OT. Schools...normality and Coronavirus.

[Ram59]

Except that football managers really are, almost by definition, ‘experts in their fields’. I sometimes think that the last time the delusional Gavin Williamson was in a school was when he was an actual pupil and although I suspect Johnson maybe very familiar with cosy rural pubs he seemed completely unaware as regards the implications of ending inner city lockdown on a Saturday night.

How many times are football managers demonised for not playing a player and then when he does select him, demonised for playing him. At the time, many were saying why do we need a lockdown, now with hindsight, many are saying that it was too late.

On the subject of pubs reopening, I personally think that it's too soon and I agree that it was crazy to start it at the weekend. It should have been on a Monday night, giving pubs and their staff chance to build up the numbers.

It's been a difficult job forthe government, but I despair at some of the simple wrong decisions made.

[ramAnag]

How many times are football managers demonised for not playing a player and then when he does select him, demonised for playing him. At the time, many were saying why do we need a lockdown, now with hindsight, many are saying that it was too late.

On the subject of pubs reopening, I personally think that it's too soon and I agree that it was crazy to start it at the weekend. It should have been on a Monday night, giving pubs and their staff chance to build up the numbers.

It's been a difficult job forthe government, but I despair at some of the simple wrong decisions made.

You’re absolutely right Ram...it’s been a difficult job and an unprecedented situation.

The Saturday night thing I believe was clouded, in what passes for Johnson’s mind, by the 4th July factor and populism.

The track and trace situation is turning into a tragic fiasco.

As for schools...we’ve now got Williamson just saying all pupils will go back in September and those that don’t will be subject to fines.
As it happens I’m currently involved in putting on a live music event in October. All sorts of calculations have, rightly, to be made about such things as seating, ticketing and toilet facilities.
It’s truly complicated and yet it is simplicity itself compared with opening up schools, where classrooms have been designed with pupils regularly sitting no more than 30cm (at best) apart suddenly having to provide seating 1-2 metres apart.
You just can’t safely fit the same number of children into the same space anymore and the government has to provide extra facilities (temporary buildings) and extra staff. Those steps need to be taken now...not in September when it suddenly dawns on the Education Secretary that the can he has been kicking down the road since last March won’t go any further.

[MadAmster]

Here's just 2 of the many things BoJo and his motley crew have done that rile the Scots. One designed to put the FM down but only succeeds in making Carlaw look stupid and the other shows an average of getting on for 20 Billion things a year that might persuade Scots to breakaway.

[Trickytreesreds]

Here's just 2 of the many things BoJo and his motley crew have done that rile the Scots. One designed to put the FM down but only succeeds in making Carlaw look stupid and the other shows an average of getting on for 20 Billion things a year that might persuade Scots to breakaway.

Arrrrrrrrrrrr a party political broadcast on behalf of the SNP.


So the claims that Scotland pays in more than it takes out.
It's a lot closer than that what I've seen, and I'm no abacus flicker.
They mysteriously leave out of that, that the UK budget also includes Wales/N,Ireland.
They won't be adding up the last 2 years figures in a hurry either, as oil prices fell back into the ground.
Remove that oil revenue anyway and then what?

[ramAnag]

... and I'm no abacus flicker.

Although it’s often been suggested you’re something very similar.

[Trickytreesreds]

Although it’s often been suggested you’re something very similar.

oh don't worry about me, you only need to lose the F

[ramAnag]

oh don't worry about me, you only need to lose the F

Lol...altogether now...to the tune of ‘Blue Moon’...ten men, we only had ten men...we only had ten men.

69...always been a favourite number...oops sorry, I meant 96.

[Geoff Parkstone]

The interesting thing about that table is that it is in £££. What will it be denominated in post independence.

Its also hugely misleading as the -£383........... figure is what is spent on central services from which the scotch benefit - the military for example, and all other services provided outside of the block grant (which is purely the amount provided by central government to the scottish parliament to spend).

[Geoff Parkstone]

The interesting thing about that table is that it is in £££. What will it be denominated in post independence.

Its also hugely misleading as the -£383........... figure is what is spent on central services from which the scotch benefit - the military for example, and all other services provided outside of the block grant (which is purely the amount provided by central government to the scottish parliament to spend).

[ramAnag]

Anyway...back on topic...
Anyone else bewildered by our leaders’ latest volte-face?
Overnight it appears they’ve concluded that face masks must be worn in shops...from 24th July!

No problem with the decision...it makes sense...almost as if we’ve looked at the examples of Scotland, Wales, Spain, Germany and others and the ‘penny has dropped’, at last.

But why wait another ten days? If it’s so necessary why not asap...and if it’s a good idea now why were those such as Johnson, Trump and Gove so opposed to the idea when the epidemic was far more virulent than it now appears to be?

It’s just another example of how lamentable the advice and leadership throughout so much of this pandemic has been and begs the question...why, with so many contradictions, should we believe and trust a word they say?

Doubtless Johnson and Williamson will continue to insist that all pupils return to school in September...and I understand how important and desirable this is...but how can people trust that it will be possible to make them all such safe environments for such increased numbers against a background of contradiction where dentists remain closed and theatres and sports stadia are only likely to function at about 30% of capacity?