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?

I am going to keep details vague - as - well I don't want the career to be traced and get in trouble..... but yesterday I heard from a carer, she has multiple jobs, one involved a care home. At the beginning of the crisis, had to decide which job she was going to stick with, to sheik her other clients. She chose the care home. It's a small one , HAD just shy of 70 residents. A Covid + resident was discharged back into the care home from local hospital.
There are now less than 10 left. Most of them died at the home.
She is saying she will stay working at the home while they need her, but after that she never wants to go back. That the whole experience has changed her irrevocably.
I suspect she has PTSD

It's an absolute scandal. The government knowingly encouraged it whilst saying it was someone else's problem to sort PPE to care homes (perhaps rightly in normal times but now it's just reckless abandonment)

Or

That's horrific, MrsL

I presume she wouldn't expect 60 out of 70 residents to be gone so quickly, despite the "they would have died anyway" brigade

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

Was this another "Fuck business" moment
or "We'll fuck care homes for you"

Thanks MaxNormal, here goes

I think lots of Westministenders regulars feel a real sense of loss over the UK Leaving the EU. This loss is not just of their rights as EU citizens but a loss of part of their identity, a European identity.

I am a European, I’m not North American, South American, African, Indian or Asian, etc. However, I don’t share that sense of ‘European’ being a fundamental part of my self identity.

I am from Britain, also I am a citizen of the U.K. A union that has existed not since 1951 (or even 1993) but in a recognisable form since 1707 and as the U.K. since 1801. Those identifiers are of my identity to a much greater degree than my being a European.

I get that many people in Scotland have a visceral dislike of Boris. I also get that a large proportion of the population say that they’d prefer Scotland to be an independent country, at the moment, it isn’t.

Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister has powers over health and other areas. I also get that she is far more trusted in Scotland than Boris is (by some, not by all).

Boris is PM of the UK. His role is to speak for the whole of the U.K. The roles of PM of the UK and First Minster of Scotland are not equal, IMO. He speaks for the whole of the U.K., she speaks for Scotland.

People don’t trust Boris? Frankly, why would they? Trust is not a word I’d readily associate with him at all. People do trust Nicola Sturgeon? So it would seem, lots of Scots anyway.

I don’t, simple as that, and I’ll tell you why I don’t. Unlike with Boris, with her this is almost nothing to do with her personal character. It is about who’s interests she serves and what she is in Government to achieve.

NS wants an independent Scotland. Another way of understanding that is that she wants to break up the U.K. Her first interest in politics is to bring about the dissolution of the country that I am a citizen of.

Of course it’s right that an SNP First Minister is allowed to advocate for that. It’s also right that if, in the future, the people of Scotland vote for Independence, it must happen.

My point is that my interpretation of everything she says and does is coloured by my understanding that Scottish Independence/dissolution of the U.K. is what she is working for.

To given an example of what this means, the Miliband/Sturgeon electoral messaging from 2015 was enormously powerful to me. Did I really want someone in the UK Government who’s primary aim was to bring about its end? I decided that I didn’t. It didn’t matter what Labour in 2015 promised after that. I couldn’t have voted for them while that posibilty lurked.

On Scotland.

I know a number of doctors who have relocated to Scotland in recent years, and me and DP talk about it often. It's widely acknowledged amongst doctors that working for the NHS is better up there. They send their support and sympathy to me often... I guess I'd wait until it was def out the UK before making that decision. Considering Glasgow.

I have read polling saying a further 1/5 of the NHS workforce is planning to leave "after the pandemic".

Sturgeon seems widely admired as a sensible grownup politician. It would be nice to live in a country that elected grown ups

I totally love my city and it would break my heart toleave, but it feels increasingly like a last lost island in a nation I don't understand any more. Unless there's a sea change in England...

Complete career change is the other long term option and immerse myself locally. I'm the main breadwinner so that would be a tough decision.

We have distant family in NZ but I am too close to my family and mates, I couldn't leave Britain entirely, I am just too rooted. In previous times, I would be very anti-Scottish independence because I am half English half Scottish and would hate to see that broken. But England is so broken now, I totally understand why Scotland would leave, and I would/am def considering going with them.

Another way of understanding that is that she wants to break up the U.K. Her first interest in politics is to bring about the dissolution of the country that I am a citizen of

But so do half the British cabinet. They would be quite happy to destroy the Union in pursuit of Brexit.

Tbh I think senior cabinet members including Gove and Raab are a far greater danger to the Union than Sturgeon.

Look at the reckless behaviour with regard to the new post-transition customs arrangement for example. There are some cabinet members (Gove at the head of them) who would be quite happy to abandon the agreement, force a hard border in Ireland and who seem to accept that a united Ireland is a price that should be paid for Brexit.

I'm afraid that Sturgeon bashing in this context looks very hypocritical.

agree with Mistigri, current actions of this tory government make UK breakup seem inevitable, the only question left seems to be where to live...

.

Thanks Louise, I read that with interest.

I'd agree about the identity thing, for me feeling part of a bigger union was something really special - I was a massive fan of Star Trek TNG in the nineties and very enamoured with the concept of the Federation and I'm only half-joking.

The one thing I disagree with is that Sturgeon is putting her desire for independence at the fore of her handling of the crises. I genuinely believe that she's simply doing her best to safeguard the health of Scottish residents and that she doesn't agree with the Westminster approach - or at the very least is frustrated with the rather mixed and confused messages that seem to be the order of the day at present.

But I appreciate that it's a matter of perception.

A warning to BJ from The Sunday Times

I think the truth is that most so called Conservatives and Unionists (except the ones who actually live there) would be happy to see the back of Northern Ireland.

These people are MASSIVE hypocrites.

You can be attached to the union, or not (I'm not, particularly, though I am not especially in favour of Scottish independence). But you don't get to proclaim your patriotic attachment to the Union while cutting one member of the Union adrift.

Even the WA cuts that member partially adrift btw (in this regard Theresa May's deal was far better).

and as the U.K. since 1801.

You need to rethink this bit Louise - the UK that my parents were born into in 1917 and 1921 is not the same UK that DH, DB and I were born into in 1949 and 1951.

Boris is PM of the UK. His role is to speak for the whole of the U.K.

Quite. I would put it more strongly - it's his duty to speak for the whole UK. Which he is failing to do IMO. At the very least he should be talking first to the heads of the devolved Governments, to find out how the corona virus is affecting them. He's not doing so.

I hate the 'Be Alert' because kt smack of asking people to look out for other people who do not behave 'appropritely'.
We alaready have many people 'stalking' their NDN/curtain twitchers for flounting the rules etc...
I'd be worried this will just get worse :(

I want a looser Uk federation, not independence

• although imo we should work towards a reunited Ireland, so a Federal Union of 3 nations

(I appreciate as a non-Scot I don't get an Indie #2 vote !)

Stay alert is terrible advice regardless, but really unhelpful for people with anxiety disorders - especially health anxiety. At the point when they could be providing sensible, practical advice for minimising risk of infection when restrictions are lifted, they give out vague instructions which will just send some people’s anxieties into orbit.

Boris talking to business might not be what you or he expects. As far as the service industries are concerned (80%of the economy) I am hearing more and more of major shifts in strategy, particularly organisational strategy. Plans being put in place already to consolidate activities on the minimum number of buildings with far more working online and remotely. London in particular is going to stay deserted for a long time whatever Bozo does. It is partly driven by a genuine wish not to put staff at risk until this is under control as well as anticipating a deep recession.

squid4 I can only speak as a patient but the difference in treatment for me between England and Scotland has been stark. My health went tits up a few years ago when we were living in England and I got absolutely nowhere, complete stonewall from my GP surgery.

Back in Scotland I am cared for by a lovely GP, two consultants and a physio and I feel medically safe and looked after. Clearly there must be a massively different framework underpinning that for me to perceive such a major difference. One of my consultants said that all funding for referrals to specialists is centralised and not rationed so if you need to be seen, you will be. It's not massively quick if you're non urgent but that's fair enough.

Get up here!

I hope the reaction to that daft slogan causes them to ditch it
The UK needs clarity, not piffle

"Stay alert" could suggest anything:
"stay on edge"
or
"stay alert for others breaking the rules"

It's unsettling, when we need calm and also clarity what to do

MP Dr Allin-Khan on clear messaging

twitter.com/DrRosena/status/1259433650145366016

@MaxNormal I knoooooow everyone says same.

I am from "the socialist republic of south yorkshire" though and it is such a damn good place...

The prospect of eternal english tory rule is really making me and DP reconsider.... maybe see how pandemic/no deal brexit pans out and leg it after that...

Who remembers the "Stay Low" drink drive campaign of 1984 ?

@squid4 I love the Dales, it's my favourite part of England. Yorkshire is amazing, I totally get why it would be a huge wrench to leave.

Glasgow is a great option though. You're also so close to so much amazing scenery.