UsForThem - “opaque lobbyists” with links to the far right?

[LacyEdge]

Prof Alice Roberts started an interesting Twitter thread discussing this, linking to Nafeez Ahmed’s article about U4T in Byline Times. Replies suggest UsForThem aren’t a concerned parents’ group at all and are linked with a far right funded group.

Well I never.

twitter.com/theAliceRoberts/status/1352993581414424576

We can unite around school closures

Yes we can. There is a lot of support on here for re-opening schools in a safe manner with mitigation measures in place to counter the dreadful disrupted education of last term due to rampant covid.

Us4Them are against this but they are batshit and shouldn’t even be in the meeting. Let the grown-ups talk.

In fact, the word is that the government is postponing all discussion of petitions in Westminster Hall. So the Parents United petition may not even get the formal discussion that all petitions over 100k are meant to have.

@Victoriacres

They want all state schools open - is that what you mean ? Or are you implying they don't want covert privatisation of state schools ? If that's the case look at the advance of academies and free schools. They have met up with members of the government including johnson.They are advised by a tory lobbyist who is also advising the sceptical Covid recovery group. They met with johnson as a response to their petition, yet Parents for safe schools had a petition much much larger and they didn't have that access. 17 covid sceptical tory mps support them.

I’m nit implying I’m saying that this group has zero desire to change from state funded basis for schools

Backing them doesn’t fit with the Far Right claims

Centre right politics is not far right but I doubt even the founders are very Cons, a mix generally although unlikely in last election

Not

Its a tunnel vision way of looking at things, very simplistic and apparently links to conspiracy theorists as well.

Older women working in schools, those who are GP do not matter nor to the faceless catering staff, cleaners, grounds staff..many of whom are older people....

It's far from being a middle-of-the-road issue

If it is unsafe to open schools, but they are opened anyhow (on the mantra that this is 'good') then we see chaotic closures - it doesn't help working parents to be dealing with random extra 10 day isolation, and it is a significant risk for the 'Armistice wave' that we are being warned could be so harmful.

There is still no slack on Alert 5 NHS and with new infections at >20k a day, this could yet go badly wrong.

The middle-of-the-road ground is to seek safer schools which in turn means more sustainable schooling

This is a disease that is EVIDENCED to be spread more by the obese

If people are so keen on a lockdown why have we not locked down all of the over 65s the whole year? And the vulnerable? They understand, they mostly don’t work either!

How can a group of people taking time to ensure children have a childhood anything other than socialist and wonderful?

I’m not a troll

Hi Plummy.

Schools being shut impacts on children's mental health Yes. That's why I'd call for a safe return AND funding for actual, professional mental health services.

The impacts on learning are unequal
Yes. We've said that economic and social disadvantage impact on learning for years. Alas, we have a government that values austerity more.
No surprise that coronavirus amplifies this.
The answer is safe retufn AND to lobby hard for interventions in social and economic conditions outside of school.

Parents are struggling
Yes.
The answer is a safe return AND to question why the emphasis from this government has been to keep schools i safely open, rather than addressing the lack of support for businesses to enable them to close temporarily or reduce workload.
In fact, coronavirus has had the effect of massively reducing the standards of U.K. working conditions.
Something the government really doesn't care about.
Rachel Sylvester is writing about this in Thd Times today.

We should let the fat die - it's their own fault
Sorry. I have nothing to say on this.

I know this is about coronavirus but I see the outlines of something about people smoking and eating currant buns and how they should die like dogs I. The street

Like you, I don't quite grasp the relevance - but I think this is kind of weird.

I'm a mum
Good for you.
I am, too.
But I don't think we're going to be besties.

So many typos.

Sorry.

That should read that the emphasis from this government has been on keeping schools unsafely open.

I’m not a troll, I’m a mother and I’ve commented sporadically over the years. But I think the vitriol and ignorance on this post is disgusting and shameful

Hilarious and apposite comment on your own post.

This is a disease that is EVIDENCED to be spread more by the obese

Well Plummydevon, that's a blatant and disgusting lie for a start, so you've discredited yourself. Everyone can spread the virus, but people who are obese are more likely to have a worse outcome from catching it.

To call Us for them a right wing group is ignorant and lazy and poorly thought out.

CULL THE FATTIES isn’t doing much to dispel that notion.

Plummydevon your whole post is disgusting and shameful.

Well, I guess we were all wondering what the intersection of the New Right Economic Libertarians and yoga teachers might sound like ...

It's definitely something that might turn up as a character in an edgy comedy programme.

Those with medical conditions ie diabetes, obesity etc are more likely to die from Covid as is the same with any with a serious illness. It doesn’t mean they are more likely to transmit Covid - anyone can do that.

'Autumn is an Indigo child. She needs to be free. Only sick people use the NHS and sickness only comes from a disease of the soul. If we closed the NHS, the world would be a lot better.
I find that people who do yoga and who are spiritually awake just don't get old. Old people dying is Nature's way of ridding us of the spiritually dead.'

I do think most of us agree that for the sake of children and the country and working mothers we should open schools particularly as the UK is leading the world with vaccinations (even if sadly it is leading the world with bad death rates).

It is not a particularly radical position and I think it likely at least primaries will be back after half term and presumably secondaries by or after Easter.

@Xenia - you’ve repeatedly said you don’t agree with lockdown and think schools should be open.
What steps do you think should be taken for schools to reopen safely - safe for teachers, the children’s families and the wider population?

I think most of us agree that schools should be open as soon as possible for the sake of children and working mothers.
However to open them too soon is absolutely batshit.
Now is way too soon.

NHS England Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens says "about a quarter of hospital admissions for COVID are for people aged under 55"

This is the working population age. It’s not just an old persons illness.

[quote Victoriacres]@Xenia Open schools and it will spread like wildfire. To parents, teachers, grandparents, the vulnerable who are not all doddery 90 year olds but productive members of society. Why don't you get this ?[/quote]
Closing schools is actually likely to increase deaths:
'One table in Report 9, however, shows that closing schools reduces the reproduction number of covid-19 but with the unexpected effect of increasing the total number of deaths'.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3588

You appear to have linked to a computer simulation from last year which is a teeny bit outdated don’t you think? Vaccines, new variants etc...

@FoolsAssassin

*I know you'll never see it. But I want you to know that I think, although it's being done with the best of intentions - you are making extremely bad, harmful choices for your children. I'd like you to reconsider.*

My Brother spouts exactly this sort of shit, keeps at it like a dog like a bone seemingly convinced that I am incapable if thinking for myself. One of his children has behavioural issues, he Is incapable of having a stable relationship, hasn’t seen my Dad for 14 years and is in general really not very functional as an adult or mentally stable.

But he would like me to reconsider. I consider him to need support with his mental health along with those calling people monsters for wanting a sensible approach for education after their approach has contributed to sky high community transmission and hospitals struggling hugely.

We have tried U4T way and it got us where we are. Why on earth would we repeat it?

I'm sure all the people whose children have behavioural issues and/or have had no luck with relationships will love the implicit judgement here....

Apologies, I can see that is offensive.