deal with him and people wont see it as a joke.

Oh dear, not my impression at all. He decided to put all the blame on us, for 'breaking the rules'. We don't break the rules - we went back to work, we went to cafes and restaurants, we went on holidays, we sent our kids back to school, we went back on public transport.

Exactly this.

He let life return to normal, he encouraged us to return to normal and now things are getting out of control again, it’s all the public’s fault.

He should be ashamed and take some of the responsibility for what has happened.

I wonder if we might be beyond the point where dealing with Cummings would do anything, to be honest. The damage is well and truly done and I'm not sure Johnson's reputation is coming back from that.

See I didn’t see it as a ‘blame the public’. I can see that it was reasonable to loosen up on things over the summer but now we have to tighten up again. Not as a result of the loosening as the virus wasn’t going anywhere but because we’ve done as much as we can during the summer months, hopefully achieving some immunity amongst the young along the way but now we need to clamp down again ready for winter.
Can you hand on heart say you didn’t enjoy a bit of freedom over the summer? That seeing friends and family for a bit didn’t give you a boost?
I know I’d rather have had that and then back off again than one long year of restrictions and misery

Also Cummings is and was a twat but I’m still not convinced that supporting him wasn’t part of the strategy to get people out again after scaring them too effectively