Call me a cynic but...

[herewegoOVERANDOVERagain]

Does anyone else feel that tonight's announcement was more about Johnson trying to save his arse?

The only thing that he can claim to have gone right in recent years is the vaccine programme - and they've exaggerated and lied about the extent of that.

What with party-gate, wallpaper-gate and the cock up over the evacuation of Afghanistan, it looks like his time in No.10 is limited. I think he's grasping at straws.

I'm no antivaxxer (I'm triple vacxed and wear an FFP2 everywhere these days) but why are we going all 'emergency booster' mode when the rest of the world isn't?

so anyone else reckon his own party leaked the christmas party video?

Two things can be true at the same time ffs. Do not let your cynicism cloud your judgement, that would be pretty thick.

• the data suggests boosters are very much needed
• the PM has used the timing of this crisis to stop you thinking about him breaking the law

I personally am so very very clever I have bookedu booster whilst still thinking he's a liar.

Yes this is just a distraction. Restrictions have not changed and he made the announcement about the booster drive without even first informing GPs/the NHS.

It just looks like he wanted to appear statesman like and make it look like he was in control and rushed something out to take the focus away from all the Christmas parties.

The fact that this was pre-recorded also looks like he was running scared of having to answer any journalist questions.

This should have been done live with the experts as usual and only after he had circulated the news with healthcare professionals and a plan was in place.

You only have to look at the fact that the website to book the booster has been crashing and/or that people are saying they can't book to see that as usual this was not prepared and thought through properly. Plenty of GPs on social media saying they only heard about the new vaccine drive when he spoke yesterday.

He is a disgrace and need to resign...

I personally am so very very clever I have booked booster whilst still thinking he's a liar.

😂 very impressive!

I agree though - boosters look necessary but the manner of the announcement was ridiculously dramatic and entirely for show.

This is the problem with having this dreadful PM, he's got zero authority.

I detest Johnson, but he's right about boosters.

I suspect the briefing was originally meant for more restrictions or a resignation rather than .... waffle .. waffle.. boosters... waffle.
I hope to God it works as a strategy but with exponential growth on infections and even with boosters I think it's 75% protection, it may not be enough.
Being in Scotland we'll get some useless additional actions like no alcohol after 8 or something and restrictions on household numbers ( that I will ignore if I can).

It's clear that Christmas and protecting the NHS are mutually exclusive but people are weary of restrictions for the so called greater good.

Carrie probably told him to do the broadcast.

Interesting thought OP. I agree with it. I also wish they stopped trying to use three-word slogans for everything (get boosted now) as it spoils the fun of fishing for red herrings...

I think it is a distraction tactic - there is a new variant, but the timing of the announcement was designed to distract. The fact it was an address on tv and not a press conference stopped any awkward questions - on Wednesday at PMQs when he is asked any questions about anything he will say " we are getting on with tuning the country" etc and "look at the success of the vaccination programme." I don't care about the parties they are a side issue but I care that he has now moved the country to a state of panic in order to distract from awkward questions - that is unforgivable as its soley driven by "self interest."

I am concerned that the government's willingness to play politics with the pandemic will extend to them not taking effective action fast enough because of concerns about their popularity if they "cancel Christmas" again.

It feels wrong that their political reluctance to win votes in the HOC thanks to the Labour Party because scores of their own covid denier MPs vote against them could delay action in the national interest.

"Plan B" isn't "stringent national action." It's barely pissing in the wind against omicron at this late stage.

Most of these dates below have passed already.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/10/stringent-uk-covid-measures-needed-within-a-week-leak-reveals