United Kingdom VII: Taking Pride in Your Success

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/22/covid-test-and-vaccine-certificates-could-help-sectors-reopen-in-england

The UK will look at test and vaccine certificates again to allow sectors to reopen - can't imagine it will happen and if it did it would be very short term anyway.

Really, school reopenings are the last real major hurdle ahead. By June enough population should have been vaccinated to first and second dose levels to have finally put in place a firm ceiling on COVID for the following 6-12 months. The schools though will be a huge transmission driver whilst two thirds of the population still haven't had dose one so I'm fine with the revealed plan I'm just doubtful they'll hit the dates outlined.

From later in the year though everything will be off, I don't fancy the government's chances of banking on any plan for 2022 that relies on expecting most people to line up for a second year booster round of vaccine.

[QualityChimp]

I don't know what to think about these new dates.
It's something to aim for, but I'm just worried everyone will get a bit silly on the 21st June, like there's a switch and Covid has gone away.

I know the death rates are falling, but that's a combination of the vaccine and lockdown.
I'm keen to escape lockdown too, but I hope we don't see another spike in deaths.

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[Soundwave]

I don't know what to think about these new dates.
It's something to aim for, but I'm just worried everyone will get a bit silly on the 21st June, like there's a switch and Covid has gone away.

I know the death rates are falling, but that's a combination of the vaccine and lockdown.
I'm keen to escape lockdown too, but I hope we don't see another spike in deaths.

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Considering my views on getting back to normal I 100% think that saying on the 21st June we'll remove all restrictions & open up everything is the most ridiculous thing ever

I genuinely think that the re-opening of everything needs to be later in the year...much later

I'm all for the dates set for retail etc. But that big final push needs to be much further on than middle of June

I'm also of the mind that mask wearing still needs to b compulsory in indoor settings...shops, cinemas, pubs, gyms everywhere
It's a pain but I've got used to it & think it's the sensible thing to do

I'm just looking forward to seeing my brother again properly & to get back to Anime nights now lol

Neil

[Hirst]

The dates will be moved, the government are just using short-term distraction techniques to put something in the news so folks don't look too closely at the Matt Hancock situation.

[QualityChimp]

Yeah, Matt Hancock's ex-neighbour got a £30m of work producing medical vials, despite never having worked in that area before.

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[QualityChimp]

The Covid contracts furore is no surprise – Britain has long been a chumocracy
From questionable appointments to toothless watchdogs, favours to friends is the Conservatives’ modus operandi

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/22/cronyism-britain-rampant-banana-republic-covid-contracts-government

It's bonkers to think that if it wasn't for the Good Law Project challenging the Government over PPE overspending and VIP fastlanes for mates, this corruption would have gone undetected and unchallenged.

[MartyG]

That behaviour isn't unique to the Tories.

[QualityChimp]

That behaviour isn't unique to the Tories.

Which bit?

Are there other MPs that have awarded PPE contracts to friends?

[MartyG]

Cronyism - both the Blair and Brown governments have awarded contacts to friends and donors - this is basically how government is setup to work, the bit the public see of MPs in the debating chamber makes up the sliver at the top of the iceberg - everything that gets done in Westminister is about greasing palms.

It's exceedingly naive for anyone to believe this is purely the reserve of Johnson's government.

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/hancock-says-its-on-all-of-us-to-help-ease-covid-lockdown-in-england

Hancock suggests personal responsibility will replace social distancing rules... so the same mistake as last summer then

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/feb/23/uk-covid-live-public-backs-johnsons-plan-for-lockdown-easing-in-england-polls-suggest?page=with:block-6034d4318f087933c5fda795#block-6034d4318f087933c5fda795

And despite the obvious facts of 2021, instructions from the Government and sheer common sense... EasyJet has seen a 6x increase in bookings to other countries for July onward.

[QualityChimp]

Ah, I see.

Yeah, I didn't believe for a minute that other parties are spotless from corruption, however, I was referring to the article, which is specifically talking about this current Government and its abuse of power by providing contracts to friends, neighbours, family members, school friends and so on.

https://sophieehill.shinyapps.io/my-little-crony/

Not only that, but they are becoming more open and brazen about it.
Like I say, it's taken a not-for-profit organization to take them to court about it.
Nothing is going to happen though.
There's not pressure from "the opposition".
Voters are still going to vote them back in.
You might get shouted at by Piers Morgan, but that's about it.
Hancock was on telly this morning telling Piers Morgan that the only reason he should be on there is for him and his team to be thanked for their performance during the pandemic.

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Plus, how is "Blair and Brown did it!" any kind of excuse?

[MartyG]

It's not, nor did I state that it was, simply that the way that government works pretty much guarantees any party that holds power will be involved in it.

[QualityChimp]

I love you, Marty, but it confuses me why a smart man like you spends so much effort into arguing about the wrong thing, but yeah never mind our current Government, politicians have always been corrupt, just look at Blair and Brown.

[wakka]

Yeah we still get to moan about it though. And we don’t have to qualify the moaning by saying, well, you know, to be fair on poor old Boris and Matt, Labour were at it too.