Your position on Covid lockdowns

[kellehi]

Well, I have seen a lot of people on here changing as the wind blows and the government continues to move the goalposts with respect to lockdowns, and so the same happens here. So just wondering what your position on this will be in the future, if X happens.

Please start your post with the relevant number below, you can expand on this if you want, but not necessary.

1 - we should end the lockdown and open things up now.
2 - we should open up as originally promised on 21 June, regardless of the government position
3 - we should end the lockdown and open things up when everyone over 18 who wants a vaccine can have one
4 - we should end the lockdown and open things up when adults are vaccinated
5 - we should end the lockdown and open things up when every person including adults and children are vaccinated
6 - I think some element of lockdown should continue indefinitely whenever the government says it's required, even if it means years waiting.

Thanks

1. We should never have had a lockdown but just got on with it the way in which they got on with spanish flu back in 1918. There is no definitive proof that lockdowns have achieved anything and they have probably killed as many people as saved. Plus fucking up the economy.

All we have done is ‘protect the NHS’ to allow the tories to keep underfunding it while deny they’re underfunding it by saying ‘See! It never collapsed!!’

1. or 2. Before the economy dies forever.

I want to say 1 because I am worried about the effects of lockdown on the local economy which is heavily reliant on the hospitality sector and the workers who are still furloughed or have been made redundant. A lot of local people are on low wages usually and have struggled so much in the past year.

I will say 2 though as I think each stage of opening up restrictions needs to be reviewed before the next one happens.

I don't agree with any further lockdowns.

@MinnieMous3 - I think right wing politics is having a kind of last resurgence, and Brexit etc are the death cries of it going under. Once the over 60s are no longer with us, I can’t imagine them having any sizeable voting base. Younger people don’t really do identity politics.

That is not how it works. I would suspect that actually with regards to the EU vaccine debacle, there are fewer people who support rejoining than at any time since the referendum.

Additionally, it is simplistic to assume that just because young people tend to be more left leaning, you ignore the fact that they tend not to remain so as they get older...

You know, as they get exposed to Labour governments, pay taxes, want to work more on a sense of personal achievement and actually retain more of the fruits of their labours, see the reality of the world, e.g. what has happened under leftist politics in places like Venezuela (cheered on by Labour and UK leftists, naturally) and not the idealistic dreams when they were agitating for change and the glorious socialist revolution that is just around the corner...

[quote kellehi]**@MinnieMous3* - I think right wing politics is having a kind of last resurgence, and Brexit etc are the death cries of it going under. Once the over 60s are no longer with us, I can’t imagine them having any sizeable voting base. Younger people don’t really do identity politics.*

That is not how it works. I would suspect that actually with regards to the EU vaccine debacle, there are fewer people who support rejoining than at any time since the referendum.

Additionally, it is simplistic to assume that just because young people tend to be more left leaning, you ignore the fact that they tend not to remain so as they get older...

You know, as they get exposed to Labour governments, pay taxes, want to work more on a sense of personal achievement and actually retain more of the fruits of their labours, see the reality of the world, e.g. what has happened under leftist politics in places like Venezuela (cheered on by Labour and UK leftists, naturally) and not the idealistic dreams when they were agitating for change and the glorious socialist revolution that is just around the corner...[/quote]
Of course. But I think with the advent of social media and more sharing of opinion, voting won’t be quite as tribal as it was before, and lies are better exposed. I’m not saying we are heading for a left wing utopia, but I think after years of extreme politics, people will favour a more boring moderate ‘central’ approach, like New Labour after Margaret Thatcher’s government.

I think the vaccine debacle has dented the remainer’s views of the EU but ultimately they will recover. Just my prediction.

@MinnieMous3

Electorally, the left are done in this country. Not for nothing that the last eleven elections for them were "lost, lost, lost, lost, Blair, Blair, Blair, lost, lost, lost, lost.

If anything, the EU's vaccine debacle will be the key for more political parties in EU member states agitating to leave, once that Covid-19 is over and done with.

Especially when they see the EU's Covid bailout bill, which of course will be assessed by per capita GDP. So countries with high gross GDP but higher populations like Germany, France, Italy will pay comparatively less per person than countries like Ireland with lower populations and where the GDP is artificially inflated with the likes of Apple and Amazon basing themselves there means the GDP per capita is artificially high.

1

It's really interesting as the responses on here are so different to what they would have been 6 months ago

IMO the psychological abuse over Christmas was a lot of peoples final straw.

With mandatory furlough for all Cabinet ministers while we restructure their jobs, and a blanket 12-month ban on international travel for everyone in government, F1 moguls and everyone else that fucked off to Dubai for no good reason

Id fucking love it if barbers and hairdressers banned some of the MPS especially the MPs who have so obviously had their hair cut during lockdown.

[quote kellehi]@MinnieMous3

Electorally, the left are done in this country. Not for nothing that the last eleven elections for them were "lost, lost, lost, lost, Blair, Blair, Blair, lost, lost, lost, lost.

If anything, the EU's vaccine debacle will be the key for more political parties in EU member states agitating to leave, once that Covid-19 is over and done with.

Especially when they see the EU's Covid bailout bill, which of course will be assessed by per capita GDP. So countries with high gross GDP but higher populations like Germany, France, Italy will pay comparatively less per person than countries like Ireland with lower populations and where the GDP is artificially inflated with the likes of Apple and Amazon basing themselves there means the GDP per capita is artificially high.[/quote]
I don’t think it will be Labour. I make a prediction that a new shiny centre ground party will emerge 🔮

2 as long as hairdressers still open on April 12th.

I do wonder whether MPs (as well as TV people, celebrities ) are having their hair done "at work" and consider it "essential work" for those they employ to do it, saying they have to look good (excluding Boris). Krankie McSturgeon for example

Im left and dont agree with lengthy lockdowns. Where do i fit in?

All we have done is ‘protect the NHS’ to allow the tories to keep underfunding it while deny they’re underfunding it by saying ‘See! It never collapsed

Yes. Unfortunately i think there will also be a lot of resentment towards the NHS. Ive seen NHS worker accounts on Twitter branding people covidiots.

@MercyBooth I'm a total lefty too, still very anti-lockdown too- so I'm with you 😄

It makes me feel grubby that there are more back bench tories speaking out against lockdowns- labour don't speak for me at all

Not doing this any more.

It makes me feel grubby that there are more back bench tories speaking out against lockdowns- labour don't speak for me at all

So much this.

Incidentally................
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1415896/climate-fear-handling-pandemic-experts-jobs-lost-families-threats

A CLIMATE of fear is preventing experts from questioning the handling of the pandemic, with reputations smeared, jobs lost and even families threatened.

@Northernsoulgirl45

You appear to have missed out the option of opening up as per the route map, but ONLY if we genuinely meet the criteria at each stage. NOT just on set dates. This

Exactly. We should adjust according to the data.

@Summertime2

1.

Not doing this any more.

Can I ask how old are you and have you had the vaccine?

Anyone listening to the briefing? Whitty in particular

Yes Im watching.

I feel like I’m in the firing line as late 40s and cases will rise. I know it’s irrational and overall my risk is low but Whitty talking about higher cases and unvaccinated falling very ill and some dying made me feel exposed.

I’ve lasted a year feeling pretty robust mentally about risk so need to not let it get to me much

I'm watching too. Boris has his shiny new press room, priorities!

The bright blue and those bloody flags