Westminstenders: Following the EU lead

[RedToothBrush]

Coronavirus poses a particularly Irish shaped question. How the UK responds to Irish plans for ending lockdown and whether Arlene continues to back an all Ireland plan will be fascinating to watch and see justified regardless of which way we go.

The UK for all its new found independence is looking very closely to the success / failure of EU strategies before making our own plan public. Mainly because we've yet to write one.

Johnson hasn't led much. He's delegated. Yet he gets all the praise for doing the sum total of fuck all and never being the bad guy. There always another fall guy to blame.

Economically we are stuffed and promises of a very quick bounce back don't look likely based on public confidence and willingness to return to places like pubs restaurants and shops.

Our ability to adapt to new conditions at short notice has been tested and businesses can not afford to do this again soon.

This is the background to which we go into talks. Both sides need an extension to serve their best interests. Johnson is determined to cut our nose of to spite our face for the sake of his legacy and to keep those paying the back handers and dodging tax happy.

I'm not at all surprised by the direction this app business is going in. I know quite a few people who've tried to modernise gov tech in the past, and I have it on good authority that ministers and policy types REALLY love hackathons. This app idea has "two day brainstorm and rapid prototyping with Google" stamped all over it.

Can assure you all I will not be downloading government app.

You mean the SERCO/G4S "app", surely ?

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-tests-contact-tracing-serco-g4s-private-firm-a9497371.html

I've just devoted 30 seconds to considering if there's any way I could be less impressed and (in a situation so-meta-it-hurts) I have to admit I am actually impressed that the government managed to nail it so perfectly first time by not even trying to look as it they are taking it seriously.

Respect. Absolute respect. Makes you proud to be British,

Not sure if this has already been linked to:

https://www.computing.co.uk/news/4014602/privacy-experts-express-concern-nhsx-covid-19-contact-tracing-app

Computing magazine has taken down its paywall for this article.

I'm with you squid4, Piers Morgan seems to be holding the government to account better than Labour. Hopefully, Starmer is playing some clever, long game but at the moment I am feeling disillusioned with the Labour Party too.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response-membership/list-of-participants-of-sage-and-related-sub-groups

Hopefully, Starmer is playing some clever, long game

Same way we were told Corbyn was over Brexit, you mean ?

One for the real politics nerds ...

parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6f0f52cf-9fda-4785-bf63-af156d18b6c7

Maybe DGR, have no idea what Labour's strategy is

The Govester was on form in the HoC this afternoon. Loads of questions about the extension, but only two answers:

1. We haven't really left the EU yet.
2. We won the election, so Naaaaaaaaaar!

The Govester

Sounds like a really crap WW2-era plane that was detested by anyone that ever had to fly in one. Maybe that's a new way to make this bunch half bearable ... it's fascinating to imagine what our real heroes from WW2 would have dubbed:

"The Boris"
"The Rishi"
"The Hancock"
and
"The Patel"

My suggestions are:

-a barrage balloon that had a tendency to come adrift and was more of a risk to our side than it ever was the Nazis.

-a portion of rations that turns out to be weighed including the tin. So your 8oz spuds are actually 1oz in a 7oz tin.

-a firearm to be carried by three people that is only effective against two

and

-a knife worn on the calf that can't be used until the sheath is unstrapped from the leg.

There was the unloved Morrison Shelter named after Mandy's grandad. The theory may have been sound, but few people were convinced that they should construct a cage inside their living room so that when their house collapsed around them, they could remain safe inside until someone came to dig them out.

There was the unloved Morrison Shelter named after Mandy's grandad.

Unloved it may have been, but it seemed effective enough ...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raid_shelter#Morrison_shelter

Speaking of wars casting shadows, did anyone else catch this valiant contestant for a darwin Award yesterday ?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-52521650

.
But when Facebook users suggested it was a bomb, an "absolutely terrified" Ms Cirillo called the police and returned it quickly to the garden before it was taken away by bomb disposal experts.
.

Not sure moving an item that has been flagged as an possible unexploded bomb would have been the correct answer in an IQ test.

Looks more like an incendiary device though - not that I would want to be anywhere near it at all ...

DGR

I hadn't realised it was Bluetooth.
How much do you want to bet the Tories Petronella was talking about won't be leaving their Bluetooth on

Thanks @TheABC trying to get a response from the school that they would allow DD on site if I did get it.

I see Sturgeon is doing the sensible thing of preparing the public for the possibility of repeated lockdowns on the horizon. I really hope stats on how women are running things comparatively competently are being collated and noted somewhere too!

^ Workers will be asked to come into the office at different times and stagger their lunch breaks.

The FT has a similar story saying hot desking to be curtailed, staff canteens to remain closed, no socialising during breaks, limit the number of people using a lift, floor tape to mark out 2m spaces, other retailers to protect staff with plastic screens, people encouraged to shop alone, retailers to have outdoor queuing where possible.^

DHs company have adapted quite well to WFH in entirety, but that's possibly a lot to do with the fact they've been quite open to WFH or other locations for a long time plus they're one of those only the big bosses have a dedicated desk/office when everyone else has to hot desk so everything is on servers places which causes its own issues but hey. Many of his colleagues are asking what the point is in returning to the office at all given all this and that meetings are out according to other reports, especially with staggered working meaning the advantage of discussing on the spot with someone could often not be there.

It's not that they couldn't put this in, it's more what's the point? But perhaps that's partly the idea.

Workers will be asked to come into the office at different times and stagger their lunch breaks.

So how does that fit in when a workers contracted hours are (say) 9-5 ?

Been messaging with a friend who's work often includes dealing with people with mental health problems and she says this app is going to cause a world of problems with people suffering anxiety anyway with all the obvious gps and Bluetooth issues let alone privacy concerns. She's quite worried about it.

Been messaging with a friend who's work often includes dealing with people with mental health problems and she says this app is going to cause a world of problems with people suffering anxiety anyway with all the obvious gps and Bluetooth issues let alone privacy concerns. She's quite worried about it.

It could be even worse if it worked ...

Every once a week or so, I am glad I haven't completely snoozed "Angry People in Local Newspapers" as there's a little gem. Here we have a man+woman+dog protest against lockdown ...

Fair play to the Basingstoke Gazette for it's beautifully sly reporting here at 4:03pm

Well that ends our live coverage of today's protest. Keep an eye out of the Gazette website where we will be bringing you a comprehensive recap of how today unfolded.

www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18425172.woman-man-dog-turn-anti-lockdown-protest-war-memorial-park/

Detail on the self employed scheme has been issued.
Accountants are barred from claiming on behalf of clients.
Even though they were allowed to claim furlough on behalf of companies.
Taxpayers have to sort their own Gateway Account and navigate the system.
DEEPLY unimpressed.

DEEPLY unimpressed.

But not surprised, surely ?

DGR
I am surprised that they are banning accountants from filing claims.
Its stupid and they will be forced to backtrack
but in the mean time more people will end up on UC

Any hint of why accountants can't file, Listening? (Surely they realise that the self-employed are all using accountants?)

Singasonga
Apparently because it would be a data breach if we were to use our details to supply their data
the data that we use every year to do their tax returns
Its daft because the Furlough scheme was fine for anybody to use with sod all checks
It sounds like a way to delay payments and not much else.

SE people also have to tick a box to explain what caused their reduced income
and yet furlough companies just take the dosh with no need to show they need it
I know cos I've done a claim for a client

For some reason Hmrc have had a bit of a vendetta against agents, particularly for self employed. They want the taxpayer to do it all themselves and agents to have minimal involvement.

And when they've all got government gateways set up, MTD will be rolled out - actually, not sure what's happening with that...