O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[ramAnag]

[QUOTE=Ram59;39680433]

If you actually read my post properly, you would see that I said that it was on the 'BBC news UK' website. Then on my answer to your first defence of the BBC, stating that maybe there were more important things to consider, I gave you a list of 'news headlines' which the BBC obviously thought were more important than the vaccine success.

So I gather from your comments that an 'Edinburgh landmark site going back on the market', is a more newsworthy item than the fact that the government is 'currently' on target, with the only action that will free us from this pandemic. IMO, I believe that the success of these vaccines, is the most important thing at the moment, not just for the UK, but the whole world.

I think that you would fail your English 'O' level exam, if you took it again.

Fair point Ram. I did overlook the website factor. Much like school days...I was probably talking at the back and not paying attention.

Having said that my point remains. In the same way as you regularly attack anything that is remotely pro EU you also like to have a go at the BBC and attack anything that is at all critical of the Government.

For the record, I 100% share your hopes as regards the vaccine and I will joyfully concede that so far they would appear to be surpassing expectation.

In the interests of what Andy would call ‘balance’ and on the direct subject of your thread, this has to be set aside our dreadful position in the Covid ‘league tables’, the doubts about the efficacy of the vaccine if the second dose is delayed for too long and the shambolic reaction to the emergence of the ‘British variant’.
Please remember this variant was identified and had taken hold before mid December. No statement was made about it until the 19th December when it was described as more transmissible but no more serious than the original Wuhan strain.
Despite the misgivings of all professionals Messrs Johnson and Williamson were still insistent that all schools should open as planned at the beginning of January. It was only the night before that they accepted such a move would be unwise and unsafe and it was only yesterday that the PM conceded that actually it would seem the British and South African strains/variants are likely to have more serious consequences.

So...in direct response to the thread...well done (hopefully) on the vaccines. Heads should roll elsewhere.

[swaledale]

[QUOTE=ramAnag;39680803]

Fair point Ram. I did overlook the website factor. Much like school days...I was probably talking at the back and not paying attention.

Having said that my point remains. In the same way as you regularly attack anything that is remotely pro EU you also like to have a go at the BBC and attack anything that is at all critical of the Government.

For the record, I 100% share your hopes as regards the vaccine and I will joyfully concede that so far they would appear to be surpassing expectation.

In the interests of what Andy would call ‘balance’ and on the direct subject of your thread, this has to be set aside our dreadful position in the Covid ‘league tables’, the doubts about the efficacy of the vaccine if the second dose is delayed for too long and the shambolic reaction to the emergence of the ‘British variant’.
Please remember this variant was identified and had taken hold before mid December. No statement was made about it until the 19th December when it was described as more transmissible but no more serious than the original Wuhan strain.
Despite the misgivings of all professionals Messrs Johnson and Williamson were still insistent that all schools should open as planned at the beginning of January. It was only the night before that they accepted such a move would be unwise and unsafe and it was only yesterday that the PM conceded that actually it would seem the British and South African strains/variants are likely to have more serious consequences.

So...in direct response to the thread...well done (hopefully) on the vaccines. Heads should roll elsewhere.

The BBC website doesn't reflect that at the moment, obviously news stories shift from day today and lets face it anyone could have a view on whats important.

The UK variant was first identified in mid September.

Scientists are taking issue with Johnson saying the new strain leads to more deaths, saying there isn't enough data to substantiate this yet.

[ramAnag]

[QUOTE=swaledale;39680819]

Scientists are taking issue with Johnson saying the new strain leads to more deaths, saying there isn't enough data to substantiate this yet.

Yes, I saw that. Interesting, and confusing...as is the apparent disappearance of JVT from any of the Covid updates. Seems his combination of relative popularity and honesty may not have gone down too well in certain quarters.

[Ram59]

[QUOTE=ramAnag;39680803]

Fair point Ram. I did overlook the website factor. Much like school days...I was probably talking at the back and not paying attention.

Having said that my point remains. In the same way as you regularly attack anything that is remotely pro EU you also like to have a go at the BBC and attack anything that is at all critical of the Government.

For the record, I 100% share your hopes as regards the vaccine and I will joyfully concede that so far they would appear to be surpassing expectation.

In the interests of what Andy would call ‘balance’ and on the direct subject of your thread, this has to be set aside our dreadful position in the Covid ‘league tables’, the doubts about the efficacy of the vaccine if the second dose is delayed for too long and the shambolic reaction to the emergence of the ‘British variant’.
Please remember this variant was identified and had taken hold before mid December. No statement was made about it until the 19th December when it was described as more transmissible but no more serious than the original Wuhan strain.
Despite the misgivings of all professionals Messrs Johnson and Williamson were still insistent that all schools should open as planned at the beginning of January. It was only the night before that they accepted such a move would be unwise and unsafe and it was only yesterday that the PM conceded that actually it would seem the British and South African strains/variants are likely to have more serious consequences.

So...in direct response to the thread...well done (hopefully) on the vaccines. Heads should roll elsewhere.

I accept your apology, if that what is was. I also plead guilty to giving the government support when they are continually subject to unnecessary criticism. God knows, they've done enough wrong to be critical of, without the constant haranguing of ministers. It's just a pity that these weak minded ministers are too pathetic and not strong enough to answer back, maybe they should get Farage to give them some lessons. Agree with him or not, he can look after himself in an interview.

Let's examine the vaccination programme, atm, it seems to be going well, possibly too well. The ramping up of vaccinations is unlikely to be sustained because vaccine production will not be able to keep pace. This will result in the spectacle of fully manned vaccination centres standing idle at some time in the future. But, what does the government do, hold back vaccinations to smooth out the vaccination programme, resulting in unnecessary deaths of people in a months time who have been prevented from having a vaccine today? Or do they go ahead and run the risk of running out of vaccine and wasting time and facilities?

It's Hobson's choice, the chances are the government will get criticised which ever decision they make.

[ramAnag]

[QUOTE=Ram59;39681058]

It's just a pity that these weak minded ministers are too pathetic and not strong enough to answer back, maybe they should get Farage to give them some lessons. Agree with him or not, he can look after himself in an interview.


It's Hobson's choice, the chances are the government will get criticised which ever decision they make.

Lessons from Farage. Really? How have things worked out for him so far? He may be able to ‘look after himself in an interview’, usually via the use of lies, divisiveness and blatant appeals to populism...not so good with elections though is he?
To use a football analogy his record to date appears to be...P7 W0 D0 L7.

If the Government makes the right decision and stops making repeated ‘U’ turns they may find they earn a great deal less criticism.

[Andy_Faber]

[QUOTE=ramAnag;39681164]

Lessons from Farage. Really? How have things worked out for him so far? He may be able to ‘look after himself in an interview’, usually via the use of lies, divisiveness and blatant appeals to populism...not so good with elections though is he?
To use a football analogy his record to date appears to be...P7 W0 D0 L7.

If the Government makes the right decision and stops making repeated ‘U’ turns they may find they earn a great deal less criticism.

I know you bang on about his election defeats rA but he won the one that mattered, and much as it may hurt most of his influence is through sheer force of personality, both major parties would kill for someone who connects with the people like NF does. Not saying I even like him, just observing.

[swaledale]

[QUOTE=Andy_Faber;39681183]

I know you bang on about his election defeats rA but he won the one that mattered, and much as it may hurt most of his influence is through sheer force of personality, both major parties would kill for someone who connects with the people like NF does. Not saying I even like him, just observing.

I see your acquaintance with the truth is as shaky as ever. Farage didn't actually win any election and he certainly didn't "win" the referendum, the leave side did that and although Farage was a catalyst, HE certainly didn't win it. In fact if any one person can be described as winning the leave debate, that person has to be Johnson, as it is unlikely though not impossible that the vote would have been leave without his backing and prominent leading of the leave campaign and all that whilst not really believing in the cause he was fighting for, remarkable really!

Mind you the Uk is paying the price now and will be for the foreseeable future, unless one is a "blind" Brexiteer of course, then everything is rosy!

[Ram59]

[QUOTE=ramAnag;39681164]

Lessons from Farage. Really? How have things worked out for him so far? He may be able to ‘look after himself in an interview’, usually via the use of lies, divisiveness and blatant appeals to populism...not so good with elections though is he?
To use a football analogy his record to date appears to be...P7 W0 D0 L7.

If the Government makes the right decision and stops making repeated ‘U’ turns they may find they earn a great deal less criticism.

Lessons purely, in interviewee technic RA.

I cringe at the submissiveness of some of the tory ministers, when being questioned on tv. Take Friday morning for instance, my friend Munchetty goaded the minister into reluctantly guaranteeing that all care homes will be fully vaccinated at the end of the month.

Why didn't he have the guts to tell her that, no he couldn't guarantee it, he couldn't guarantee that out of all of 100s of thousands of patients in care homes, that because some oversight, breakdown in communication, snow storm or any other of a number of reasons, that some will not be vaccinated by the end of the month.

They need to grow some and answer back occasionally.

[swaledale]

[QUOTE=Ram59;39681535]

Lessons purely, in interviewee technic RA.

I cringe at the submissiveness of some of the tory ministers, when being questioned on tv. Take Friday morning for instance, my friend Munchetty goaded the minister into reluctantly guaranteeing that all care homes will be fully vaccinated at the end of the month.

Why didn't he have the guts to tell her that, no he couldn't guarantee it, he couldn't guarantee that out of all of 100s of thousands of patients in care homes, that because some oversight, breakdown in communication, snow storm or any other of a number of reasons, that some will not be vaccinated by the end of the month.

They need to grow some and answer back occasionally.

Maybe if the terms "world beating" "better than anyone else" "we will beat the virus by Easter" "we will all have an enjoyable christmas" "moonshot" hadn't been used and there had been a bit less false optimism, a bit more facts and honesty then the Government wouldn't have a credibility issue?

I mean for all her faults and the fact that on the ground Scotland hasn't done much better than England, Sturgeon still has crdibility because of how she handled the briefings, lesson there maybe but not from Farage!

[Ram59]

[QUOTE=swaledale;39681621]

Maybe if the terms "world beating" "better than anyone else" "we will beat the virus by Easter" "we will all have an enjoyable christmas" "moonshot" hadn't been used and there had been a bit less false optimism, a bit more facts and honesty then the Government wouldn't have a credibility issue?

I mean for all her faults and the fact that on the ground Scotland hasn't done much better than England, Sturgeon still has crdibility because of how she handled the briefings, lesson there maybe but not from Farage!

I agree with comments on Johnson's ridiculous claims, but don't you think that Sturgeon also benefits from a lack of accountability from the media. The government are constantly hounded whatever decision they make, the media will always reveal one expert with an alternative, not necessarily correct, view. They will always find people who have slipped through the net and interview them on national tv. Don't you think that the same, if not more, applies to Scotland's actions, but is rarely brought to our attention?

The same goes for the idiot in control of Wales, who gets off scot free.