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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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BigChocFrenzy · 18/05/2020 20:26

How a grateful country rewards its military veterans - if they are furrin ....
btw, I thought it was legal residence, not nationality, that mattered - when did they change that ?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/18/british-army-veteran-faces-27000-nhs-hospital-bill

A Commonwealth-born veteran, who served for more than a decade in the British armyy^ including tours of Afghanistan and Iraq,
has been told he must pay more than £27,000 for NHS hospital bills after an emergency operation to remove a brain tumour.

Hospital staff have classified Taitusi Ratucaucau, 49, as an overseas patient, [from Fiji]
and therefore ineligible for free NHS care.

He joined the British army in 2001 and has been continuously in the UK since being discharged from the military in 2011,
living here with his wife and three daughters, and paying tax and national insurance.

MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing · 18/05/2020 20:28

The capitalist press* frames the terms of debate and the vocabulary, then the cowardly BBC swallows and regurgitates it.

So far we've had two completely accidental doctored videos of Starmer, and clear signs on here they are working hard to portray him as 'posh' unlike man-of-the-people Johnson.

*Can't help noticing the Barclay twins appear to have fallen out. Must be fun on their private island.

MockersxxxxxxxSocialDistancing · 18/05/2020 20:59

Case in Point: "Control of our own borders."

Now the thing about borders, see, is there is one country on one side, and a different country on the other. So neither country has control of the border without the consent of the other.

We cannot decide alone who or what comes and goes. If France decides to check every car for cheese smugglers, then that is what they will do, and as the Japanese once discovered, they can do this by appointing one man whose job it is who works half an hour on Thursdays. It's their border too.

Piggywaspushed · 18/05/2020 21:26

Putting this here for RTB as you like stats and education. This is not something I have seen being talked about one little bit:

ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/7903

I just thought it was interesting!

ListeningQuietly · 18/05/2020 21:31

Philip K Dick - The Defenders

RedToothBrush · 18/05/2020 22:54

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3913380-Westministenders-Reployed-back-to-No-Deal-Planning?watched=1

New thread.

Piggy, what was inequality in Christchurch like pre-earthquake. My understanding is that is wasn't anywhere near as extreme as in the UK. And the area isn't that big. (Lovely city. Reminded me of the home counties.)

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Piggywaspushed · 19/05/2020 07:47

Yes, this is true RTB no doubt : the UK has a lamentable record for social inequality, caused entirely by the pandemic and solvable only by teachers (irony!)

I nonetheless think this is a very reassuring study and actullay ought to be shared more widely to assuage anxious parents : butt hat wouldn't suite the government's , MAT CEOs' and Andrew Adonis'/ Tony Blair's/ insert other out of touch ex new Labour type's agendas.

mathanxiety · 19/05/2020 09:53

It's certainly true that once you're dead from covid educational inequalities are not a problem any more, @ListeningQuietly

OldLace · 19/05/2020 17:38

Just put on the TV to see the Qu'ss part of the Daily Propaganda Show.
Gosh, it's a bit nippy, isnt it? Who is the female scientist who sounds SO pissed off with all the Journo's Qu's???

OldLace · 19/05/2020 17:43

Minister just keeps saying: 'we don't accept your caricature of x - you need to be clear about your priorities' and the Science woman sounds odd? She seems to be saying that the Govt does not have a good operational testing system too??
Has Johnson disappeared again?

OldLace · 19/05/2020 17:45

Sorry, Dame Anglea McLean: 'the advice we gave took account of the testing available' - she was really pissed off, I thought

OldLace · 19/05/2020 17:48

More info re track n trace / Schools avail on Thursday she says.
Asked the journo if he knew more than she did?
And 'pick for Britain' - pick fruit and veg - use the new Govt website - which has crashed. You couldn't make it up.

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