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Brexit

Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things

987 replies

RedToothBrush · 09/05/2020 23:18

Johnson has been notible (once again) but his absence.

Whilst we appreciate he has been ill and has a new baby, we are in the midst of a national crisis and a sense of leadership and guidance from our prime minister has been lacking.

And its not gone unnoticed.

Not just by the press. And not just by opposition. Nor NHS and care managers. But on the ground where it matters.

The lack of the sense of seriousness has dissipated. The sense of duty to country to behave. The idea that it will some how be all over this week when it doesn't appear to be the government strategy. The total lack of policy for a week whilst it's become clear bit by bit that these things have been under discussion and decided upon prior to the supposed key meeting on Thursday from the announcements from the regional assemblies. All in favour of a TV stunt tomorrow night.

Let's see how that goes.

The grandstanding isn't a substitute for detail and substance in a crisis. And we still have the looming show down at the end of June over extension of transition. More optics. More lack of practicality at a time when things will really be on the brink.

The next month will be telling and we hit the wall of economic reality which will bring the whole world crashing in on the lives of so many people.

This is the calm before the storm. Enough the sunshine. Enjoy the time with families. Before this is over everything will have changed for so many.

This is just the start of things unravelling and it needs someone to take control and draw up solid blueprints for all our futures. Is a man who is so frequently awol from where he is supposed to be and doesn't take commitments and responsibilities seriously, really the man for that?

Churchill had a vision for the country that cited housing as our second social service, the NHS being our first.

Will Johnson manage to some how forge out so grand new venture which gives the resource and rewards it deserves to the NHS (beyond lipservice and empty platitudes and clapping, that recognises the importance of social care and can stop the almost inevitable coming wave of homelessness and unemployment

And can he do it without selling us off as a basement bargain to the us?

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RedToothBrush · 11/05/2020 16:56

Surely anyone can see that 1 June isn’t doable?

Exhibit A.
March 2019

Exhibit B.
October 2019.

Exhibit C
January 2020

Exhibit D.
31st December 2020.

Yep, surely ANYONE can see this. Like all the last times and the one coming up.

SURE they can.

Ex

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yoikes · 11/05/2020 17:02

In 1918 in Philadelphia they ended lockdown for a end of WW1 victory parade...

100s of 1000s died.

Peregrina · 11/05/2020 17:07

A full house of commons would eat him alive.

No, they wouldn't because his 80 seat majority is full of placemen and women who would cheer to the rafters if he said he recommended cannibalism.

yoikes · 11/05/2020 17:08

.....^
Except...
The quarantine order wasn't given until a few days after the parade.
That is: too late. Sound familiar?
Emergency hospitals sprung up everywhere
Like: nhs nightingale?
The pandemic came in waves...3 to be precise in 1918.
This is our 1st wave.
2nd one will be a biggie.
And could have been prevented with decent advice from a vaguely competent govt.
Oh well.

lonelyplanetmum · 11/05/2020 17:20

I just thought I'd share this with everyone. I just read through the government 51 page doc on the 'plan to rebuild'.

Its a odd mix of spin and guidance.Thought you lot would appreciate this...
" Transparency. The Government will continue to be open with the public and parliamentarians, including by making available the relevant scientific and technical advice. The Government will be honest about where it is uncertain and acting at risk, and it will be transparent about the judgements it is making and the basis for them.

Parliament

It is vital that Parliament can continue to scrutinise the Government, consider the Government’s ambitious legislative agenda and legislate to support the COVID-19 response. Parliament must set a national example of how business can continue in this new normal; and it must move, in step with public health guidance, to get back to business as part of this next step, including a move towards further physical proceedings in the House of Commons. "

(Ah yes parliament is really seen as being vital by this lot-anyone remember Russian reports,Proroguing, Henry VIII powers,SC cases about lack of due process etc etc.)

HoneysuckIejasmine · 11/05/2020 17:22

Just heard that Geoffrey Clifton Brown's (Con, The Cotswolds) father has died after contracting covid 19 whilst in hospital on an unrelated admission.

Heads will roll.

PawFives · 11/05/2020 17:23

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. @RedToothBrush agree they are definitely looking to shift the blame (Brexit M.O. along with lack of planning, time wasting etc.) @DGRossetti do you mean they thought they could control Cummings? @prettybird YY like most people I was thinking of a failed state as a bad thing but if you’re a disaster capitalist it’s a different story!

HoneysuckIejasmine · 11/05/2020 17:30

Apologies, the latest bulletin says it is Laurence Robertson's father who has died, not G Clifton Brown.

DGRossetti · 11/05/2020 17:34

@DGRossetti do you mean they thought they could control Cummings?

Not quite ... more that people have mistaken his desire for the UK to leave the EU as agreeing with them on all other aspects of the Brexiteer manifesto. Which I suspect he really, really doesn't. I can't help but feel if he were to read much of the postings here that disparage the Tories, he'd find us rather namby pamby. I suspect he detests them more than we'd know. But they are extremely useful and pliable idiots.

Just a hunch.

RedToothBrush · 11/05/2020 17:53

Press Gazette @pressgazette
No questions from journalists allowed as Downing Street turns daily Covid-19 briefing into public Q&A

Isn't it one of the very few Johnson is leading?

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RedToothBrush · 11/05/2020 18:00

Hmmm

Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things
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MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing · 11/05/2020 18:01

Scots Wha Hey. Not just retaining the message but tidying up its ugly misimported transatlantic grammar: Stay At Home.

BigChocFrenzy · 11/05/2020 19:14

John Crace: 😂

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/10/smart-suit-brushed-hair-it-was-just-the-speech-that-was-a-total-mess

"What was most striking was how little Boris had to say.

His roadmap – or shape of a roadmap as he called it, making it sound uncomfortably like a homeopathic memory of a map – to the future looked uncomfortably like one of the M25.

There were five exciting colours of alertness and the the promise of a Captain Marvel bio-science centre,
but the bottom line was that it was still circular,
with any number of still to be determined exit points,

keeping alive the very real possibility that we might find ourselves back at the start."

FrankieStein402 · 11/05/2020 19:21

Could it be that self isolating actually makes it harder to propagandise

Stumbled on BBC question time last week and continued watching. I'd given up on it a while back but the new format works very well IMHO. (no opportunity for irrelevant quips to rouse cheers from an audience and altogether better mannered discussion.) Definitely less opportunity for successful propaganda.

Had also noted that interviews on today were longer, allowing points to be explained clearly with less interruption - but more recently they're migrating back to the more argumentative interviews

HMSSophie · 11/05/2020 19:30

John Crace is single-handedly keeping me sane. God love him.

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 11/05/2020 19:31

Not holding much hope for the future. Johnson's just said he really hopes we achieve a virus.

MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing · 11/05/2020 19:38

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA????????????????

Is anyone watching this? The main channels are turning it off for fear of permanetly losing their viewers who may start throwing themselves out of windows like Russian doctors to make it stop.

You voted for this, you arseholes.

mrslaughan · 11/05/2020 19:43

It's so bad

Can't wait to see that comedian who pretends to be talking in their ear has to say about this..... is it Micheal spicer?

So earlier report is that Valance and Whitty weren't consulted on new strategy and slogans ..... which Whitty just made clear , very calmly distancing himself from Be A Lert ......which made Boris splutter, loose his place and then blather unintelligibly ......

I feel this is quite a back pedal while trying to not appear that there is a back pedal. It appears the scientists have again, more input.

yoikes · 11/05/2020 19:45

Remember how we laughed when the US voted in Trump....

RedToothBrush · 11/05/2020 19:48

I thought the experts explained things very well. Indeed, it was notable that Johnson struggled on a couple of questions and quickly went here Chris you answer this one.

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Violetparis · 11/05/2020 19:49

This is the worst performance I've seen from Boris and that's saying something.

LouiseCollins28 · 11/05/2020 19:53

I agree it’s pretty dreadful. Prof Chris Whitty is just a massively better communicator than Boris

OldLace · 11/05/2020 20:06

Watching on catch up. Johnson quite stuttery and 'hands over' a LOT.
When he says: 'I hope, hope, hope' I thought, yes, well, we ALL hope...
(for a competent and honest Govt to see us through the dangers of both Covid 19 and Brexit)
All we have are bland and vague sloganeering and lies :(

yoikes · 11/05/2020 20:09

Brexiters tories pretty quiet atm. It's all looking a bit...embarrassing isn't it?

Awful report from local bbc here of their Asian reporter and indian junior dr getting racist abuse so they couldn't film their segment.

A brave New Albion indeed.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 11/05/2020 20:11

What channel was it on?

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