Westministenders: Can you tell your Rs from Elbows?

[RedToothBrush]

This week Mark Sedwill has resigned (or was he pushed?) and David Frost (chief brexit lead) was appointed National Security Adviser in a move that enraged Theresa May. The former prime minister felt that his appointment was unprofessional and that was a political appointment not an independent one and that he lacked experience. Of course in terms of national security we still haven't had that report on Russia and I don't believe The Intelligence and Security Committee has yet been named (not sat since Johnson was appointed as PM).

We have passed the deadline for extending transition and we have now apparently said that negotiations on the end of transition will finish at the end of September.

The bill ending Free movement of people has been signed, amongst much fanfare by the Conservatives saying they have delivered on the Referendum promise. However we might have up to 3million Hong Kongers who we are willing to allow into the country which might not go down too well with those who were unhappy with 'unrestricted EU immigration'.

We also have the demonstration of utter incompetence, outsourcing and lack of coordination and communication from central government and local government in the covid-19 crisis. A national scandal that isn't being properly reported by the press and leave you with the very large question of who is this government serving? If its contract with Deloittes over testing didn't require them to report positive tests to Public Health England, what was the point in the testing? How can this be consistent with 'The Government’s new approach to biosecurity will bring together the UK’s world-leading epidemiological expertise and fuse it with the best analytical capability from across Government in an integrated approach.' and will provide real time analysis and assessment of infection outbreaks at a community level, to enable rapid intervention before outbreaks grow.?

The growing feeling that Brexit is being exploited by this government for personal interests and those of big business at the expense of the general public is one which was feared and grows harder to argue against by the day.

I watched PMQs mrslaughan. Keir Starmer definitely in angrier mode but still faced by piffle, waffle bluster and whatever you do don't forget the three word slogan at the end from Johnson.
What did you think?

Oh jesuis I'm so sorry. What an awful situation. I guess next step is a full body mri?

Eat out to help out discount vouchers for August up to £10 a head to save 1.5 million jobs. Enough? No way.
Vat down to 5% for 6 months on food, accomodation and theme parks.
Stamp duty threshold up to £500,000 till March 31st 2021.
Kickstart for 16-25 apprenticeships, jobs.
A reward of £1000 per furloughed worker to employers who keep them and not sack them. ( Providing they earn more than £500 per week). Bit of a mash up. Money for summer schools PC's promised to disadvantaged still not received. So I'm not holding my breathe.

Yoikes yes, that's what she wants but she's been battling all the way with NHS sadly, although she has been grateful they've at least been doing tests. Their neuro guy barely wrote anything in the notes and was very dismissive so she is hopeful the private one will be more thorough at least. She said it is just so relentless and she kept thinking it would ease off at some point but it hasn't. She's worried about becoming addicted to the pain meds now too .

@missclimpson - I listened on the radio - I have to say it's hard as I can't stand even the sound of Boris talking. I thought Keir had good questions - but Boris had slogans and bullshit to answer...... the sort most people would swallow. Care home homes obv what BJ was expecting , unsurprisingly. I think Keir should have only asked a couple of questions on them - and then gone for something else ..... chances are BJ would not be expecting that. It would keep BJ more on his toes and give a chance for Keir to really have him on the ropes.
The following questions from conservative MP's were 🤢

Je Suis - I am so sorry for your friend.
A very good friends sister (20's) has been diagnosed with spinal, stomach and ovarian cancer (I presume that's the primary) after months of being gobbled off with pain killers by her GP for back pain. She finally got a physio referral- he wouldn't touch her, but managed to get a scan org super fast. It's bloody awful - family are completely in the dark - I don't thing friends sister can really process what's happening to her - they can't visit her in hospital. I am so pleased your friend can go privately - I hope they find what it is.

Yes I agree Keir should have changed the topic earlier and it was obvious Johnson would have been well coached on the care homes answer. I think the first answers would have satisfied the hard of thinking but the last one just looked and sounded like a loss of control by Johnson.

sos no summer school provision in my area....not sure I want my kid being taught by Deloitte anyway tbh...

jesuis my experience of private health care re: MRIs had been positive. I had 2 herniated lumbar discs when ds2 was a toddler and the pain was off the scale bad.

The strong pain meds caused lots of other issues too (tmi but have any of you ever gone 3 weeks without doing a poo? I don't recommend it!)

The MRI confirmed them and I had facet joint injections into my spine (as nice as they sound...)

Hope it goes well for your friend x

( Providing they earn more than £500 per week)

It’s £520 per month, which is the LEL for NI.

Well it was just a tweak here and there. Can't see employers finding spaces for 1.5 million 16-25 yr olds even at £1000 per head for 6 months.blaighed this morning when someone on tv said even if they don't get a job at end of 6 months it's something to put on CV. Well it's supposed to create jobs not massage unemployment figures😡

*laughed.

Modelling for job losses by Chancellor is based on 4.5 million unemployed by Xmas which is almost what I said ( 5 mill) a while back.

I have to admit that there is clearly a VERY good team at the Treasury.
Lots of high profile, easy to adjust tweaks
that are low cost up front and will generate taxable revenue later
very very canny

Johnson with his clamps for carers must hate it

I have to admit that there is clearly a VERY good team at the Treasury.

Aren't they there by the Grace of Dom ?

DGR
No, according to what I've read in the Economist, its the long standing civil servants who have become rather good at scenario building and costing
when they are listened to
and it would appear that they are being listened to

Cummings is too busy visiting spy sites

Speaking of economics (or otherwise) a weather eye on the US reveals that the Trumpster has signed a trade deal which basically ups the wages of Mexicans supplying parts to the US auto industry (what's left of it).

www.vox.com/2018/10/3/17930092/usmca-mexico-nafta-trump-trade-deal-explained

Grim for your young friend, Poulet Such a shame

I've posted before that as well as being concerned about those suffereing longterm effects of COVID,
I've also been worried they may not be treated fairly by some doctors
or by the benefits system if they are unable to work as before illness.

Makes a bad situation much worse

Especially considering there is a hard core of Denialists who have resumed their "it's just flu"
and hence who are very unhelpful to those like your friend

to add to those who are cynical about longterm effects of any illness, not just COVID

I've posted before that as well as being concerned about those suffereing longterm effects of COVID

Being refused health insurance is a start.

To cheer up the feline fans on Westminster 😂😂

look how this feline CF stole the show - and the milk - from The Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral,
who was giving the morning prayer live on TV:

https://news.sky.com/video/cat-helps-itself-to-milk-while-the-dean-of-canterbury-isnt-looking-12023114

It's too much to hope for, but wouldn't it just be such a good story for DC to turn out to be the new Philby?

@DrBlackbird

It's too much to hope for, but wouldn't it just be such a good story for DC to turn out to be the new Philby?

Wow ! Nobody - absolutely nobody could ever see that coming.

Not even the posters on these threads that repeatedly raised suspicions about Dom in da Dacha

Lee Harvey Dom ?

I was lucky enough to catch Alan Bennett and Prunella Scales in Bennetts spy double hander in the 90s in London. Very witty and droll. It's a shame they didn't find a way to catch/show that for lockdown.

Jesuis very sorry to read about your friend, agree maybe a full body MRI hope she gets some answers very soon💐

She's worried about becoming addicted to the pain meds now too

As are a lot of people with MS (DW had a lucky escape from being addicted to morphine not long before we met). Sadly, any effective alternatives are illegal (well, unless you are making millions from them like Theresa and Phillip May).

@JeSuisPoulet there is evidence of neurological issues now post Covid infection. Even mild Covid. I hope your friend finds some answers soon.

So we get money towards meals out, and Boris said a few weeks ago that we can have gastric bands on the NHS, I am guessing with all the eating out we will need it.