On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
I'm in favour of more collective decision-making and a less quasi-Presidential system in general, but I think it's true that more collective systems, like the Greek city-states, would often appoint a temporary dictator to see them through a crisis. It's perverse for us to end up doing the reverse. A new Prime Minister is required.
As an aside, this risks showing how useless the Monarchy has become. Any head of state with independent authority would intervene to insist on a replacement head of government, but the Monarchy appears to have decided that inaction at all times is the surest way to preserve their position. The idea that they might provide a bulwark against totalitarianism is exposed as fantasy.
Given that there is no sign of totalitarianism here - quite the opposite in fact - you are clearly making unjustified and unsupportable claims there.
Since the complaint is that in the (hopefully temporary) absence of the Prime Minister, the country is being governed by the Cabinet under collective decision making with the Foreign Sec. acting as a referee... not sure that arrangement sounds very totalitarian....
I'm in favour of more collective decision-making and a less quasi-Presidential system in general, but I think it's true that more collective systems, like the Greek city-states, would often appoint a temporary dictator to see them through a crisis. It's perverse for us to end up doing the reverse. A new Prime Minister is required.
As an aside, this risks showing how useless the Monarchy has become. Any head of state with independent authority would intervene to insist on a replacement head of government, but the Monarchy appears to have decided that inaction at all times is the surest way to preserve their position. The idea that they might provide a bulwark against totalitarianism is exposed as fantasy.
That seems an odd take. There hasn't been a need to insist on a replacement head of government because a deputy arrangement has been implemented.
If for instance Boris was out of action and the government had not put in place such an arrangement then there might be a need to insist on a new head of government, but there isnt right now. Theyve got emergency measures in place. Long term there might be an issue, but this is not that, yet.
I cannot as a monarchist see how this scenario really speaks for or against the system we have. The benefits and negatives are to do with flexible appointment of chief minister.
The primary is a side show to the Supreme Court election.
Sanders wanted the primary postponed.
Sanders should quit his vanity trip now
He absolutely should. I'm just pointing out this Wisconsin debacle is not because of Sanders, if the Dem Primary was canceled or Sanders had withdrawn then there would still be an election yesterday for the Supreme Court and turnout would have be just as high.
I'm in favour of more collective decision-making and a less quasi-Presidential system in general, but I think it's true that more collective systems, like the Greek city-states, would often appoint a temporary dictator to see them through a crisis. It's perverse for us to end up doing the reverse. A new Prime Minister is required.
As an aside, this risks showing how useless the Monarchy has become. Any head of state with independent authority would intervene to insist on a replacement head of government, but the Monarchy appears to have decided that inaction at all times is the surest way to preserve their position. The idea that they might provide a bulwark against totalitarianism is exposed as fantasy.
Given that there is no sign of totalitarianism here - quite the opposite in fact - you are clearly making unjustified and unsupportable claims there.
I'm extrapolating from what I believe I've identified as a general behaviour - no different to Monarchists who do likewise in reverse.
So let's guess... Adam Boulton will spend most of the morning discussing a non-existent constitutional crisis, and there might be a two minute interlude when the virus situation gets discussed. And even that will likely be some journalist or other wailing about when will the lockdown be lifted.
Quality.
Can I suggest turning off the news and listening to music instead?
The problem of the 24 hour news cycle is that there is an endless demand to talk about the same things. Mind you, it works for PB too.
OT Having finished the Shoestring DVDs (they only made two series before Trevor Eve decided he wanted to be a proper actor) I am about to watch Churchill's Secret, about the Prime Minister recovering from a stroke in office. Sounds a bit far-fetched to me.
Not that far fetched. Bill Clinton got more than a stroke in his office.
Yes indeed. Process and authority questions seem pretty clear. Long term politics would be an issue. Thats enough on it's own without making it a constitutional thing.
Its like the whole PM without a mandate thing we get whenever theres a change without an election. The Guardian raised it with Raab even. Each time it happens its argued from whoever is against it that theres no mandate and there should be an election. And each time that's s political argument and fine to make, not a constitutional question.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Well, it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, but it's not a power vacuum: it's a news vacuum.
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
Oooops ... looks like Gaby's been the first to have a little accident this morning! Now go play with the Duplo while we get the mop and the tissues, OK?
Maybe there's method in the decision but from the BBC news site "given Johnson's predicament the decision to review the lockdown has been put back a week" will for better or worse diminish sympathy for him. Everyone has to wait until he recovers before the country can get on with life.
Perhaps if the death rate was dropping. While it keeps going up, people will accept that lockdown was going to continue wherever Johnson was.
No, it is yet another balls-up in the spin department. Either Raab can run the show or crucial decisions need to wait for Boris to return. Which is it?
I suspect in this case, the decision was likely to be to extend for a further three weeks. However, the numbers are not looking bad, but it is too soon to tell, extending by a week seems reasonable. The constitutional position is surely that Raab is prime minister. He has said that he will continue to govern by Cabinet consensus and following the instructions given by Boris before he went into ICU. The post of Prime Minister doesn't really exist, and has little formal authority. I guess the real problem is that Raab has little informal authority in the Cabinet. Of course what should have happened is that Boris go on sick leave when he contracted the virus, and Raab declared acting PM. I don't see why that would have been a problem.
So let's guess... Adam Boulton will spend most of the morning discussing a non-existent constitutional crisis, and there might be a two minute interlude when the virus situation gets discussed. And even that will likely be some journalist or other wailing about when will the lockdown be lifted.
Quality.
Can I suggest turning off the news and listening to music instead?
The problem of the 24 hour news cycle is that there is an endless demand to talk about the same things. Mind you, it works for PB too.
How very dare you! We merely comment on the changing 24 hour news cycle.
Well, it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, but it's not a power vacuum: it's a news vacuum.
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
--AS
I used to just dislike and distrust the media, but now I honestly despise many of them. I think your 'alternative plans' would boost the nation's happiness level by 50% at least.
The primary is a side show to the Supreme Court election.
Sanders wanted the primary postponed.
Sanders should quit his vanity trip now
He absolutely should. I'm just pointing out this Wisconsin debacle is not because of Sanders, if the Dem Primary was canceled or Sanders had withdrawn then there would still be an election yesterday for the Supreme Court and turnout would have be just as high.
Indeed the Wisconsin Supreme Court election is quite critical to a case that could disenfranchise a quarter of a million voters.
6 polling stations for 600 000 population in Milwaukee, and insistence on voting in person rather than extending postal voting. It is voter suppression on a massive scale, and in a pandemic too.
Well, it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, but it's not a power vacuum: it's a news vacuum.
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
--AS
The news vacuum thing realties to the savage competition for stories that generate internet traffic - a journalist is often judged now on the click bait they generate.
A nuclear war is good for journalists (apart from the whole sunblock 1,000,000 thing). A news vacuum means rats fighting in a sack.
The sensible answer would be to do more in depth stuff - what about a really deep dive through testing - how it works, the people who do it, technology (current & future) etc. You could have a daily series of 1 hour slots on that for days.... and it might accidentally inform people about facts.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Jamie has a particular agenda. Nothing wrong with that but he does.
He has a point though, you can put T2D into remission by adopting a low carb diet. If your body can't tolerate something, it seems sensible to stop eating it. However I am not sure how low-carb the German diet actually is - they eat quite a lot of bread and dumplings.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
The rate of Diabetes in Germany is about 7.2%, so about the same as ours. 90% T2.
Meat and cheese don't seem to be protecting the Dutch, or for that matter the Americans.
It's almost as if he is a dairy farmer, not an epidemiologist...
"It's almost as if he is a dairy farmer, not an epidemiologist." - so he is fully qualified to be second guessing the CMO? What are his plans for testing?
Maybe there's method in the decision but from the BBC news site "given Johnson's predicament the decision to review the lockdown has been put back a week" will for better or worse diminish sympathy for him. Everyone has to wait until he recovers before the country can get on with life.
Perhaps if the death rate was dropping. While it keeps going up, people will accept that lockdown was going to continue wherever Johnson was.
No, it is yet another balls-up in the spin department. Either Raab can run the show or crucial decisions need to wait for Boris to return. Which is it?
Indeed.
The right-wingers on here will myopically criticise the press and shout down anyone who raises issues as a left-winger. However, there's no getting away from the fact that this is a problem and a pretty serious one at that.
The country is in its greatest ever peacetime crisis. Leadership of the right kind: consistent, strong, collective is required. With Boris in hospital I can't honestly say that any of those three adjectives currently apply. In their heart-of-hearts I doubt any of our blue-card carrying friends can either. (Except 666, obvs.)
Bollocks. The simple fact is in within the next ten days Boris' situation is likely to resolve, one way or the other. There is no realistic possibility of the overall coronavirus strategy having to change within that time that would make it worth enacting a formal transition of power right now.
The media just need to keep their piss from sloshing out of their nappies, grow the fuck up, and stop spreading hysteria. So naturally they'll probably do the exact opposite.
The media and Lord Heseltine, a previous Deputy Prime Minister to John Major.
A man who has never missed the opportunity to create trouble for the Tory party ever since they rejected him as leader back in the early 90s.
If Boris does not improve in the next two weeks a temporary PM will be needed. This should preferably be Theresa May. She has the experience and is well known. This is no time for a novice. This is not just a decision for the Cabinet; the 1922 committee and opposition parties should also be involved.
The level of new COVID cases will probably drop soon and NHS COVID capacity is rapidly increasing, so it will be possible to ease some restrictions in a few weeks time. Primary schools should be first to go back. Home schooling for very young children is essentially impossible. It will also massively release strain on parents and enable some of them to return to work.
Maybe there's method in the decision but from the BBC news site "given Johnson's predicament the decision to review the lockdown has been put back a week" will for better or worse diminish sympathy for him. Everyone has to wait until he recovers before the country can get on with life.
Perhaps if the death rate was dropping. While it keeps going up, people will accept that lockdown was going to continue wherever Johnson was.
No, it is yet another balls-up in the spin department. Either Raab can run the show or crucial decisions need to wait for Boris to return. Which is it?
Indeed.
The right-wingers on here will myopically criticise the press and shout down anyone who raises issues as a left-winger. However, there's no getting away from the fact that this is a problem and a pretty serious one at that.
The country is in its greatest ever peacetime crisis. Leadership of the right kind: consistent, strong, collective is required. With Boris in hospital I can't honestly say that any of those three adjectives currently apply. In their heart-of-hearts I doubt any of our blue-card carrying friends can either. (Except 666, obvs.)
Bollocks. The simple fact is in within the next ten days Boris' situation is likely to resolve, one way or the other. There is no realistic possibility of the overall coronavirus strategy having to change within that time that would make it worth enacting a formal transition of power right now.
The media just need to keep their piss from sloshing out of their nappies, grow the fuck up, and stop spreading hysteria. So naturally they'll probably do the exact opposite.
The media and Lord Heseltine, a previous Deputy Prime Minister to John Major.
A man who has never missed the opportunity to create trouble for the Tory party ever since they rejected him as leader back in the early 90s.
He seems to have replaced Ted Heath in that role.
I don't like Heseltine, but that is hardly fair.
Yes, perhaps that is a bit unfair. Heath went full wacko - outright hatred of democracy and full on love for the Chinese government.
I remember being present for the moment when, publicly, Heseltine realised that the party didn't want him.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Jamie has a particular agenda. Nothing wrong with that but he does.
He has a point though, you can put T2D into remission by adopting a low carb diet. If your body can't tolerate something, it seems sensible to stop eating it. However I am not sure how low-carb the German diet actually is - they eat quite a lot of bread and dumplings.
Well, it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, but it's not a power vacuum: it's a news vacuum.
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
--AS
It's a good idea.
By the way, havrn't seen your posts before, so (ptobably belated!) welcome!
If Boris does not improve in the next two weeks a temporary PM will be needed. This should preferably be Theresa May. She has the experience and is well known. This is no time for a novice. This is not just a decision for the Cabinet; the 1922 committee and opposition parties should also be involved.
The level of new COVID cases will probably drop soon and NHS COVID capacity is rapidly increasing, so it will be possible to ease some restrictions in a few weeks time. Primary schools should be first to go back. Home schooling for very young children is essentially impossible. It will also massively release strain on parents and enable some of them to return to work.
May back as PM? Are you mad? Her specialities of delay, dither and communicate with no one would be a disaster in this crisis.
Well, it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, but it's not a power vacuum: it's a news vacuum.
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
--AS
It's a good idea.
By the way, havrn't seen your posts before, so (ptobably belated!) welcome!
It is, indeed the whole reason behind the original New Labour message grid stuff. Control the media cycle by feeding stories into the media at a controlled rate. If you can provide the media with stories without them having to leave their desks, they won't have time to actually find stuff out that you don't want them to.
It was, for example, why they reacted so badly to the Damien Green thing. Having someone leaking the message grid ahead of time turned it back on the government.
If Boris does not improve in the next two weeks a temporary PM will be needed. This should preferably be Theresa May. She has the experience and is well known. This is no time for a novice. This is not just a decision for the Cabinet; the 1922 committee and opposition parties should also be involved.
The level of new COVID cases will probably drop soon and NHS COVID capacity is rapidly increasing, so it will be possible to ease some restrictions in a few weeks time. Primary schools should be first to go back. Home schooling for very young children is essentially impossible. It will also massively release strain on parents and enable some of them to return to work.
May back as PM? Are you mad? Her specialities of delay, dither and communicate with no one would be a disaster in this crisis.
I don't think she would want it. If nothing else, she is probably in the Extremely Vulnerable category (from her diabetes) and is probably self isolating.
If Labour want a majority, they'll need a lot more than the 6 Scottish Tory seats. Doubt there was any strategy that could have prevented SNP 2015 result.
If Boris does not improve in the next two weeks a temporary PM will be needed. This should preferably be Theresa May. She has the experience and is well known. This is no time for a novice. This is not just a decision for the Cabinet; the 1922 committee and opposition parties should also be involved.
The level of new COVID cases will probably drop soon and NHS COVID capacity is rapidly increasing, so it will be possible to ease some restrictions in a few weeks time. Primary schools should be first to go back. Home schooling for very young children is essentially impossible. It will also massively release strain on parents and enable some of them to return to work.
If there is a need to go outside the existing Cabinet we might as well go with my rotating council of ex pms idea.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Jamie has a particular agenda. Nothing wrong with that but he does.
He has a point though, you can put T2D into remission by adopting a low carb diet. If your body can't tolerate something, it seems sensible to stop eating it. However I am not sure how low-carb the German diet actually is - they eat quite a lot of bread and dumplings.
http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fourteen-transport-workers-die-in-london-after-contracting-covid-19-11970283 This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
If Boris does not improve in the next two weeks a temporary PM will be needed. This should preferably be Theresa May. She has the experience and is well known. This is no time for a novice. This is not just a decision for the Cabinet; the 1922 committee and opposition parties should also be involved.
The level of new COVID cases will probably drop soon and NHS COVID capacity is rapidly increasing, so it will be possible to ease some restrictions in a few weeks time. Primary schools should be first to go back. Home schooling for very young children is essentially impossible. It will also massively release strain on parents and enable some of them to return to work.
She's also a Type 1 diabetic who should be shielding.
http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fourteen-transport-workers-die-in-london-after-contracting-covid-19-11970283 This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
Whilst I agree that they should be doing more to protect the bus drivers and other staff, do not fall into the trap of assuming that all 14 workers contracted the virus at work.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Jamie has a particular agenda. Nothing wrong with that but he does.
He has a point though, you can put T2D into remission by adopting a low carb diet. If your body can't tolerate something, it seems sensible to stop eating it. However I am not sure how low-carb the German diet actually is - they eat quite a lot of bread and dumplings.
They drink a lot of beer too.
Not as much as they used to - perhaps distorted by teetotaller immingrants.
"Hops contains flavonoids which have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. A flavonoid in hops has also been found to help reduce weight gain, lower elevated cholesterol and reduce high blood sugar. These conditions all contribute to what’s known as metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases a person’s risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes."
OT Having finished the Shoestring DVDs (they only made two series before Trevor Eve decided he wanted to be a proper actor) I am about to watch Churchill's Secret, about the Prime Minister recovering from a stroke in office. Sounds a bit far-fetched to me.
Not that far fetched. Bill Clinton got more than a stroke in his office.
This Churchill character starts by praising the Romans' contribution to civilisation. I wonder if we will ever again have a Prime Minister interested in the Classics. In a parallel to today, Churchill was acting as Foreign Secretary while Eden was under the knife.
I thought the Marquis of Salisbury stood in as Foreign Secretary for Eden? Not that I know much about the career of Eden.
According to Wikipedia, it was earlier that Salisbury substituted for Eden: During the period of the coronation of Elizabeth II, he was appointed Acting Foreign Secretary, as Eden was then seriously ill after a series of botched operations on his bile duct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gascoyne-Cecil,_5th_Marquess_of_Salisbury
Oooops ... looks like Gaby's been the first to have a little accident this morning! Now go play with the Duplo while we get the mop and the tissues, OK?
You should try reading it, if you can
Raab’s new status is essentially a means of preventing the chain of command from becoming confused or mired in internecine cabinet rivalries, although it remains to be seen whether he really has the authority to knock his colleagues’ heads together. (Those who wonder why it’s him in charge rather than the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, now self-isolating after a family member showed coronavirus symptoms, perhaps miss the point that Johnson was nominating not a successor but a caretaker.)
And the Times explains why it was Raab, and not anybody else Dominic Raab was made first secretary of state by Boris Johnson because he offered his “unconditional” support during the Tory leadership contest and was considered “rock solid” on Brexit.
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Jamie has a particular agenda. Nothing wrong with that but he does.
He has a point though, you can put T2D into remission by adopting a low carb diet. If your body can't tolerate something, it seems sensible to stop eating it. However I am not sure how low-carb the German diet actually is - they eat quite a lot of bread and dumplings.
They drink a lot of beer too.
Not as much as they used to - perhaps distorted by teetotaller immingrants.
"Hops contains flavonoids which have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. A flavonoid in hops has also been found to help reduce weight gain, lower elevated cholesterol and reduce high blood sugar. These conditions all contribute to what’s known as metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases a person’s risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes."
They say this about Red Wine too. unfortunately 12% of the stuff is made from a carcinogenic two carbon alcohol
http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fourteen-transport-workers-die-in-london-after-contracting-covid-19-11970283 This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
Whilst I agree that they should be doing more to protect the bus drivers and other staff, do not fall into the trap of assuming that all 14 workers contracted the virus at work.
If only we had a design of bus with 2 doors well away from the driver. No, wait.....
On topic. We know Black Death travelled on fleas. We know at least one tiger has corona virus. Can Raab make a decision about ramping up Tiger Testing?
perhaps the chief medical eggheads can tell us if Germany have tested all their tigers yet? I mean if the scientist is going to say that whilst stood next to the acting Prime Minister, what’s the thick of it behind the scenes scientists having with this governments equivalent of Alistair Campbell?
Jamie has a particular agenda. Nothing wrong with that but he does.
He has a point though, you can put T2D into remission by adopting a low carb diet. If your body can't tolerate something, it seems sensible to stop eating it. However I am not sure how low-carb the German diet actually is - they eat quite a lot of bread and dumplings.
They drink a lot of beer too.
Not as much as they used to - perhaps distorted by teetotaller immingrants.
"Hops contains flavonoids which have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. A flavonoid in hops has also been found to help reduce weight gain, lower elevated cholesterol and reduce high blood sugar. These conditions all contribute to what’s known as metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases a person’s risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes."
The hops might be good for T2D, the rest of the beer not so much. Plus, correlatively, beer drinkers are not generally a healthy group:
OT Having finished the Shoestring DVDs (they only made two series before Trevor Eve decided he wanted to be a proper actor) I am about to watch Churchill's Secret, about the Prime Minister recovering from a stroke in office. Sounds a bit far-fetched to me.
Not that far fetched. Bill Clinton got more than a stroke in his office.
This Churchill character starts by praising the Romans' contribution to civilisation. I wonder if we will ever again have a Prime Minister interested in the Classics. In a parallel to today, Churchill was acting as Foreign Secretary while Eden was under the knife.
I thought the Marquis of Salisbury stood in as Foreign Secretary for Eden? Not that I know much about the career of Eden.
According to Wikipedia, it was earlier that Salisbury substituted for Eden: During the period of the coronation of Elizabeth II, he was appointed Acting Foreign Secretary, as Eden was then seriously ill after a series of botched operations on his bile duct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gascoyne-Cecil,_5th_Marquess_of_Salisbury
Yes, that’s when I meant - 1953, when Churchill had his stroke.
If Labour want a majority, they'll need a lot more than the 6 Scottish Tory seats. Doubt there was any strategy that could have prevented SNP 2015 result.
The quote that has been extracted from is literally the wrongest take on Scottish politics I have read in the last 5 years and I read Political Betting everyday so I've read a lot of wrong takes in that time.
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
As the news gets more horrifyingly real each day – and somehow, at the same time, more unmanageably unreal – I’m not sure who this register of battle and victory and defeat truly aids. We don’t really require a metaphor to throw the horror of viral death into sharper relief: you have to think it’s bad enough already. Plague is a standalone horseman of the apocalypse – he doesn’t need to catch a ride with war. Equally, it’s probably unnecessary to rank something we keep being informed is virtually a war with things in the past that were literally wars. “Your grandparents were called to war,” runs one popular meme. “You’re being asked to sit on a couch. You can do this.” Unsurprisingly, given this level of bellicose confusion, we have already seen those who visit the park literally branded “traitors”.
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
Well, it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, but it's not a power vacuum: it's a news vacuum.
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
--AS
You can feel it with the daily press conferences now. Because most days there really won't be any big news, you know they spend all day trying to come up with some sort of gotcha that they can then fill the news cycle with for another 24hrs.
Yesterday they were all desperately trying to find some extreme situations where the cabinet couldn't possibly make a collective decision and get Raab to say either I will make that decision or I don't have the authority to.
Then they could run with Raab to press red button in case of nuclear war, or Raab can't make the ultimate decision.
Boring in this situation is good news i.e. everybody staying inside, new cases and deaths not exploding, NHS capacity managing, positive progress on testing numbers and bits of kit.
There is really only two big announcements the government can make for the foreseeable future. Changes to the lockdown rules and having antibody tests / immunity passports.
If Labour want a majority, they'll need a lot more than the 6 Scottish Tory seats. Doubt there was any strategy that could have prevented SNP 2015 result.
The quote that has been extracted from is literally the wrongest take on Scottish politics I have read in the last 5 years and I read Political Betting everyday so I've read a lot of wrong takes in that time.
http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fourteen-transport-workers-die-in-london-after-contracting-covid-19-11970283 This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
Whilst I agree that they should be doing more to protect the bus drivers and other staff, do not fall into the trap of assuming that all 14 workers contracted the virus at work.
Indeed, although the fact that 9 of them are bus drivers seems significant. And it is bleeding obvious that they are not 2m from passengers entering the vehicle by the front door, and can't move away.
http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fourteen-transport-workers-die-in-london-after-contracting-covid-19-11970283 This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
Whilst I agree that they should be doing more to protect the bus drivers and other staff, do not fall into the trap of assuming that all 14 workers contracted the virus at work.
It is also very much a London only solution. Middle or rear doors are a rarity elsewhere. It could end up with the unintended consequence of making running any buses outwith London impossible.
Which is not to say it should not be done, just pointing it out.
Oooops ... looks like Gaby's been the first to have a little accident this morning! Now go play with the Duplo while we get the mop and the tissues, OK?
You should try reading it, if you can
Raab’s new status is essentially a means of preventing the chain of command from becoming confused or mired in internecine cabinet rivalries, although it remains to be seen whether he really has the authority to knock his colleagues’ heads together. (Those who wonder why it’s him in charge rather than the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, now self-isolating after a family member showed coronavirus symptoms, perhaps miss the point that Johnson was nominating not a successor but a caretaker.)
And the Times explains why it was Raab, and not anybody else Dominic Raab was made first secretary of state by Boris Johnson because he offered his “unconditional” support during the Tory leadership contest and was considered “rock solid” on Brexit.
Trust is a good character trait shocker....
As I said a couple of days ago, I would have chosen Raab too. He is warm and responsible. And good humoured.
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
I've seen plenty of such snowflakey complaints about the language. To which I say:
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history. 2. It reflects Boris' personality. 3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else. 4. Is language policing really a top priority right now? 5. Grow the fuck up. 6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. 2 sodding weeks. I have had naps longer than that.
Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
I've seen plenty of such snowflakey complaints about the language. To which I say:
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history. 2. It reflects Boris' personality. 3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else. 4. Is language policing really a top priority right now? 5. Grow the fuck up. 6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
That response only goes to confirm my opinion about the crass mentality of the original sentiment.
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
It certainly wasnt going to be ended or relaxed this week. A delay on a review is not a momentous decision to be sure.
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
I've seen plenty of such snowflakey complaints about the language. To which I say:
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history. 2. It reflects Boris' personality. 3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else. 4. Is language policing really a top priority right now? 5. Grow the fuck up. 6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
That response only goes to confirm my opinion about the crass mentality of the original sentiment.
Your inability to actually argue with any of the points is also telling...
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. 2 sodding weeks. I have had naps longer than that.
Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
Whatever the timeline it will be incremental.
Whatever the timeline the govt will be working on it but not talking about it until the numbers change direction.
Meanwhile Beth Rigby and Peston will stamp their feet and spurt out bullshit.
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. 2 sodding weeks. I have had naps longer than that.
Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
Is manifestly not the issue. The issue is the review. The review can say we're nowhere near ready and we need to stay locked down for two more years. And that's fine. It is the fact that there is no review to confirm this as the PM is in no fit state to conduct it and there is no one else available to do so.
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
I've seen plenty of such snowflakey complaints about the language. To which I say:
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history. 2. It reflects Boris' personality. 3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else. 4. Is language policing really a top priority right now? 5. Grow the fuck up. 6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
That response only goes to confirm my opinion about the crass mentality of the original sentiment.
Your inability to actually argue with any of the points is also telling...
Pardon me for not coming up with a counter-argument to "Grow the fuck up" or "No, seriously, grow the fuck up".
http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-fourteen-transport-workers-die-in-london-after-contracting-covid-19-11970283 This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
Whilst I agree that they should be doing more to protect the bus drivers and other staff, do not fall into the trap of assuming that all 14 workers contracted the virus at work.
It is also very much a London only solution. Middle or rear doors are a rarity elsewhere. It could end up with the unintended consequence of making running any buses outwith London impossible.
Which is not to say it should not be done, just pointing it out.
If only we had buses with 2 doors away from the driver....
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
I've seen plenty of such snowflakey complaints about the language. To which I say:
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history. 2. It reflects Boris' personality. 3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else. 4. Is language policing really a top priority right now? 5. Grow the fuck up. 6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
That response only goes to confirm my opinion about the crass mentality of the original sentiment.
Your inability to actually argue with any of the points is also telling...
And surely (7) yes mental attitude can have an effect on how well you fight off disease. Although presumably not when you are sedated and intubated.
Those headlines ... people who die from coronavirus aren't "fighters"? They just don't have the right mental attitude?
I've seen plenty of such snowflakey complaints about the language. To which I say:
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history. 2. It reflects Boris' personality. 3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else. 4. Is language policing really a top priority right now? 5. Grow the fuck up. 6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
That response only goes to confirm my opinion about the crass mentality of the original sentiment.
Your inability to actually argue with any of the points is also telling...
Pardon me for not coming up with a counter-argument to "Grow the fuck up" or "No, seriously, grow the fuck up".
And the polite and factual points 1-4? Can't see any response to those.
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
It certainly wasnt going to be ended or relaxed this week. A delay on a review is not a momentous decision to be sure.
After the lock down is lifted, how long before the *same* people in the media demanding it be lifted, demand that it be reimposed?
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. 2 sodding weeks. I have had naps longer than that.
Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
Is manifestly not the issue. The issue is the review. The review can say we're nowhere near ready and we need to stay locked down for two more years. And that's fine. It is the fact that there is no review to confirm this as the PM is in no fit state to conduct it and there is no one else available to do so.
Or that given the circumstances a review on that question can reasonably wait a week or two. Unless a review is likely to lead to an imminent change in direction, and if it were I'd think the CMO and CSO would insist on a review, what does a deferred review harm? What was the significance of the date?
So let's guess... Adam Boulton will spend most of the morning discussing a non-existent constitutional crisis, and there might be a two minute interlude when the virus situation gets discussed. And even that will likely be some journalist or other wailing about when will the lockdown be lifted.
Quality.
Can I suggest turning off the news and listening to music instead?
The problem of the 24 hour news cycle is that there is an endless demand to talk about the same things. Mind you, it works for PB too.
24 hour news creates panic and petty arguments. It’s why I’ve tended to think there will be fewer deaths than predicted, because the news cycle pumps out exaggerations to keep people interested
Oooops ... looks like Gaby's been the first to have a little accident this morning! Now go play with the Duplo while we get the mop and the tissues, OK?
You should try reading it, if you can
Raab’s new status is essentially a means of preventing the chain of command from becoming confused or mired in internecine cabinet rivalries, although it remains to be seen whether he really has the authority to knock his colleagues’ heads together. (Those who wonder why it’s him in charge rather than the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, now self-isolating after a family member showed coronavirus symptoms, perhaps miss the point that Johnson was nominating not a successor but a caretaker.)
And the Times explains why it was Raab, and not anybody else Dominic Raab was made first secretary of state by Boris Johnson because he offered his “unconditional” support during the Tory leadership contest and was considered “rock solid” on Brexit.
Trust is a good character trait shocker....
As I said a couple of days ago, I would have chosen Raab too. He is warm and responsible. And good humoured.
The media are London sentric, talk amongst themselves about constitutional and other boring minutiae, while the political journalists shame themselves ever seeking the perfect 'gotcha' moment and possess an enormous opinion of themselves while looking ridiculous to most ordinary listeners. Indeed they treat their audience at times as if they are children incapable of seeing a wider picture and expecting them to swallow their mutterings.
To me the downside of all this is that we are losing vital debate, and information, from non politicals that is necessary and informative
All the media have managed to do is discredit themselves to the point of irrelevance at a time of great crisis. In so doing they have become boring to the point that peoople will stop listening
I want the government held to account and somehow the media need to take a long hard look at themselves, and put themselves on the judgment step, and ask are we really promoting public broadcast journalism?
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or 2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
It really doesn't matter. We aren't coming out of lockdown for many more weeks. We haven't reached the peak and we don't have the antibody tests.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. 2 sodding weeks. I have had naps longer than that.
Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
Is manifestly not the issue. The issue is the review. The review can say we're nowhere near ready and we need to stay locked down for two more years. And that's fine. It is the fact that there is no review to confirm this as the PM is in no fit state to conduct it and there is no one else available to do so.
Or that given the circumstances a review on that question can reasonably wait a week or two. Unless a review is likely to lead to an imminent change in direction, and if it were I'd think the CMO and CSO would insist on a review, what does a deferred review harm? What was the significance of the date?
Great questions. And while the government remains on hold we simply don't know the answer.
Who would the CMO insist to? Raab. And what do we seem to be finding out? That Raab has no executive authority. Boris has. And what do we also know? That Boris is in no fit state to make any decisions.
Comments
Meat and cheese don't seem to be protecting the Dutch, or for that matter the Americans.
It's almost as if he is a dairy farmer, not an epidemiologist...
Since the complaint is that in the (hopefully temporary) absence of the Prime Minister, the country is being governed by the Cabinet under collective decision making with the Foreign Sec. acting as a referee... not sure that arrangement sounds very totalitarian....
If for instance Boris was out of action and the government had not put in place such an arrangement then there might be a need to insist on a new head of government, but there isnt right now. Theyve got emergency measures in place. Long term there might be an issue, but this is not that, yet.
I cannot as a monarchist see how this scenario really speaks for or against the system we have. The benefits and negatives are to do with flexible appointment of chief minister.
A symbiotic relationship between the Mail and the woke I think
The problem of the 24 hour news cycle is that there is an endless demand to talk about the same things. Mind you, it works for PB too.
exhibit (1) for today. Short of actually including "ClickBait" in the URL for the story....
Its like the whole PM without a mandate thing we get whenever theres a change without an election. The Guardian raised it with Raab even. Each time it happens its argued from whoever is against it that theres no mandate and there should be an election. And each time that's s political argument and fine to make, not a constitutional question.
“No emissions from this corpse - now turn off the software...”
Serious question. Since very little happens under a lockdown, 24 hour news is magnifying every tiny thing to fill space. Would it be a sensible government strategy to give them things to talk about? A bit like an election "grid", having one small policy per day and one (suitably socially distanced) ministerial visit to somewhere with members of the public laid on for interviews afterwards. Like distracting a bored child, it wouldn't matter whether the topics were genuine or manufactured, as long as they keep it busy.
Alternative plans, such as banning 24 hour news channels and insisting on mandatory re-runs of old comedy series instead, may be a little totalitarian for the present times.
--AS
The constitutional position is surely that Raab is prime minister. He has said that he will continue to govern by Cabinet consensus and following the instructions given by Boris before he went into ICU. The post of Prime Minister doesn't really exist, and has little formal authority. I guess the real problem is that Raab has little informal authority in the Cabinet.
Of course what should have happened is that Boris go on sick leave when he contracted the virus, and Raab declared acting PM. I don't see why that would have been a problem.
Ah. Yes. I see.
But we have puns too.
6 polling stations for 600 000 population in Milwaukee, and insistence on voting in person rather than extending postal voting. It is voter suppression on a massive scale, and in a pandemic too.
https://twitter.com/JamilSmith/status/1247742334176858112?s=09
A nuclear war is good for journalists (apart from the whole sunblock 1,000,000 thing). A news vacuum means rats fighting in a sack.
The sensible answer would be to do more in depth stuff - what about a really deep dive through testing - how it works, the people who do it, technology (current & future) etc. You could have a daily series of 1 hour slots on that for days.... and it might accidentally inform people about facts.
Can we please have a PB reporter?
https://twitter.com/johnrentoul/status/1247576381845798919?s=21
BTW - whatever happened to JRM. Has he decided to spend more time with his investments?
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/05/rees-mogg-firm-accused-of-cashing-in-on-coronavirus-crisis?__twitter_impression=true
An interesting defender of JRMs firm there too, perhaps with a shared dislike of foxes.
The level of new COVID cases will probably drop soon and NHS COVID capacity is rapidly increasing, so it will be possible to ease some restrictions in a few weeks time. Primary schools should be first to go back. Home schooling for very young children is essentially impossible. It will also massively release strain on parents and enable some of them to return to work.
I remember being present for the moment when, publicly, Heseltine realised that the party didn't want him.
By the way, havrn't seen your posts before, so (ptobably belated!) welcome!
https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1247801288227606528
It was, for example, why they reacted so badly to the Damien Green thing. Having someone leaking the message grid ahead of time turned it back on the government.
Doubt there was any strategy that could have prevented SNP 2015 result.
This story appeals me. They are only just now "trialling" the use of the middle door on buses. Surely, as soon as the 2 metre rule was advised, they should have closed the front door on buses to passenger use, and taken any single-door buses out of service. There is no way you can enter a bus via the front door and stay 2m from the driver.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/540025/beer-consumption-per-capita-in-germany/
also
"Hops contains flavonoids which have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. A flavonoid in hops has also been found to help reduce weight gain, lower elevated cholesterol and reduce high blood sugar. These conditions all contribute to what’s known as metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases a person’s risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes."
During the period of the coronation of Elizabeth II, he was appointed Acting Foreign Secretary, as Eden was then seriously ill after a series of botched operations on his bile duct.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gascoyne-Cecil,_5th_Marquess_of_Salisbury
Raab’s new status is essentially a means of preventing the chain of command from becoming confused or mired in internecine cabinet rivalries, although it remains to be seen whether he really has the authority to knock his colleagues’ heads together. (Those who wonder why it’s him in charge rather than the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, now self-isolating after a family member showed coronavirus symptoms, perhaps miss the point that Johnson was nominating not a successor but a caretaker.)
And the Times explains why it was Raab, and not anybody else
Dominic Raab was made first secretary of state by Boris Johnson because he offered his “unconditional” support during the Tory leadership contest and was considered “rock solid” on Brexit.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289311700_Wine_beer_metabolic_syndrome
O'er the wires the electric message came,
"He is no better; he is much the same."
Attrib. Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate, on the Prince of Wales Illness in 1910
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/world/europe/coronavirus-united-kingdom.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/07/horror-coronavirus-real-imaginary-war-britain
No longer "Downing Street confirmed..." lockdown review is delayed because BoJo is ill. Now it is "No.10 suggested..." the review wouldn't go ahead as planned.
Two options.
1. Beeb overreach and misreported the first item, subsequently amended; or
2. Downing Street needed a better line for consumption on why the review wasn't going ahead.
You picks your tinfoil and takes your choice.
Yesterday they were all desperately trying to find some extreme situations where the cabinet couldn't possibly make a collective decision and get Raab to say either I will make that decision or I don't have the authority to.
Then they could run with Raab to press red button in case of nuclear war, or Raab can't make the ultimate decision.
Boring in this situation is good news i.e. everybody staying inside, new cases and deaths not exploding, NHS capacity managing, positive progress on testing numbers and bits of kit.
There is really only two big announcements the government can make for the foreseeable future. Changes to the lockdown rules and having antibody tests / immunity passports.
SLDs - do Slab woes give them a shot in Glasgow?
Which is not to say it should not be done, just pointing it out.
As I said a couple of days ago, I would have chosen Raab too. He is warm and responsible. And good humoured.
He isn't going to use it as a platform.
1. It's a perfectly normal metaphor, with a long history.
2. It reflects Boris' personality.
3. Praising one person in such terms implies no disparagement of anyone else.
4. Is language policing really a top priority right now?
5. Grow the fuck up.
6. No, seriously, grow the fuck up.
The media were screaming to be locked down as soon as possible, now after just 2 weeks, they screaming for it to change. 2 sodding weeks. I have had naps longer than that.
Anybody with half a brain can see it will be 2-3 months, just as in Spain, Italy, France.
Which to choose?
No tanks in BaghdadOnly 3,000 deaths in China...Whatever the timeline the govt will be working on it but not talking about it until the numbers change direction.
Meanwhile Beth Rigby and Peston will stamp their feet and spurt out bullshit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Routemaster
Do you really think the UK confirmed cases are more than 1% of the real number of infections?
I am going to go for "6 minutes" in the pool.
Although there is certainly under counting across Western Europe due to deaths at home, we aren't doing so by a factor of 40.
Uk is publishing positive tests figures and deaths.
Guesses at "no of cases" would be up there with Michael Mann's hockey stick graph.
Do you believe the Chinese figures on anything ?
To me the downside of all this is that we are losing vital debate, and information, from non politicals that is necessary and informative
All the media have managed to do is discredit themselves to the point of irrelevance at a time of great crisis. In so doing they have become boring to the point that peoople will stop listening
I want the government held to account and somehow the media need to take a long hard look at themselves, and put themselves on the judgment step, and ask are we really promoting public broadcast journalism?
Who would the CMO insist to? Raab. And what do we seem to be finding out? That Raab has no executive authority. Boris has. And what do we also know? That Boris is in no fit state to make any decisions.