Westminstenders: Political vacuums are very bad things

[RedToothBrush]

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?

Not sure why the papers are reporting the difference in infection around the country as surprising? Part of the problem with the Public Health messaging is that it has been a one size fits all - fine when we are all locked down but impossible when you want to lift unless you have been community testing. I find it incredibly hard to believe that one group on MN is the only place to know this. Why isn't there a stronger push from people who are in community care teams? Are they scared of loosing their jobs?

Because as I saw this week - the great British public really don't think about things.....

So, what happens to the UK's trade relationship with the EU on January 1st if we leave without a deal, revert to WTO rules, but there's no WTO anymore to enforce WTO rules?

I'm impressed DGR with the Yorkshire Times byline that reports more on international matters than most of our esteemed press. But if what they say is correct, then doesn't it feel as though 70 years of building multilateral institutions to facilitate efficient trade, coordinate global health, and secure peace are being swept away in one presidential term? WTO, NATO, WHO, the UN...Like a toddler stamping his feet and sweeping away toys crying 'I'm not playing anymore '.

And he may well get re-elected for another four years of even more mayhem.

I assume the WTO thing could go either way - if the UK says No, we won't take the chlorinated chicken, then how does the US enforce it? Meanwhile, EU standards will prevail elsewhere and more and more countries who want to trade with them will adopt their standards.

"if the UK says No, we won't take the chlorinated chicken, then how does the US enforce it?"

then, no US trade deal

However, it was only ever a Brexit iShiny that would bring a tiny fraction of 1% per year,
nothing like the trade benefits lost by leaving the Single Market:

Peregrina agree. Other countries may well be moving closer to EU rules, but I have no faith that will have any bearing on the UK's position, certainly not in the short term my lifetime

The world would do better to set up identical organiations to before - WTO, WHO ... -
but just don't invite the US to join !

The world would do better to set up identical organiations to before - WTO, WHO ... - but just don't invite the US to join !

This is what I expect to happen with the EU standards; they will become the de-facto standards replacing the WTO. So the UK, which used, in Cameron's words, "Have a seat at the top table" and contribute significantly in formulating those standards, will become a rule taker, in the main. Any hope that the UK can influence US standards - the Govt can whistle for.

BCF yes, I imagine the UK will eventually realise that we have to fall into line, to get out of a self-inflicted recession. I give it 10 years.

"f the UK says No, we won't take the chlorinated chicken, then how does the US enforce it?"

There's every sign that Liz Truss will say "Yes, of course we'll take any crap you care to throw to us."

Why else was she put in that role?

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout"

When in trouble .... lie
‏‏*
Verified accountt*
SkyNews@SkyNews *

Right from the start we've tried to throw a protective ring around our care homes.

We set out our first advice in February...
we've made sure care homes have the resources they need"

says Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.

(paywall) FT:Hancock claim of ‘protective ring’ round care homes questioned

https://www.ft.com/content/6afb06d6-abd6-4281-ac16-74f500f096d0

Prof Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents care homes, said he wanted to
“see the evidence of what exactly the protective ring consists”

“Ask [Mr Hancock’s] office when exactly they instituted this protective ring...

Ask them why, if in February the government was prioritising care homes, we did not see the statistics on deaths?

“Why we had our PPE distribution networks disrupted to send things to the NHS
[and] why we had our primary care support withdrawn from many care homes?

“Ask them why they did not prioritise care homes for testing.

If there was a protective ring initiated by the government, it did not feel like that for the people who were living and working in care homes.”

Why else was she put in that role?

Sadly, I have to agree.

Hancockup's bare faced lying was a new low. Scum.

I would love to see a Public Enquiry when this is all over, but I don't think it will happen, or if it does, it will be a whitewash.

At present I feel despair - with their 80 seat majority and no election due for at least 4 years, the Tories now have the golden opportunity to further wreck so many things many of us hold dear, like the NHS, public provision of libraries, parks, decent food standards. Which is no doubt why Liz Truss is keen on her US trade talks, but none of them give a stuff about the current EU talks.

Even if there is a public enquiry, they'll set it up to be as big, as expensive and most importantly as long as possible so that in 10 years time, when it eventually reports, all the chief protagonists will be long gone and all the politicians in post will say, "It wisnae me" and absolutely nothing will be learnt or changed

Exactly what I thought prettybird.

Proud of my city

twitter.com/LeedsEurope/status/1261628476932661250

Far right virus-denying protestors had planned to flout lockdown rules by holding mass protests in Leeds parks today. This was the result...

.

That headline is obscene

Is that headline real?

Yes, but why do they get bigger

You need to look carefully ... but on first blush it could be a Daily Mail headline - and I suspect Daily Mail fans would have read it as such.

Which is a damning indictment on how much of a shitrag it really is.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, it seems we really have to fear the big brains ...

(Sorry, but if that guy has "I'm good at planning ahead" on his cv, he's a fucking liar ...)

Bloke next to him ate all 6 pies