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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?

OP posts:
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Peregrina · 10/05/2020 10:42

Actual plan? Will there be one? Perhaps they have run out of old envelopes to write them on.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 10/05/2020 10:43

But that's a problem, isn't it, Louise? He should tell the devolved administrations first. The virus doesn't respect borders, the messaging needs to be united and therefore agreed or at the very least discussed.

AuldAlliance · 10/05/2020 10:43

Louise
This slogan has an unfortunate acronym Wink
Beat the virus, Unlock the lockdown, Lay out our plan, Live normally

LouiseCollins28 · 10/05/2020 10:49

Well spotted Auld entirely deliberate, I just missed the Grin off when I posted it

MagisCapulus · 10/05/2020 10:59

Did I see that BJ was meeting with business leaders re the virus? What's the bet this leads to quicker lifting of restrictions....and more infections Sad

HesterThrale · 10/05/2020 11:01

Yes they should have consulted with Wales, Scotland, NI before releasing the slogan.
And I reckon they did release the slogan. Probably ‘Downing St sources’ (or DC to be exact).
I don’t believe it was leaked unintentionally.

Why they released it early is one question.

Sturgeon’s responsibility is towards her citizens and what’s right for them. I think she feels that strongly. It’s problematic when that approach is different from Westminster.

MaxNormal · 10/05/2020 11:07

I honestly don't understand the criticism of Sturgeon. She's widely seen, here, to be absolutely diligent in her concern for Scotland's well being. And its nice that she's actually present, also. I see Johnson has pulled another disappearing act.

LouiseCollins28 · 10/05/2020 11:22

The virus is indeed no respecter of borders.

It seems rather odd to me, before any new messaging has been officially announced to react to said unannounced messaging by saying basically, Scotland is going to use different messaging.

As I said, doing that is entirely Nicola Sturgeons right. On health she can announce what she likes, when she likes. It just flies in the face of the “we’re all in this together” type stuff.

AuldAlliance · 10/05/2020 11:26

It's not only the message, though, surely. It's the policy underlying it.

LouiseCollins28 · 10/05/2020 11:31

I don’t dispute that Nicola Sturgeon is diligent in her concern for Scotland.

I can try and explain it from my POV Max but it would be a long post, would you like me to write one?

To sum up what would be a large post in a sentence it would be something like....

Nicola Sturgeon has powers on health, this crisis in now about more than health and in a national crisis it seems reasonable that the PM, who speaks for the whole of the UK, is able to communicate to the whole nation first.

prettybird · 10/05/2020 11:34

He is going to tell everyone at the same time what is planned in a statement at 7pm tonight and as I undserstand in the Commons tomorrow.

If you take parliamentary democracy seriously (and I believe you do Smile), he should be announcing it to Parliament first as the Speaker has already reminded him and then making an address to the people, if he deemed that necessary.

I'm willing to wager that the only reason BJ is set on doing a big "address to the people" today and not more constitutionally correctly tomorrow is because he wants to make deluded Churchillian parallels on the 80th anniversary of Churchill becoming PM (the anniversary inconveniently being on a Sunday). Hmm

DGRossetti · 10/05/2020 11:34

Did I see that BJ was meeting with business leaders re the virus?

What medical expertise are they bringing to the party ? I hope the next monetary policy committee meeting invites some doctors in for their economic advice ....

MaxNormal · 10/05/2020 11:38

LouiseCollins28 yes I'd be interested in your perspective on this one.

Do you mean you disagree with the timing of the daily briefing specifically?

My sense here in Scotland is that people in general hugely dislike Johnson and think that he and his cabinet are doing an appalling job. They're scared. Sturgeon's presence has been incredibly reassuring, just that feeling of having some sort of grown-up in charge.

I do think that Sturgeon has been very good about largely putting on a united front with Westminster but she's losing patience now.

LouiseCollins28 · 10/05/2020 11:47

I have a lot of sympathy with that view prettybird that a Commons announcement would be appropriate. Downing St announcements, presuming that is what is to happen, do have precedents tho, May on Brexit for example. It also allows Boris to use the wording “from tomorrow”

I hadn’t picked up the “80 Years since Churchill became PM” angle Smile 10th May 1940.

Peregrina · 10/05/2020 11:49

As I said, doing that is entirely Nicola Sturgeons right. On health she can announce what she likes, when she likes. It just flies in the face of the “we’re all in this together” type stuff.

But we are not in this altogether. It's disproportionately hitting BAME, the elderly and the poor. Until called out on it the Johnson-Cummings approach has been one of tough shit if your Granny dies. Nicola Sturgeon at least appears to be considering the whole of the Scottish people, not just some wealthy chums.

prettybird · 10/05/2020 11:58

I think she is indeed losing patience. She has just tweeted this and pinned it! Smile

Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things
DGRossetti · 10/05/2020 12:01

.

Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things
OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 10/05/2020 12:03

From JK Rowling
Just watched Robert Jenrick explain, and all is now clear. 'Stay Alert' means 'Stay at Home', and it replaces the previous advice, 'Stay at Home.' Can't wait to hear what comes next. My money's on 'Stay Classy'.

DGRossetti · 10/05/2020 12:04

And one for the Mike Galsworthy fans Smile

Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things
DGRossetti · 10/05/2020 12:04

or

Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things
QueenOfThorns · 10/05/2020 12:07

PMK

(I’m a Lert and so are my cats Smile)

MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing · 10/05/2020 12:10

Control The Virus

....with the power of interpretive dance.

prettybird · 10/05/2020 12:19

Got interrupted by my dad calling me.

Nicola rarely if ever uses caps lock like that, so she is indeed "shouting" Shock.

DGRossetti · 10/05/2020 12:19

Control The Virus []....with the power of interpretive dance.

All very droll. But the underlying issue that that large swathes of people - possibly 1 in 2 (www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/10/only-50-of-britons-would-download-nhs-tracing-app-poll) - do not have any confidence that the government is in anyway competent and much more worryingly have no trust that the government has their welfare at heart.

I can only speak for myself, but what Boris and the boys recommend, suggest, or indeed try to enforce with the majesty of the law are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down on my list of how I will determine what is best for me and mine. As indeed I am guessing a lot of posters on this thread would also do.

DGRossetti · 10/05/2020 12:21

As someone on another thread picked up ...

"Stay alert" == DON'T PANIC Hmm

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