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Original poster

To think Macron is ridiculous

465 replies

Dongdingdong · 22/12/2020 07:11

These poor lorry drivers are very isolated anyway due to the nature of their jobs. The chances of them catching this new super strain and transmitting it are even slimmer than most people’s very slim chances. Macron’s decision to close the border is a hysterical overreaction and no doubt politically (Brexit) motivated. Open the borders and let them through!

OP posts:
Coffeeeeandcake · 22/12/2020 07:13

Brexit is ridiculous and we deserve everything that Europe throw at us.

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 22/12/2020 07:16

Well, presumably a lot of these drivers are European anyway so if it is politically motivated, it’s rather silly.

OP posts:
badpuma · 22/12/2020 07:18

That would be fine if those lorry drivers didn't need to stop for fuel or food or for toilet breaks and could stay in their cabs until they're home.

As it is, anyone who has visited a tier 4 area in the last week is now being told by the public health officers in the West Midlands that they should self isolate. Why should Macron be less careful than Andy street?

QuentinInQuarantino · 22/12/2020 07:20

The same people deriding Macron are the same that demanded that the UK shut its ports and airports in March... the hypocrisy is painful.

And if it's Brexit related, why did El Salvador bother?

TokyoSushi · 22/12/2020 07:23

This is a situation entirely of our own making.

notimagain · 22/12/2020 07:23

A couple of fun facts:

  1. The first country to take any action as a result of Saturday's announcement was the Netherlands.

2; There are about 40 countries at last count that have banned movement from the UK, leaving plenty of people stranded in the UK, not just lorry drivers

But yes, of course it's all Mr Macron's fault....

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 22/12/2020 07:24

@Coffeeeeandcake

Brexit is ridiculous and we deserve everything that Europe throw at us.
No we don’t.

I voted remain but now I’m currently doing a law degree, my opinion has changed. It’s a convoluted and bureaucratic nightmare.

Botherfreedays · 22/12/2020 07:24

Macron closed the border for 48 hours to assess the situation and to establish protocols to ensure safe travel before opening them. Look at the original tweets from the French Embassy in London. Seems like a rational, sensible and measured approach in response to a new strain that is highly transmissible...

LunaLula83 · 22/12/2020 07:26

He is stupid. He bought down the age of sexusl consent to 15 because he was 15 when he slept with his teacher, now wife. He made it compulary for kids to go to school age 3 and he's banning homeschooling..........he doesnt even have kids

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 22/12/2020 07:27

I’m so fed up with the “We voted for Brexit we deserve to die” nonsense and I’m a die hard Remainer.

Not the whole country voted for it and to gloat about everybody being affected by this is childish.

Also, that strain is already in France and Europe and shutting the door now is pointless.,it was different in the beginning when it was only in one country and it was easily contained.,
Macron is only scoring cheap political points.

sashagabadon · 22/12/2020 07:28

I agree OP. It is ridiculous and politically motivated.
He has also cut off a fellow member state Ireland that use the land bridge between Dover and Ireland (ie. England).

inquietant · 22/12/2020 07:28

I'm sure the French public support his decision to take stock of the situation. He doesn't get voted in by Brits.

Unfortunately we have always been vulnerable to a Calais closure, one of the best things about being in the EU was our supplies were much more secure Sad

sashagabadon · 22/12/2020 07:29

Most of the perishable products seem to also come from Spain so no doubt he is pissing off the Spanish too

Moondust001 · 22/12/2020 07:30

Don't be an idiot. Lorry drivers don't spend their lives in the cab. You have no idea what their chances of catching and transmitting the variant are. Is Boris an idiot for telling people they are not allowed to travel in or out of tier 4 areas? Macron only happens to be lucky enough to have a border ... Nor does he control over 40 countries that have banned travel from the UK, most of whom aren't actually members of the EU!

Schehezarade · 22/12/2020 07:30

I voted remain but now I’m currently doing a law degree, my opinion has changed. It’s a convoluted and bureaucratic nightmare

And it costs far too much - I didn't even know who my pampered over paid MEP was, and nor did anyone else. Whilst we are on zero hours contracts they are swanning around on free accommodation and travel, it just wasn't fit for purpose.

sashagabadon · 22/12/2020 07:32

The German press Speigel is also reporting he vetoed allowing the EU to purchase more of the German pzfizer vaccine unless they bought more of the french Sanofi one too.

sashagabadon · 22/12/2020 07:34

@Moondust001

Don't be an idiot. Lorry drivers don't spend their lives in the cab. You have no idea what their chances of catching and transmitting the variant are. Is Boris an idiot for telling people they are not allowed to travel in or out of tier 4 areas? Macron only happens to be lucky enough to have a border ... Nor does he control over 40 countries that have banned travel from the UK, most of whom aren't actually members of the EU!
It’s not the travel ban people are objecting to. It’s the freight ban. Lorry drivers mostly bringing fresh produce from France and other European nations to the U.K.. That is political.
ElephantWhaleRabbit · 22/12/2020 07:37

Freight seems to me pretty low risk. However, we’ve only got ourselves to blame.

QuentinInQuarantino · 22/12/2020 07:37

40 countries have banned entry from Britain.

Can you imagine how the French population would react if they, the closest country, didn't do the same just to keep British people happy?

I'm in Spain and the Spanish people were furious on Tuesday before Sanchez banned Britain. They felt that they were being sacrificed in order that Benidorm would stay an attractive prospect.

Politicians are voted in my their countrymen and should prioritise them.

Kaliorphic · 22/12/2020 07:38

It is political. Macron is a child.

Crakeandoryx · 22/12/2020 07:41

I can see why he is so worried. I live in a tier 3 area, community testing for all which many people are taking up. The Hospitals are almost full already. There are no more lateral flow tests available this side of christmas and there are hundreds of appointments a day.

The numbers in my area have started going up again. The shops are not busy and numbers are being restricted. The school's are closed and many did remote learning for the final week to help with family isolation for Christmas time.

Our transport links to London are good and many live here but work in London midweek. This is no coincidence. We're heading for tier 4.

If I was Macron I'd have been very cautious as well. It will ease up.

sashagabadon · 22/12/2020 07:44

@ElephantWhaleRabbit

Freight seems to me pretty low risk. However, we’ve only got ourselves to blame.
Does Ireland deserve the it too? What about the Spanish lettuce producers whose product will go to waste? Or the polish lorry drivers? It is utterly ridiculous. He does seem quite immature as a politician.
notimagain · 22/12/2020 07:50

Can you imagine how the French population would react if they, the closest country, didn't do the same just to keep British people happy?

I think I can, given the French coverage of Mr Johnson's and Mr Hancock's comments at the weekend (e.g. Virus "out of control")I suspect a lot of people would be quite unhappy.

Problem is I can sense some exceptionalism kicking in, fuelled by the UK medias - Many in the UK want to be able to close our borders at the drop of the hat for various reasons - including Covid...( witness many threads in this place over the last few months)..then some get "the rage" when somebody else to inconveniences us by closing theirs..

frumpety · 22/12/2020 07:51

Why are you only blaming the French Government ? what about all the other countries and their leaders and Governments ?

Chickenandegg8 · 22/12/2020 07:53

I feel sorry for all those lorry drivers stuck for god knows how long.
On one hand I understand Macron’s decision, but on the other these are people who are just left stuck in their cabs!
Good old Boris ‘oh we’ve got all these lorry parks we can open’ but what about sanitary facilities? Apparently they don’t have access to any toilets/sinks to wash hands etc.... absolute joke. Brexshit is less than 2 weeks away, when were the government actually planning on building facilities for all the truck drivers stuck in the Brexit nightmare. If they’d got themselves organised at least these drivers would have facilities to use.....