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.

A friend in Sheffield was on FB complaining about the lack of support for the hospitality industry from Sheffield City Council as they were highlighting that pubs opening made Coronavirus happiest: "the virus loves crowded places and thrives on close contact" and people needed to #StaySafeSheff (they have since deleted it due to many complaints). It shows to me how Councils can't do anything to convince people not to go out to pubs/think about safety if the govt has decided to take the breaks off.

*brakes off

I suspect there is a legal loophole with pools and gyms being tied to being linked to "health" where pubs are "recreation" so different licencing needed. The drinks industry gets away with murder, literally.

Johnson on LBC this morning still trying to spin that “an Australian style deal is still a good option”.

Disingenuous bollocks yet again, targeting the hard of thinking.

twitter.com/davidschneider/status/1278974931288698880?s=21

Morning. So sorry to read LQs news.

A few years ago, I knew guy (I worked across from the desk from him). His wife was a teacher at a sixth form locally. One of her pupils - a 17 year old girl - just dropped dead going between classes. It traumatised the whole school who arranged counselling for staff and pupils.

And it still upsets me now. A lad DS was at school with and they were Facebook friends - just dropped dead a few months after they left. He was 16. They'd worked on a couple of projects together, and it was this lad that helped out showing us around on parents evening.

I thought scientists had discovered that some seemingly innocuous childhood viral infections could leave weakened heart valves that led to a spate of mysterious deaths in the 80s and 90s ? Totally fit and healthy youngsters just dropping dead.

Someone I was at school with just dropped dead suddenly. We had walked home together after taking an A level and a week later she was gone. In that case they thought it was a blood clot on the brain, but I never found out any more. (She had been worried about passing the exam, but she got quite a good pass, which made it more poignant.)

Athletes are more subject to myocarditis when returning to training after a viral infection. It’s a tricky one - the need to get back into training to avoid fitness / performance loss has to balanced against the risk of myocarditis which accounts for a significant proportion of sudden deaths in young people.

DWs father had a heart attack, aged 55 (10 years before we met). He was a professional wrestler and from photos and vidoes fit as fuck. Never smoked or drank, and (obviously) exercised to the max (he was a PT instructor for his national service).

MS can cause random spasms everywhere - and across the chest is no exception - so we've had a few admissions to A&E when DW has had one where she's not felt it before.

www.newscientist.com/article/2247462-scotland-could-eliminate-the-coronavirus-if-it-werent-for-england/#ixzz6R54Jcflm

and ...

Thank you all for the thoughts and words.
Its always scary when the young die out of the blue.
BUT
In his memory I will keep fighting against the stupidity of Brexit

Amusingly in my yoga zoom chat with friends this morning even the Tory ones are deeply pissed off with Johnson.
Shame they voted him in though

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1278632898485248000.html

Colin Talbot on bullshit and data.

D614G ? Not so sexy is it. Sounds like an obscure part designation for a washing machine. But since it seems to outcompete C-19, I propose we call it "The Trump Virus".

Newer variant of COVID-19-causing virus dominates global infections
Virus with D614G change in Spike out-competes original strain, but may not make patients sicker

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200702144054.htm

Peregina
I would beg to differ. I recall you going on about the 80 seat majority.

As far as I can tell from advanced search I mentioned the 80 seat majority once - in May - five months after the general election;

"You mean he ignored a juvenile stunt by Piers Morgan the day before a general election and went on to win an 80 seat majority - sounds like good strategy to me."

In fact, the poster who keeps reminding everyone about BJ's 80 seat majority appears to be you Peregina - also, have you confused me with another poster?

"Cue Cendrillon rushing in to tell us about his 80 seat majority."
"Where is Cendrillon to continue to exult about the 80 seat majority?"
"Not seen too much of Cendrillon of late, only to sneer when someone said Johnson would be gone by Christmas. But with 40 or so Tory MPs rebelling, that 80 seat majority doesn't look quite as secure as it did."
"Ask away all you like Cendrillon...But never mind, they have their 80 seat majority."
"Now, with the Tory 80 seat majority, it's how can I pass the buck?"
"I am too, and have got to the stage of thinking that those idiots who gave Johnson his 80 seat majority can just suck it up now."
"Well, if Johnson didn't have his 80 seat majority I think Starmer would quickly have Johnson on the ropes."
"Now, with the Tory 80 seat majority, it's how can I pass the buck?"
"It's a bit trickier with his 80 seat majority, but he will try."
"I felt sick on the evening of 8th June, thinking that the Tories would get their 80 seat majority and that would be the end of the NHS." ......

So now we are hearing from you that every other Tom Dick or Harry is also making a mess, or not doing all that well. It hardly matters to me that Sweden has made a mess, or Norway, or Timbuktu or wherever. I am in the UK, subject to the UK Government, and I want to know what they are doing to look after our interests.

Although you don't mind reading factually incorrect posts about other countries that fit your agenda? Posts such as this should go unchallenged?

"30.There are working contact tracing apps in: Angola, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh…"
"…Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Malaysia, Morocco, N Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, NZ, Poland…"

"…Qatar, Russia, S Africa, S Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Vietnam.That's 42 countries."

And BigChocFrenzy's posts about other countries without checking?

'New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Germany' ...

Germany made an open-ended pledge to fund shelters and other crucial services.
Britain did none of this.

Germany's "open-ended pledge" sounds very similar to the UK government's "promise" mentioned in her post;

"Early in the lockdown, the [UK] government promised 37 million pounds, or about $46 million, in emergency funds for domestic abuse charities."

OK sorry looks that I confused you with Cendrillon! The one time that it was worth reading your cut and paste! Cendrillon most certainly did crow.

It wasn't me that talked about the other people having tracing apps which don't work - although I can't see why we can't copy those countries which do seem to have got to grips with things.

As for being worried about the end of the NHS. From what I have seen, I am perfectly right to worry. I do think it needs reform, but I don't call selling out to US big pharma is the reform that many of us in the UK want.

I suspect that Germany's pledge is more likely to be honoured than a Johnson pledge - with Johnson, you always need to read the small print.

Lets look what a squirrel looks like when it's called David Starkey.

I liked his Monarchy series, but really his rocking the "Enoch look" in his Wiki page should have been a clue.

(And for the record, I think Enoch was more nuanced that history records).

Clav, no amount of squirrel activity explains supporting a government that obviously isn't protecting it's population whilst also spending more than other countries for doing seemingly routine things, such as testing/sourcing PPE/making apps.

Something I would be interested to know, seeing as you have time to go back and c&p other poster's posts (!) is whether you can find a private company that has done a GOOD job of helping in the pandemic. Preferably one that couldn't have been done far cheaper by a group already set up within Public Health. That would actually be interesting to see, plus it fits your agenda, so win-win!

To be fair squirrels look very alike

A friend of mine went to a test site yesterday for a drive through test (negative thankfully). She was screamed at because she had a dash cam in her car. Apparently it's strictly no cameras. She said she was the only one there at this huge site.

Wonder what they are hiding, other than a complete waste of resources.

The fact there is no one there I suspect.

As suggested below I would love to see cost breakdowns.

Other than that it will be anonymous security for other people undergoing testing I suspect - if she caught a car reg plate etc.

She was screamed at because she had a dash cam in her car.

Of course some cars have cameras as standard now.

Yes, she said she forgot it was even there. And was desperately trying to turn it off as they continued to shout at her, despite her clear efforts. Woke up her baby in the back, as it happens.

@HoneysuckIejasmine

Yes, she said she forgot it was even there. And was desperately trying to turn it off as they continued to shout at her, despite her clear efforts. Woke up her baby in the back, as it happens.

Security theatre. (much like masks).

"Early in the lockdown, the [UK] government promised 37 million pounds, or about $46 million, in emergency funds for domestic abuse charities."

And only £1 million provided so far
They'll have a good excuse for not providing the rest: lockdown is ending

Same sort of fake soundbite promise as all those thousands of extra -imaginary nurses and police officers promised