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?

squid4 - I know a number of A&E consultants in Glasgow, if you want to chat to any of them (one directly, plus others who are offspring/siblings of friends, or friends of friends).

Plus my downstairs' neighbours are both GPs.

Those Dales of which you speak Max Normal ....
The Derbyshire ones would be somewhat closer to Squid than the Yorkshire ones.
Yorkshire is half the size of Belgium.

Sorry missed off the

Britain Needs Lerts was a joke back in the eighties. Surely they should have foreseen it? The incompetence of the government knows no bounds.

Britain Needs Lerts was a joke back in the eighties.

I first saw it in a book about graffiti (which hinted at the Internet of Memes) by Nigel Rees.

America is a great place. They have Ronald Reagan, Johnny Cash, and Stevie Wonder. Here in Britain we have Margaret Thatcher, no cash, and no fucking wonder

Was one that I remember ...

Britain Needs Lerts nearly got me expelled from school
except that it was a private school so they wanted the cash

Going well today already then:

Harry Cole @MrHarryCole
Cabinet are RAGING. On paper they’re meant to meet later to discuss 50 page doc and virus fight. But PM has already recorded his message, sent doc to the printers and seemingly made all the decisions with the so called quad... what’s the point of even dialling in, some asking.

Slogan was not shared with ministers before it appeared in MoS and elsewhere and they’re out for blood. If they can even unmute themselves later.

English local authorities and nhs spin teams also up in arms about being ordered to take down Stay Home messaging without clarity. Angry emails flying about insisting message will not be changed without further clarity. Burnham, Sturgeon and the Welsh chap already going public.

One complaint from regions reads: “We have sought further clarification from Public Health England about actions and updates that might arrive over the coming days and we will NOT be changing our message until we receive this.”

I remember one B Johnson being particularly irate that paper mound before that Chequers cabinet only arrived the evening before the vital brexit meeting. Multiple Cab mins confirm that they have received ZERO papers for today and 2 word agenda just reads “Covid19 response”.

Gordon Rayner @gordonrayner
Cabinet have been moaning for some time about all decisions being taken outside the Cabinet room, but this takes it to a new level

(Quad are Johnson, Gove, Sunak, Hancock and Raab. Hancock is said to have had a major falling out with the others).

The new slogan is the stuff of memes:

This is 10 Downing Street
And this is Boris, the perpetual schoolboy who leads an exciting double-life.
For when Boris eats a banana, an amazing transformation occurs.
Boris is Bananaman, ever alert for the call to action.

The new slogan is the stuff of memes

Indeed. I wonder if there is some world record to be gained here, for shortest time between announcement and standing joke ?

L.E.R.T.

Lets
Evade
Real
Testing

Damnit - someone just won the internet.

OMG. Thats epic.

Nicola is trolling: the message behind her at her press briefing is "STAY AT HOME"

Can't remember what it usually is, but it wasn't that

This is the normal background

This is what it is today

Does anyone else have occasional, uncomfortable twinges of pity for Matt Hancock?

I have just seen a report (came up as a tweet from a mirror reporter) that they are planning to end furlough scheme on Tuesday - maybe moving it to a part time situation........
Talk about pulling the rug from under workers and employers alike.

Full on trump with the working individuals being the sacrificial lambs at the alter of capitalism.

I can't express how distressing I find this. They are so fucking incompetent .

How big do you think the second peak will be?

Max - regularly .....until he was so fucking condescending to the labour MP ("watch you tone") who has been helping on the frontline - and then just like that it evaporator - the fucker deserves a career in tatters..... my only regret is at the moment he looks like he maybe the only one.... but time will tell

Possibly the final word ...

unless you know different ...

uk.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-government-advisers-lancet-091902948.html

Wait, ending furlough tuesday? Wasnt it just extended to June??

mrslaughan yes that evaporated most of mine too. It's this weird uncomfortable feeling I get that specifically relates to when I feel a burst of pity/sympathy for someone I thoroughly dislike. There's probably a German word for it.

From the mirror article:

It is now believed the government will announce a scaling down of the scheme which could come as soon as Tuesday.

That DOES NOT mean the scheme ends on Tuesday.

It means that plans to wind down the scheme (which we already know is time limited) will be announced.

Which is sensible and on schedule if the scheme is to end at the end of June.

The government aim is to end lockdown in June, but with social distancing in place instead. We've known that for a while and tbh, has to happen to avoid even worse indirect mortality.

Does anyone else have occasional, uncomfortable twinges of pity for Matt Hancock?

...I know you don't mean it, but there's a real 10 Rillington Place look about you when you look down a lens and it's really not comforting at all ...

It's hard to keep up ...