O/T:- ⚠️Impressed with the leadership [The UK Party Politics Thread]

[jackal2]

Jackal , relaxing.

Blimey, I've turned from a dog into a cat!

[Elite_Pie]

Well, if anyone is still 'impressed with the leadership' after the big policy statement on the next step on tackling coronavirus from Boris just now, they must either live on a different planet or be Soccerman or seriouspie. What a load of vague and ambiguous bullsh!t. What does "Stay alert" even mean in real terms? He might as well have said "we don't really know what to do next, so make your own minds up but don't blame us if it all goes tits up". Still, he did a lot of dramatic clenched fist and arm waving stuff, so that will convince most of his arse lickers on here.

Just when we need strong and decisive leadership, we are being run by this dithering buffoon.

[Pies4u]

Well, which part didn’t You understand?

It sounded perfectly clear, succinct and appropriate to anyone with a modicum of intelligence. Of course, if you are anti Conservative, anti Johnson and/or good at standing on the sidelines & shouting the odds you might struggle with it all.

[navypie]

Well, if anyone is still 'impressed with the leadership' after the big policy statement on the next step on tackling coronavirus from Boris just now, they must either live on a different planet or be Soccerman or seriouspie. What a load of vague and ambiguous bullsh!t. What does "Stay alert" even mean in real terms? He might as well have said "we don't really know what to do next, so make your own minds up but don't blame us if it all goes tits up". Still, he did a lot of dramatic clenched fist and arm waving stuff, so that will convince most of his arse lickers on here.

Just when we need strong and decisive leadership, we are being run by this dithering buffoon.

Well, I didn't see that coming.

[drillerpie]

Jackal , relaxing.

Ha ha!

[navypie]

Ha ha!

Tickled me. Well Driller, if the situation gets any worse, pills and sharp objects are in short supply, reading your posts will do the trick.

[jackal2]

Although Boris cannot say it directly, I think the Government's position reflects the reality on the ground, that the public themselves were beginning to loosen the lockdown. I've noticed a definite increase in the number of people out and about and the amount of traffic on the roads in the last 7 to 14 days, which suggests that folk have reached the limit of tight social isolation they will tolerate, be that wise or unwise.

Governments can pass all the laws they wish and give police the power to enforce them, but ultimately our country is governed and policed by consensus, and the mood of the population dictates the direction of policy far more than would be the case in a country like, say, China.

[Elite_Pie]

Although Boris cannot say it directly, I think the Government's position reflects the reality on the ground, that the public themselves were beginning to loosen the lockdown. I've noticed a definite increase in the number of people out and about and the amount of traffic on the roads in the last 7 to 14 days, which suggests that folk have reached the limit of tight social isolation they will tolerate, be that wise or unwise.

I agree with that, I've sensed the same. The point I'm making is that if this is the case, should the government stick to the "Stay home" message to err on the side of caution, or release something very vague that could be interpreted as "do what you want, but stay alert".

[jackal2]

I agree with that, I've sensed the same. The point I'm making is that if this is the case, should the government stick to the "Stay home" message to err on the side of caution, or release something very vague that could be interpreted as "do what you want, but stay alert".

The problem is, as you acknowledge, that the "Stay Home" message was beginning to lose its effect anyway. It has served a purpose, more successfully than some ever expected, but lockdown fatigue has definitely been setting in. The Government knows people are becoming more restless and active, so the task is to try to keep the public onside by acknowledging this reality, but doing so in a phased and cautious way.

As such, it's necessary to adopt a more nuanced position that can't be summed up as easily in two words. 'Stay Home' meant stay home. 'Stay Alert' in effect means we know you're going to go out more, but please keep up your social distancing and don't get complacent. Rightly or wrongly, it's trusting the public to use their common sense, which ultimately any Government has to do in a free society.

[Elite_Pie]

The problem is, as you acknowledge, that the "Stay Home" message was beginning to lose its effect anyway. It has served a purpose, more successfully than some ever expected, but lockdown fatigue has definitely been setting in. The Government knows people are becoming more restless and active, so the task is to try to keep the public onside by acknowledging this reality, but doing so in a phased and cautious way.

As such, it's necessary to adopt a more nuanced position that can't be summed up as easily in two words. 'Stay Home' meant stay home. 'Stay Alert' in effect means we know you're going to go out more, but please keep up your social distancing and don't get complacent. Rightly or wrongly, it's trusting the public to use their common sense, which ultimately any Government has to do in a free society.

You certainly make more sense than anyone else on the right here, but I think a big mistake the government made early on was advising us not to go out rather than telling us not to go out, which is what they did after a while. We now seem to be back to the advisory stage, which given the earlier failure seems highly irresponsible. At least Scotland and Wales have maintained the sensible strategy.