Coronavirus

Good science - re-evaluating how you do things when you have more real world information, but in the mean time, doing the best you can with what you have.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

It's not a "Boris bad" world view - the only thing self evident is that they are cherry picking "the science" to suit their needs.

Whether the UK vaccination policy is a success or otherwise remains to be seen, as Boris himself acknowledges the significant reduction in cases, hospitalisations and deaths are largely attributable to lockdown.

60 million Pfizer vaccines for the Autumn doesn't sound like a massive vote of confidence in the existing strategy.

The 17 day delay in redlisting India (compared to Pakistan) is presumably another success story for the Government.

It couldn't possibly be because a new variant might pop up that the current vaccines are ineffective against? No different to seasonal flu. I

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Good science - re-evaluating how you do things when you have more real world information, but in the mean time, doing the best you can with what you have.

Pure coincidence that it was the most politically expedient I guess.

[1andrew1]

Govt source tells Sunday Times: “It’s very clear that we should have closed the border to India earlier and that Boris did not do so because he didn’t want to offend Modi.” 20,000+ allowed to enter UK from India in an attempt to help encourage a trade deal.
https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/stat...15797231230984

[Sephiroth]

It'll be interesting to see how Boris wriggles out of the bleedin' obvious.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

It'll be interesting to see how Boris wriggles out of the bleedin' obvious.

Perhaps we should block off Bolton.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

It'll be interesting to see how Boris wriggles out of the bleedin' obvious.

He's rightly acquired the Teflon Tory nickname so will doubtless shrug it off. For now, the successful vaccine roll-out gives him strong immunity against findings of corruption and cock-ups.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

He's rightly acquired the Teflon Tory nickname so will doubtless shrug it off. For now, the successful vaccine roll-out gives him strong immunity against findings of corruption and cock-ups.

The feeling in my gut is that shrugging it off won't wash with the public, particularly if June 21 doesn't happen.

The outcry and onslaught will be serious in nature.

Even if he came clean and pleaded that he had to balance the economy against public health, the "partnership" with India is no big deal in this context.

I'm going to sound out whether or not the senior Tories are going to put up with this.

Originally Posted by Itshim

Perhaps we should block off Bolton.

That ship has sailed…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57109660

the Indian variant was now in most regions of the UK, with the possible exception of Yorkshire and Humber and north-east England.

More than 30% of cases are in London, followed by 25% in north-west England, 12% in eastern England, 10% in the East Midlands and 8% in the South East, PHE said.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Good science - re-evaluating how you do things when you have more real world information, but in the mean time, doing the best you can with what you have.

Indeed, with the likes of coronavirus and climate change. I have no issue in following science. I do have a problem in following “the” science. As though it is a definitive proposition. If

[Carth]

erm . . these '20,000+ allowed to enter UK from India' . . were they allowed to board in India, land in the UK, and then wander off wherever they wanted without any kind of testing or isolation period?

Serious question, because I've got absolutely no idea what the heck is happening anymore with 'International Travel' (or pubs, swimming baths, cinemas, HMRC, SNP, The Illuminati, and the price of coffee in Starbucks etc etc)

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

The feeling in my gut is that shrugging it off won't wash with the public, particularly if June 21 doesn't happen.

The outcry and onslaught will be serious in nature.

Even if he came clean and pleaded that he had to balance the economy against public health, the "partnership" with India is no big deal in this context.

I'm going to sound out whether or not the senior Tories are going to put up with this.

His popularity might be dented if 21st June is postponed but he delivered in the recent elections so he's secure in his role unless some of the other scandals hit home.

Michael Gove will just have to content himself by pitching his skills as a subject matter expert to Knives Out 2.

---------- Post added 16-05-2021 at 00:18 ---------- Previous post was 15-05-2021 at 23:54 ----------

Originally Posted by Carth

erm . . these '20,000+ allowed to enter UK from India' . . were they allowed to board in India, land in the UK, and then wander off wherever they wanted without any kind of testing or isolation period?

Serious question, because I've got absolutely no idea what the heck is happening anymore with 'International Travel' (or pubs, swimming baths, cinemas, HMRC, SNP, The Illuminati, and the price of coffee in Starbucks etc etc)

Alarming reports of the spread of a new highly infectious variant of Covid on the Indian subcontinent first emerged early last month.

The Government acted by adding Pakistan and Bangladesh – India’s direct neighbours – to its "red list" on April 2, barring foreign travellers and forcing 10-day hotel quarantines on returning UK citizens.

The decision led to concerns among epidemiologists, who questioned why India was not included.

Health officials had started to detect an increase in the arrival of Covid cases from India. Public Health England (PHE) data now shows that of the 3,345 people arriving from India between March 25 and April 7, 4.8 per cent tested positive, compared to 0.1 per cent of people in England...

With India not on the “red list”, all but a handful of these travellers would have been allowed to leave the airport and travel home, as well as being asked to self isolate.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, was determined to press ahead with a planned visit to India on April 25.

The plan was that he would be able to announce that early discussions were now under way over a new trade deal. But as more and more data from India began to ring alarm bells, he came under pressure to call off the trip. Downing Street eventually pulled the plug on April 19, on the same day Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, told the House of Commons that India would also be added to the red list – but only from 4am on April 23.

This was despite Downing Street having briefed journalists when the scheme was first unveiled that countries could be added "at a few hours' notice".

The result of the three-day delay was inevitable. Demand for flights between India and the UK rocketed amid a “desperate frenzy'” as families tried to beat the deadline and avoid having to quarantine in a hotel. Thousands of extra passengers travelled into Britain from the subcontinent.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...-hold-britain/

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Govt source tells Sunday Times: “It’s very clear that we should have closed the border to India earlier and that Boris did not do so because he didn’t want to offend Modi.” 20,000+ allowed to enter UK from India in an attempt to help encourage a trade deal.
https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/stat...15797231230984

I'm not sure I buy this, it'd be an incredibly callous individual to risk so many lives just to look good announcing a trade deal

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

I'm not sure I buy this, it'd be an incredibly callous individual to risk so many lives just to look good announcing a trade deal

I'm sure everyone wishes it were wrong but Sky, Telegraph, The Times are all stating it. No one has come up with another reason and experts interviewed on other media have suggested it is the case as well.

Don't forget, it was just before local elections and a successful trade deal would also address the 150% tariffs and 28 differing state rules in exporting spirits to India. If resolved, this could put a dampner on Scottish independence.

Securing improved market access to India is the [Scottish Whisky] Association's number one trade priority

India sees sales of more than 50m bottles of whisky every year, yet Scotch Whisky accounts for just 2% of the market. This is partly due to the 150% tariff applied by the Government of India, but the country’s federal structure also complicates the market for the industry with responsibility for alcohol devolved to individual states in India, creating in effect 28 separate markets each with differing regulations, taxes and restrictions

https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/ins...ational-trade/

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I'm sure everyone wishes it were wrong but Sky, Telegraph, The Times are all stating it. No one has come up with another reason and experts interviewed on other media have suggested it is the case as well.

Don't forget, it was just before local elections and a successful trade deal would also address the 150% tariffs and 28 differing state rules in exporting spirits to India. If resolved, this could put a dampner on Scottish independence.


https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/ins...ational-trade/

If it's true I hope he and the public aren't allowed to forget the casual disregard he has for them, I keep hearing we aren't interested in the racketeering currently masquerading as governance so I wonder if we'll be as keen to forgive him this