Dominic C Covid evidence 2

[Newtonianmechanics]

New thread for if old fills up.

Watching it live but now without sound, not that it makes much of a difference tbh

I have seen people using the word fillibuster describing Gove's testimony, I agree with that/

Does Gove have to come back for future modules? I hope so.

How the hell did Whitty, Vallance, Van Tam and Harries put up with these people? I'm amazed anyone is left alive in the UK.

I've had to turn the sound off as well, otherwise I'd launch the laptop through the window

We are now getting a glimpse of the excess deaths caused by EOTHO and Gove's thinking around this.

Gove asked whether the government found the decision-making process as difficult this time, re Lockdown #2, as they did back in March?

I'm not sure Gove understands what Keith is asking him, or why.

Keith clarifies about learning from mistakes. Gove waffles and produces some hindsight verbiage more suited to a constituency speech than an inquiry.

Keith asking Gove about methods of communication with PM and a bit of the content. Private gmail. WhatsApp.

The Norn barrister obliquely accuses Gove of running down the clock. Skilfully done.

Kirsten Heaven is up now for covid bereaved Wales. She'll be played by Suranne Jones or Maxine Peake in the film.

Hugo Keith definitely Robert Lindsay.

He doesn't like being pressed to answer the question without delays and snipes childishly in response. Talking over the Scottish KC when requested to be concise.

It's really interesting to watch because he thinks he is being clever but his language delivery changes considerably when he is cornered and no.way out.

The way MPs are chosen by their parties to stand is a big problem. I'd be happy with any of the individuals questioning to be in charge of an unexpected event in the UK with expert backup. The Government we had, sat at the witness table, was no better use than a chocolate fireguard. They may have been democratically elected but our process at the bottom in choosing the right people to stand to be voted for is not fit for purpose.

He's a fractious twat. Obviously missing his recreational time.

Danny Friedman now for disabled people's groups and those affected by inequalities.

On children's rights - the barrister is right, Gove has changed his evidence from this morning to now. (Sorry didn't get this barrister's name. I wish they'd leave the info on the screen.)

Oh that was a revolting moment from Gove.

Barrister mentions criticism from children's rights commissioner levelled at Cabinet decision-making. Gove: 'Oh Anne? I'm a huge fan. In fact I think I appointed her.' <adopts faux attempt at the memory recall of an important, busy, yet adorable man>

Ugh.

Rajiv Menon KC

Jenny Harries on now

Very relieved to be listening to Prof Harries, and not the national tragedy that is Gove.

I has to stop watching at 3, thanks fior the updates

I cannot stand Jenny Harries. Said it out loud, Sorry.

She was the one responsible for the great 'teachers gathering at break around coffee machines' myth that was repeated over and over again in briefings and on MN by certain determined posters.

We'll be hearing more from Professor Dame Jenny Harries in the morning, but here's a quick recap of what she said in the last hour of today's session:

• Harries became a familiar face at daily Covid briefings from Downing Street during the pandemic. She said this had not been a position she had ever imagined being in and that her role was not about defending government policy
• She was asked about comments early in the pandemic where she said the UK "has a perfectly adequate supply of PPE at the moment"
• She told the inquiry that she was not responsible for PPE but reminds the inquiry of an apology she made soon after
• Harries also said that her comments that the UK was a "very highly prepared country" for the pandemic feels wrong "in retrospect"
• She said her comments were based on an "external objective assessment", which scored the UK second out of 100 countries

A tale of two scientists on 10 March 2020.

Jeremy Farrar, on left, says the “chilling” Italy pictures of health service collapsing “focused minds”

Jenny Harries emailed colleagues to say the Italians were in a “rubbish position” as they had a less centralised health service.

https://x.com/tamcohen/status/1729544381332344951?s=20

Gove behaved like a politician on the stand, and I don't really think he took a hit the whole session. He dealt with those questions well. Some were a bit pointed; he was annoyed perhaps but generally I don't think very much troubled. He was extremely good (as he often is) at glossing and redirecting.

Jenny Harries what a waste is space; a person who just repeats information. I think she is actually worse.

Gove is a politician and came well prepared, his mask slipped when pressed on the shooting and hunting decision.

Screenshots attached to this tweet

https://x.com/AdamBienkov/status/1729507697907675605?s=20

Michael Gove discusses plans to quietly exempt hunting from Covid restrictions.

Gove is told it should be done "in a way that it doesn't appear on the face of the regs... we need to be VERY careful on how it is presented..."

Nigel Adams: "Amazing what a bit of lobbying can do"

https://x.com/implausibleblog/status/1729555403032146007?s=20

Michael Gove speaks over Claire Mitchell (Scottish Covid Bereaved) repeatedly.

A perfect demonstration of what Helen MacNamara was referring to in her evidence, that women were belittled, spoken over and dismissed

If the only criticism that Gove gets is about aristocratic pastimes he has done pretty well! It's the kind of thing that will never make the final report.

Anyway, he glided over most of it about substantive decision making far better than most of his cabinet colleagues. Got his apology in early of course. He will survive any blast imo

He will survive any blast imo

No doubt about that