Dominic C Covid evidence 2

[Newtonianmechanics]

New thread for if old fills up.

Discussion of what 'measures' means / meant in early March 2020.

Gove in a hot mess now, as the WhatsApp messages between him and Cummings on 4th March 2020 being read out by Hugo Keith KC. Gove's narrative then was that his own department (Cabinet Office) didn't have a 'plan' at all.

Hugo the Polite Assassin is moving in. I'd hate to be grilled by him in court. I'd just give in.

FFS, 'sought information from friends outside government ' - how reassuring to think people he socialises with were involved in designing the country's response.

I am enjoying the description of Johnson's decision-making process, desperately trying to pretend it was functional!

This is fabulously bonkers. Gladiatorial arguments going on in Johnson's head.

Hahahaha 🤣 'reluctance to embrace a decision rather than an inability to stick to one' due to 'set of principles that guided his political life'

As Jim Royle would say: Principles my arse!

Yes absolutely marvellous nonsense!

Johnson thinks with his head?
I thought his primary thought process occured elsewhere in his body.

Gove tells #CovidInquiry that Johnson was not indecisive on measures. He was "reluctant to embrace" restrictions because of "a principled attachment" to liberty.

"If it took him longer to reach that decision than others, we can consider the impact."

Death was the impact. ~AA

x.com/BestForBritain/status/1729480402488734025?s=20

Gove and Cummings- March 4 2020

Gove “we are fucking up as a government”

Dom; “they told us they had a plan. Obv bollocks.”

Gove: “indeed”

Dom: “people should be shot”

Aargh, I'm missing this.
Stupid work meetings.

I love Keith, he really is the Polite Assassin.
I'd also give in if he grilled me in court and admit to anything
Shergar? - yep, I stole him
Lord Lucan? - fair cop guv, "grandad" is over there

I am irrationally annoyed with Gove's never-ending little grunts of assent as the questions are being asked. He must be murder to live with.

I love watching this inquiry for different reasons.

One is Hugo Keith. He is incredible.

I've not caught the name yet of the lady who often questions witnesses. She's exemplary too and so young.

Forces to be reckoned with.

And we're back in the room.

We're on to the 'mode of operation in Downing Street at this time' (March 2020). Gove trying to dodge this. Polite assassin Keith asks specifically about this PM and this time. Gove still dissembling.

Keith moves on to Sept 2020 and the lobbying to exempt hunting and shooting from the 'rule of six' regulations. Gove stunned into silence for a whole ten seconds. Embarrassing for Gove. He's playing for time here.

Was the government trying to cover up its exemption for shooting?

An official - whose name is redacted - tells Gove "I presume you are strongly in favour of exempting [shooting] but in a way that it doesn't appear on the face of the regs" and he says yes.

Keith's got Gove on the hook over huntin' and shootin'

(Remember Helen McNamara saying priority was given to male pursuits, and not domestic violence...)

Keith has strongly made the point that the exemption of hunting and shooting from the regs was, uniquely, concealed - with Gove's complicity.

They move on to the devolved powers / nations.

Keith losing patience with Gove's waffle now.

Keith asking Gove to simply confirm that there was 'a problem that rumbled on' regarding funding for devolved administrations and regions for pandemic measures. Gove keeps trying to answer a different question and opining on the marvellously fair Barnett Formula.

Far more important than educating the children of plebs.

I am quite excited that we have found someone who thinks the Barnett formula is fair, even Barnett doesn't.

On to vulnerable groups, at risk groups, and children who might be or might become vulnerable.

Gove pretending that he gets it. But not saying what he and the government did about it.

I had to mute him, the constant mmmmmmmm was doing my head in.

Sadly the finger pointing can't be muted

Am I the only one left watching live, with sound?!