To think Macron is ridiculous

[Dongdingdong]

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!

@DailyPotion

It does make me laugh. People here have been calling for us to close the borders for months, afterall it's what made Australia and NZ so successful, you known. France try it and they're not playing fair.

I do feel for the lorry drivers, most won't be home for Christmas now, even if they are able to start moving today, but I understand why the French have done it.

As I said on another thread, there is a difference here and that's that when other European countries closed their borders, they continued to allow freight and essential workers through.

Denmark has also found the new variant, because like the UK, it has good sequencing procedures. Sweden has closed its border to Denmark. I don't know if it has closed completely or just to individuals. But France definitely went too far in a complete ban on cross-border traffic and I don't believe for a minute that the B word isn't on their minds.

Especially as it's 100% certain that the new variant is in continental Europe anyway. It's out of control in Essex and Kent. The closest areas to the continent. Come on folks give over - you've got it too.

Though I do think it's quite funny that the Brexiteers have discovered that free movement is quite useful after all.

Though I do think it's quite funny that the Brexiteers have discovered that free movement is quite useful after all

Macron is confirming he sees free movement as a big problem.

It’s not just Kent. The estimate is that 60% of new infections across Wales are from this variant. We don’t have a whole heap of ports connecting to France...

This from @cardibach in Wales is worth repeating, I think.

Do you also believe we should have shut our borders when covid first came out?

I dont blame them.

@SuperbGorgonzola it's hard to say. I don't know precisely how the likes of Germany and France feel about the ins and outs of ever closer union, if I'm honest. I would have thought that if enough of the 27 felt that it wasn't heading in the direction they were comfortable with, and could come up with attractive solutions then maybe some sizeable opposition could have been mustered.

Or maybe, as the Leavers suggest, it was all very "put up and shut up" and there was a sense that they could do what they liked because nobody would seriously contemplate leaving.

Even if the new strain is already in mainland Europe , Governments here do not want to import more of it until such time as they know exactly what is going on.Passengers were tested arriving from the UK to Hannover and Stuttgart on Monday night .10 passengers were positive! It's only common sense to shut the borders.

@reformedcharacters

Though I do think it's quite funny that the Brexiteers have discovered that free movement is quite useful after all

Macron is confirming he sees free movement as a big problem.

I think you have misunderstood free movement. Also, he’s not the only EU leader to do it, so it’s obviously ok with the rules. Sovereignty eh? Not just for Britain. Not just possible outside the EU.

THe fact that Brits are only now finding out that their food supply is rather reliant on the goodwill of another country
is hilarious
and horrible
in equal measure

But hey, you voted for the Oven Ready Deal
If Johnson had Got Brexit Done in January when it actually happened
then the UK and the EU could have focussed on COVID _together

Reap what you sow.

I think you have misunderstood free movement

😄

I got very suspicious about what we in the UK were being told about 'what the EU wants' when Penny Mordaunt lied blatantly to Andrew Marr and the public about Turkey supposedly joining and then lying about the UK veto. (We did have a veto, of course - she outright lied about that.)

She was a defence minister at the time, now Paymaster General, god help us.

She's part of the ministerial cabal that chooses to position (metaphorically) the UK in some sort of victim role, in thrall to the leviathan EU and the Muslim hordes from the East.

John Crace has got her measure.

@Barbie222

I don't blame him. We created a situation with the schools where it was quite likely that a variant would evolve that moves quickly between kids. I doubt it's come from abroad. It could have happened anywhere in the UK but it was more likely to happen here than anywhere.

You're completely wrong. It's thought to have mutated in a immunocompromised patient.with a long term case of covid. It could have mutated anywhere, like the new strain that's been identified in S Africa.

There is every possibility truck drivers could get the new strain and transmit it unless they are hermetically sealed in their trucks.
Any shopping trip, toilet stop, any kind of exit from the truck could cause transmission.
If I was french I'd be asking what my president is doing to prevent infection.

I think it's stunningly ironic for anyone in the UK to criticise other countries leaders.

I agree, it's political shenanigans, designed to show us how painful they can make the Brexit process, unless we make a deal with them. I feel sorry for the drivers, it's an awful job at the best of times.

Also, if it's true that Macron lowered the age of consent to 15, based on his own sexual experience at that age, that is deplorable. Not every 15 year old child is emotionally equipped to have sexual relationships, and there are some predatory adults will always push the boundaries, meaning that if the age of consent is 15, they think they can justify having sex with a child who is a few months under that age.

Interesting that you label him deplorable rather than the victim of such a predatory adult @Defenbaker

Defenbaker
Also, if it's true that Macron lowered the age of consent to 15, based on his own sexual experience at that age, that is deplorable
IT IS NOT TRUE

Of course not, weren’t the U.K. threatening the French with gun boats over some fish last week?

You mean dispatching naval patrol craft to monitor and enforce it's internationally recognised territorial waters and protect its resources? Something that virtually every coastal state on the planet does as well. Here is another thing, most naval craft and coastguard vessels are armed, kind of a requirement when you are a military or patrol vessel. Not sure why they are suddenly called 'gunboats', pretty sure the Maritime Gendarmerie across the channel just call their armed craft 'Patrouilleurs'.

Yep absolutely.

Very lax Defenbaker

You have done so little research, not even read any of the thread, as it has been refuted by myself and others but you still spread misinformation/ lies.

@DillonPanthersTexas

Of course not, weren’t the U.K. threatening the French with gun boats over some fish last week?

You mean dispatching naval patrol craft to monitor and enforce it's internationally recognised territorial waters and protect its resources? Something that virtually every coastal state on the planet does as well. Here is another thing, most naval craft and coastguard vessels are armed, kind of a requirement when you are a military or patrol vessel. Not sure why they are suddenly called 'gunboats', pretty sure the Maritime Gendarmerie across the channel just call their armed craft 'Patrouilleurs'.

There is a difference between patrolling our borders and threatening to board, arrest and charge fishermen in waters they are at present allowed to fish in.

It was just a jingoistic tactic designed to appease the 'Mail readers.

THe fact that Brits are only now finding out that their food supply is rather reliant on the goodwill of another country
is hilarious
and horrible
in equal measure

The fact that you think it is any way lawful to restrict food coming to a country makes you hilarious actually.

We aren't reliant on French "goodwill" to use their ports.

The amount of glee, gloating, self hatred and acquiescence to what amounts to bullying shown by some is quite disgusting.

MrsMia
The fact that you think it is any way lawful to restrict food coming to a country makes you hilarious actually.
Which bit of law forces countries to keep their borders open?
Have you not heard of Sovereignty ?
LOTS of countries choke supplies entering and leaving their borders.

Have you ever seen the queues of trucks waiting to move between Canada and the USA in both directions ?
Let alone Mexico USA
or even between states within India?

It was Priti Patel who joked about starving out the Irish after all