Westminstenders: Events...

[RedToothBrush]

Events have taken over. EU / UK negotiation have been put on ice due to covid-19.

The US has banned all travel from Europe - apart from to the uk and Ireland - in a manner which is highly political to drive wedges.

The effects of leaving the European Medicines Agency may be much more serious than anyone could have anticipated.

There's a oil price war going on between Saudi Arabia and Russia which has further driven market fears led by covid-19.

There the crisis in Turkey with Syrian refugees which is also distracting the EU.

We are facing lockdown and economic turmoil over the next weeks and months.

Johnson is having his leadership moment with deaths projected to possibly exceed UK WW2 deaths.

We are desperately trying to recruit negotiators as it's suddenly become apparent we don't have enough to carry out all the trade deals we want.

The civil service will be stretched to its limited by covid-19. Yet we also have Brexit to consider.

Where next? How bad are things going to get?

As the versions I've seen are pretty much what sensible people are already doing
and without Chinese style policing
will still be ignored by the hard of thinking

Tbh - not really. Last week we were self-isolating as far as possible because I'm a middle aged asthmatic. But choosing to go to the shops less is different from not being able to leave your house without filling in a form and justifying your trip.

Plus, self isolation isn't too hard for middle class families in houses. Have a thought for the millions of people in cramped apartments with no outside access. My daughter is stuck in a tiny room in Paris.

The police are issuing fines here now, but I imagine that's mainly in cities where people are still not being careful enough (partly because their living conditions must be pretty grim). My son went for a run today (permitted) and in a town of about 15k people there were maybe 10 people in the park and almost no cars on the road.

Social distancing is something a lot of people are having trouble getting the concept of, from my own bubble... To put it mildly.

Dh has stressed about negative equity and I've reminded him what being holed up in our old house would have been like. He shut up at that point.

If we have a hot spell it could be really very unpleasant in city flats indeed.

There is unlikely to be army in my neck of the woods. It'll be the twitchy curtain police that will enforce rules. By all accounts they are already out and about round here....

Also, Eurovision Song Contest cancelled. Silver linings....

I have (had) flights booked to go and visit my friend in Rotterdam for Eurovision weekend.

I was very excited about going.

Now I'm just worried for my friend and her family after talking to her about it.

It's very sobering very quickly.

Message from our head teacher re the exams is: They have also announced that there will be no exams in May June this year, which is not the same as saying they are cancelled.

Social distancing is something a lot of people are having trouble getting the concept of, from my own bubble... To put it mildly.

DW is a wheelchair user dependent on me to get around.

I think we'll cope.

Gary Neville closes his hotels, hands them to NHS. No one to face sack and will get full pay ..

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3853138-Westminstenders-All-bets-are-off?msgid=94821867#94821867

That’s so good one nice story

Applause for Neville 👏🏼 🥇

let's hope some other very wealthy people also show such community spirit

Just the one nice story? Last week Greta was King - this week everyone is scrambling for their Bunkers.

At least the planet is getting a break - fact.

That's it. After time I'll see how the dust settles, meanwhile:

You go Planet, can I give you a foot massage, order some room service food or whatever Moddom requires?

Greta's payin'

The climate summit this autumn is likely to be cancelled because all the leaders have far more important things to do

Fact

In a depression, desperate people won't give a fuck about the planet

Fact

Worrying about the plant is a luxury that broke people don't have
Being broke changes priorities

me: fuck the planet if the Greens are rejoicing over COVID

While I get BCFs cynicism about environmental matters, I don't think post covid we'll just be able to flick a switch and pretend it never happened.

Purely in aviation terms, those grounded planes - maintained or not (and the maintenance alone would make your eyes water) aren't going to be ready to fly again overnight. And that's before you factor in pilots that can no longer fly because their hours fell. You would have to pump money into the industry on a scale that makes the bank bailout look like a Scout Jamboree tip. Which is all very well, but I think the post covid attitude to jetting around the globe and spreading pandemics is going to be markedly different to even 3 months ago.

There's no point in rescuing a long haul aviation industry if people cant' get into far away countries.

If it were the UK alone in this mess, it's a given there's never been a problem pumping taxpayers money into subsidizing the well off. Glyndebourne and Concorde are testament to that. But now there are other foreign countries in the mix. And as we have been warned of from an early age ... foreigners just can't be trusted.

For what its worth, I've been warning of a global devastating pandemic for years. And I don't think covid is it. But if we want to see the apocalyptic one I'm imagining, then keep right on.

I can't see Heathrows runway happening - regardless of court actions.

Ironically, HS2 might just look sensible post covid ? Especially if remote working drives a move to people meeting in pop up office type spaces.

Political pics @politicalpics
Breaking ;I think we can predict a close down of London very soon as beds are being moved into to No10 as we speak...

Breaking ;I think we can predict a close down of London very soon as beds are being moved into to No10 as we speak...

I'm not as gullible as @politicalpics. That's for show. The nice beds are being taken in the back way, well away from cameras.

Statements saying no lockdown from govt

Driving me crazy get on with it

Johnson’s use of the word advice being very much taken everywhere. I’m going with Chris Whitty’s use of instruction.

Also interestingly in Australia 400 scientists have written to the govt urging them to act. Timing says the govt. hmm what could go wrong.

Maria Eagle Lab MP for Garston has put down a written parliamentary question about whether the govt intends to join in the EU co-ordinated effort to buy ventilators and other medical equipment.

Her question is due to be answered next Tuesday.