I like Do They Know It's Christmas, might be my favourite Christmas song (the 1984 version)
I like Otis's little played Christmas song, Merry Christmas Baby. Just noticed in the "video" he's wearing a tshirt that says "We at the Carousel love Geno and the Ram Jam Band", I guess that's referring to UK based Geno Washington and his Ram Jam Band who I met and smoked joints with backstage at the Marlborough Jazz Festival in 1996 (when I was 18 and me and my mate had managed to wrangle stewards passes which we used to steward ourselves to the front of the queue then backstage!)
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
And may very well win the next one, which (along with the fact that the Tories are still getting more than 10% in the opinion polls at present) is testament to the truly hopeless state of the Opposition.
And you may well be right - I'm not making election predictions until much closer to the time, as I do know everyone here likes to laugh at my previous ones - but Labour is undoubtedly in a better position than a year ago. And that's better than nothing.
Direct but not 'non-stop'.
That's gone over my head I'm afraid
It stops on the way. Leicester, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wakefield.
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
I was just pointing out, you're not exactly impartial are you? There's nothing wrong with that, I just think you talking about how Labour will never win again is like me saying the Tories are crap. It's obvious and not surprising.
Still, I will read the article and digest it, when it comes. I'm not sure you have much interest in seeing Labour win though, I will leave it at that
Wait and see.
Well I will be sure to read it when it comes but I will take it with a pinch of salt. As I am sure you do me.
You shouldn't. It's in no-one's interests for the UK to be a one party state.
Well, the Liberal Democrats (don't laugh!) have governed Japan for about 60 of the last 65 years, and they seem to be doing all right...
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
And may very well win the next one, which (along with the fact that the Tories are still getting more than 10% in the opinion polls at present) is testament to the truly hopeless state of the Opposition.
And you may well be right - I'm not making election predictions until much closer to the time, as I do know everyone here likes to laugh at my previous ones - but Labour is undoubtedly in a better position than a year ago. And that's better than nothing.
Direct but not 'non-stop'.
That's gone over my head I'm afraid
It stops on the way. Leicester, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wakefield.
Meanwhile, just about the only part of England in Tier 1 (for the next five minutes, anyway) is disappearing underwater.
2020 just keeps on giving - and there are still twelve days to go. What do we think's coming before January 1st 2021 folks? An asteroid strike, an alien invasion or a nuclear holocaust?
Don't forget the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on Monday hasn't apparently taken place since 1623...the long-term outlook after it is claimed by enthusiasts to be better, though, after a period of 'adjustment'.
That period of adjustment lasted until 1746.
So about the same time it will take for the Great Brexit Adjustment then?
This must be Johnson's worst nightmare. The man who cancelled xmas.
Only himself to blame for raising expectations for weeks all though autumn.
It's a minor issue next to the imperative of ending this pandemic - practically everything is - but hopefully once we get there he'll shuffle quietly into retirement so we can forget about him.
Few people, in the long run, will associate Johnson with anything but Covid, and everybody will want to forget Covid just as soon as possible.
Will the 16m people not be on holiday, not be eating and drinking excessively, not be watching special TV programs, not be giving and getting presents.
Food distribution is all messed up because travel plans are cancelled. I ordered a turkey for people who now can't come, but they haven't ordered food.
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
I was just pointing out, you're not exactly impartial are you? There's nothing wrong with that, I just think you talking about how Labour will never win again is like me saying the Tories are crap. It's obvious and not surprising.
Still, I will read the article and digest it, when it comes. I'm not sure you have much interest in seeing Labour win though, I will leave it at that
Wait and see.
Well I will be sure to read it when it comes but I will take it with a pinch of salt. As I am sure you do me.
You shouldn't. It's in no-one's interests for the UK to be a one party state.
Well, the Liberal Democrats (don't laugh!) have governed Japan for about 60 of the last 65 years, and they seem to be doing all right...
Are they? Japan has got serious social issues that go way beyond COVID or anything to do with that. Japan literally has men and women afraid to socialise with each other and who would rather live with anime characters.
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
And may very well win the next one, which (along with the fact that the Tories are still getting more than 10% in the opinion polls at present) is testament to the truly hopeless state of the Opposition.
The trouble is we are still regularly seeing major Labour party figures, yet alone candidates or MPs, who have a basic problem talking unequivocally about their pride and love for this country.
This hasn't gone unnoticed.
It's not enough to just vote for a Brexit deal, not have an idiot as your leader who's not Corbyn: people have to really know you're proud of it and you care for its future.
If you look at Labour's three convincing election wins in 1945, 1966 and 1997 they all offered compelling visions of national renewal.
This must be Johnson's worst nightmare. The man who cancelled xmas.
Only himself to blame for raising expectations for weeks all though autumn.
It's a minor issue next to the imperative of ending this pandemic - practically everything is - but hopefully once we get there he'll shuffle quietly into retirement so we can forget about him.
Few people, in the long run, will associate Johnson with anything but Covid, and everybody will want to forget Covid just as soon as possible.
Dunno, seems he is determined to also saddle his historical record with a No Deal food and meds crisis.
Lord North must be laughing. He is finally not going to be the worst PM ever.
I might be taking advantage of the option for private prayer in the next few days, for the first time in a long time.
There might be many on this site who'll mock me for this - but I feel rather empty about missing out on carols and a Christmas service.
It really moves me this time of year.
I realised on reading this that I haven't heard a single Christmas pop song this year. I consider this as something of a blessing as I'm usually fed up with them the day they start being played, but I do love some of the carols. I've had King's College Cambridge carols from youtube on since. Definitely feeling a little more festive 🎅
King's College Cambridge is divine.
I usually go to Winchester Cathedral around about this time of year. That is sublime.
I went to Winchester Cathedral last year and it was wonderful
This must be Johnson's worst nightmare. The man who cancelled xmas.
Only himself to blame for raising expectations for weeks all though autumn.
It's a minor issue next to the imperative of ending this pandemic - practically everything is - but hopefully once we get there he'll shuffle quietly into retirement so we can forget about him.
Few people, in the long run, will associate Johnson with anything but Covid, and everybody will want to forget Covid just as soon as possible.
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
Last time that happened, the fifth was a Labour landslide...
Yes. One of my points is going to be how some people seem to think this will happen by osmosis too this time without considering the very circumstances today and how hard Labour had to work to get to 1997 back then.
They’ve been saying exactly the same thing for months. Can one of these “sources” come up with something that doesn’t sound like a pre-prepared sound bite designed to appease the Tory right? Like some specifics?
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
And may very well win the next one, which (along with the fact that the Tories are still getting more than 10% in the opinion polls at present) is testament to the truly hopeless state of the Opposition.
The trouble is we are still regularly seeing major Labour party figures, yet alone candidates or MPs, who have a basic problem talking unequivocally about their pride and love for this country.
This hasn't gone unnoticed.
It's not enough to just vote for a Brexit deal, not have an idiot as your leader who's not Corbyn: people have to really know you're proud of it and you care for its future.
If you look at Labour's three convincing election wins in 1945, 1966 and 1997 they all offered compelling visions of national renewal.
Why would you be proud of a country that needs National Renewal?
My Remainer credentials are impeccable but that is an old photo. How I know? Most trees in Kent are deciduous. There’s an awful lot of foliage in that picture. And the fields are newly harvested.
Dark green, so not spring foliage, but no sign of any leaves turning. June-July.
They’ve been saying exactly the same thing for months. Can one of these “sources” come up with something that doesn’t sound like a pre-prepared sound bite designed to appease the Tory right? Like some specifics?
What's interesting is that suddenly it's the member states who are the bad guys. They spent the whole time misunderstanding the dynamics and expecting the member states to put pressure on the Commission to give the UK an easy ride.
I am not a Johnson fan and I wish he were not PM but this is just bullshit. It is the writer projecting his views onto the rest of the world. Because of my business I have friends and colleagues who I talk to almost daily all around the world. They know full well I am not a Johnson supporter but 99% of them have never even heard of any of the things he lists. It is simply not news outside the UK. What they have heard of is that we got the vaccine first and plenty have incorrectly put that down to the Government. I have had more than a few conversations putting people right and explaining it has bugger all to do with Johnson and is more to do with the civil servants and scientists who are there whoever is in power.
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
The trouble is we are still regularly seeing major Labour party figures, yet alone candidates or MPs, who have a basic problem talking unequivocally about their pride and love for this country.
This hasn't gone unnoticed.
It's not enough to just vote for a Brexit deal, not have an idiot as your leader who's not Corbyn: people have to really know you're proud of it and you care for its future.
If you look at Labour's three convincing election wins in 1945, 1966 and 1997 they all offered compelling visions of national renewal.
You, Josias Jessop formerly of this parish, and Nigel Thrift are the only people I've ever seen use "yet alone" instead of "let alone" (which I'm pretty sure is the correct phrasing)
Oh dear Boris. I'm one of his biggest supporters but even I am struggling to defend this.
They surely knew they'd be doing this even on Wednesday? How cruel to give people this false hope, and also to let hard-up families spend a fortune on food that will never be eaten
Once again, Boris looks not up to the job
This government's capacity for panic seems to know no bounds.
I did not vote for Boris and you all see why now..he is weak and not capable of being a leader.
Outrageous
Johnson needs to be ousted, hopefully by somebody who can understand some maths and has sense of perspective.
Graham Brady needs to start collecting MP names prepared to put useless Boris up for a leadership challenge. I must admit I was hopeful that he would do a good job, but alas those warning against him were right. The man is a weak fool who cannot get a grip of a complex problem or demonstrate any leadership.
I am not a Johnson fan and I wish he were not PM but this is just bullshit. It is the writer projecting his views onto the rest of the world. Because of my business I have friends and colleagues who I talk to almost daily all around the world. They know full well I am not a Johnson supporter but 99% of them have never even heard of any of the things he lists. It is simply not news outside the UK. What they have heard of is that we got the vaccine first and plenty have incorrectly put that down to the Government. I have had more than a few conversations putting people right and explaining it has bugger all to do with Johnson and is more to do with the civil servants and scientists who are there whoever is in power.
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
They’ve been saying exactly the same thing for months. Can one of these “sources” come up with something that doesn’t sound like a pre-prepared sound bite designed to appease the Tory right? Like some specifics?
What's interesting is that suddenly it's the member states who are the bad guys. They spent the whole time misunderstanding the dynamics and expecting the member states to put pressure on the Commission to give the UK an easy ride.
My takeaway is that it contains exactly the same talking points as every other “leak” from every other “source”. There’s nothing in there that couldn’t have been said on the record. It’s an exercise in shoring up the Tory right.
My Remainer credentials are impeccable but that is an old photo. How I know? Most trees in Kent are deciduous. There’s an awful lot of foliage in that picture. And the fields are newly harvested.
Dark green, so not spring foliage, but no sign of any leaves turning. June-July.
I am not a Johnson fan and I wish he were not PM but this is just bullshit. It is the writer projecting his views onto the rest of the world. Because of my business I have friends and colleagues who I talk to almost daily all around the world. They know full well I am not a Johnson supporter but 99% of them have never even heard of any of the things he lists. It is simply not news outside the UK. What they have heard of is that we got the vaccine first and plenty have incorrectly put that down to the Government. I have had more than a few conversations putting people right and explaining it has bugger all to do with Johnson and is more to do with the civil servants and scientists who are there whoever is in power.
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
You're comparing real world to twatter world.
Yes apologies.
It annoys me because there are so many valid and (what should be) career ending reasons to criticise Johnson. You don't need to make up this BS about other countries laughing at us. It is lazy and stupid and actually undermines the serious criticisms that should be taking place.
My Remainer credentials are impeccable but that is an old photo. How I know? Most trees in Kent are deciduous. There’s an awful lot of foliage in that picture. And the fields are newly harvested.
Dark green, so not spring foliage, but no sign of any leaves turning. June-July.
My Remainer credentials are impeccable but that is an old photo. How I know? Most trees in Kent are deciduous. There’s an awful lot of foliage in that picture. And the fields are newly harvested.
Dark green, so not spring foliage, but no sign of any leaves turning. June-July.
My Remainer credentials are impeccable but that is an old photo. How I know? Most trees in Kent are deciduous. There’s an awful lot of foliage in that picture. And the fields are newly harvested.
Dark green, so not spring foliage, but no sign of any leaves turning. June-July.
Also Operation Stack and Operation Brock involve putting in a barrier to park the trucks at the side so other traffic can pass. This looks like the aftermath of an accident (maybe two accidents judging by the blockage both ways). It’s also the same pic that has been used in an anti Farage “Breaking Point” meme all week. Andrew Adonis tweeted it on Wednesday or Thursday.
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
I was just pointing out, you're not exactly impartial are you? There's nothing wrong with that, I just think you talking about how Labour will never win again is like me saying the Tories are crap. It's obvious and not surprising.
Still, I will read the article and digest it, when it comes. I'm not sure you have much interest in seeing Labour win though, I will leave it at that
Wait and see.
Well I will be sure to read it when it comes but I will take it with a pinch of salt. As I am sure you do me.
You shouldn't. It's in no-one's interests for the UK to be a one party state.
Well, the Liberal Democrats (don't laugh!) have governed Japan for about 60 of the last 65 years, and they seem to be doing all right...
Yes, but. They have "factions", 5, I believe, so are effectively a coalition.
Oh dear Boris. I'm one of his biggest supporters but even I am struggling to defend this.
They surely knew they'd be doing this even on Wednesday? How cruel to give people this false hope, and also to let hard-up families spend a fortune on food that will never be eaten
Once again, Boris looks not up to the job
This government's capacity for panic seems to know no bounds.
I did not vote for Boris and you all see why now..he is weak and not capable of being a leader.
Outrageous
Johnson needs to be ousted, hopefully by somebody who can understand some maths and has sense of perspective.
Graham Brady needs to start collecting MP names prepared to put useless Boris up for a leadership challenge. I must admit I was hopeful that he would do a good job, but alas those warning against him were right. The man is a weak fool who cannot get a grip of a complex problem or demonstrate any leadership.
He's useless but there's no point for the Tories in their getting rid of him now (even if some of the more radical libertarians might already want to.) The man only has one more substantial fuck-up left to commit - leaving the schools open until he's forced to U-turn on that as well - and then the remaining course of the pandemic will be set: total lockdown until whatever point in the vaccination programme we dare to begin lowering our defences.
The Men in Grey Suits should visit No.10 at whatever point in the Summer the worst of this is, pray God, finally behind us, and it's worth attempting to start over.
Have been at Newcastle station every week these past few months. Other than very local trains, every announcement says you can't board without a reservation to maintain social distancing. Tell me it isn't one rule for Northerners who might take pox South...
Is the second set of figures from the 600 seat parliament? I thought Johnson had shelved that idea.
Whatever the nature of the boundary changes Starmer would almost certainly become PM but only thanks to SNP confidence and supply
That way Starmer kills the Union, so he can't do that. Johnson (or Steve Baker) remains (minority) PM.
I'll be writing an article on the dire predicament Labour is in within the next few weeks.
Likely adds as much value as me writing an article about while the Tories will never win again!
Here's the problem: we've won the last four elections.
I was just pointing out, you're not exactly impartial are you? There's nothing wrong with that, I just think you talking about how Labour will never win again is like me saying the Tories are crap. It's obvious and not surprising.
Still, I will read the article and digest it, when it comes. I'm not sure you have much interest in seeing Labour win though, I will leave it at that
Wait and see.
Well I will be sure to read it when it comes but I will take it with a pinch of salt. As I am sure you do me.
You shouldn't. It's in no-one's interests for the UK to be a one party state.
Well, the Liberal Democrats (don't laugh!) have governed Japan for about 60 of the last 65 years, and they seem to be doing all right...
Yes, but. They have "factions", 5, I believe, so are effectively a coalition.
But the Tories have at least 5 factions too: the Thatcherites, the Cameroons, the ERG, the Johnsonians, the Blairites...
I mean, the Mayite heresy was suppressed only very recently.
Have been at Newcastle station every week these past few months. Other than very local trains, every announcement says you can't board without a reservation to maintain social distancing. Tell me it isn't one rule for Northerners who might take pox South...
May be differences in how the companies are operating. The Newcastle to London services will be LNER, I don't know about those going to Leeds from St Pancras but I think it's be a different operator.
All the trains listed there include a change at, er, King’s Cross.
I think probably she didn’t know what station she was on.
? 20:40 London St Pancras International Platform 3 estimated 00:31 Leeds Platform 9 estimated 3h 51m 0 changes SUPER OFF PEAK
You could probably have walked from st pancras at 2040 to kings cross and still got a train to leeds arriving before 0031.
A few of the Midland Mainlines continue to Leeds, done that to Wakefield a couple of times though needs a big price difference to justify the slower train (and that wasn't over about 2h45m).
Once had to leave a night out in Sheffield early because there was bus replacement on the last train back to Huddersfield, extending the journey from the already glacial 1h15m to 3h15m for 24 miles distance.
I see a lot of moaning on here, including from Twatter especially.
Meanwhile in the real world every country in Europe seems to be in the same boat except in this one hundreds of thousands have been vaccinated. Millions more will in next few months.
I'd rather be going into 2021 in the UK's shoes than the rest of Europe's.
Reaction from my dad on all of this - fuck Boris. Lots of praise for my wife who came up with the family bubble plan two weeks ago after reading the runes and predicting that Christmas would be cancelled which meant we isolated from last week and so did my sister, her husband and my niece allowing us all to safely relocate to my parents house today for the Xmas period. It helps that we're all in office jobs where we can choose not to come into contact with people.
There is also a grim realisation from all of us that this new virus strain means no easing even with the current vaccine plan.
My Remainer credentials are impeccable but that is an old photo. How I know? Most trees in Kent are deciduous. There’s an awful lot of foliage in that picture. And the fields are newly harvested.
Dark green, so not spring foliage, but no sign of any leaves turning. June-July.
So xmas cancelled. What the hell has happened to brexit? We surely arent going to no deal through this..are we?
It depends. Boris is terrified of his most Eurosceptic MPs, as all Tory leaders have been, so the question is whether he feels since the Covid stuff will upset them anyway (as the awkward squad tend to be awkward on both) that he might as well upset by doing a deal as well, or whether because they are upset about Covid he dare not upset them further by doing a deal.
Reaction from my dad on all of this - fuck Boris. Lots of praise for my wife who came up with the family bubble plan two weeks ago after reading the runes and predicting that Christmas would be cancelled which meant we isolated from last week and so did my sister, her husband and my niece allowing us all to safely relocate to my parents house today for the Xmas period. It helps that we're all in office jobs where we can choose not to come into contact with people.
There is also a grim realisation from all of us that this new virus strain means no easing even with the current vaccine plan.
Whilst that is very sensible and pretty safe, that's still breaking the rules is it not?
Have been at Newcastle station every week these past few months. Other than very local trains, every announcement says you can't board without a reservation to maintain social distancing. Tell me it isn't one rule for Northerners who might take pox South...
May be differences in how the companies are operating. The Newcastle to London services will be LNER, I don't know about those going to Leeds from St Pancras but I think it's be a different operator.
You mean some train companies are not employing this simple, sensible policy? Frankly, that is worse. They should be prosecuted if they aren't enforcing social distancing. Pubs and restaurants can be shut. They don't just say "if you don't like it don't come in."
Reaction from my dad on all of this - fuck Boris. Lots of praise for my wife who came up with the family bubble plan two weeks ago after reading the runes and predicting that Christmas would be cancelled which meant we isolated from last week and so did my sister, her husband and my niece allowing us all to safely relocate to my parents house today for the Xmas period. It helps that we're all in office jobs where we can choose not to come into contact with people.
There is also a grim realisation from all of us that this new virus strain means no easing even with the current vaccine plan.
Whilst that is very sensible and pretty safe, that's still breaking the rules is it not?
Yes it is, but this way we get a safe family Christmas and my parents' house is big enough for all of us. We've effectively all moved in with them for the next 10 days, we're not travelling back and forth so I think we're in the clear.
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
I think someone idly looking at the most common stats on Covid worldwide would conclude some bad things have gone down for us, but I do think the individual crapness of Boris gets more significance from people here than is the case. There have and will have been policy decisions which do have a significant impact, but he has certainly taken it more seriously than, say, Trump, and the problem I have with attributing too much of the response on his individual failings rather than institutional failings or national circumstances, is that there are places which have from the general stats been about as badly hit as the UK, or even worse hit, and they don't have bumbling leaders known for their communication gaffes.
So while Boris may face a recognition for his failings contributing to things, I do struggle with the idea that the things he fails at have been the most significant factor, and therefore that that is what people internationally would focus on.
Have been at Newcastle station every week these past few months. Other than very local trains, every announcement says you can't board without a reservation to maintain social distancing. Tell me it isn't one rule for Northerners who might take pox South...
May be differences in how the companies are operating. The Newcastle to London services will be LNER, I don't know about those going to Leeds from St Pancras but I think it's be a different operator.
You mean some train companies are not employing this simple, sensible policy? Frankly, that is worse. They should be prosecuted if they aren't enforcing social distancing. Pubs and restaurants can be shut. They don't just say "if you don't like it don't come in."
I don't know, I'm guessing. I've used trains a few times since this all started, I'm pretty sure the one I took to Wales in September was reservation only and the local putt-putts I've otherwise boarded have always been near-empty so the problem never arose. Whether the Government has failed to draft laws preventing train operators from running cattle truck services, or it has made the regulations but some of the TOCs are wilfully ignoring them, I couldn't tell you.
Well I came back to PB this evening hoping that no poster would be crass enough to call this a "U-turn" only to find it in the header.
For fuck's sake.
--AS
U-turns happen and are often a good thing, but as a label it is used as a sign of weakness and thus makes people defensive and resistant to do it in the first place change position and in the second do so again. So it is not a useful term, but I'm not sure how to delineate when it would usefully and not usefully be utilised.
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
I think someone idly looking at the most common stats on Covid worldwide would conclude some bad things have gone down for us, but I do think the individual crapness of Boris gets more significance from people here than is the case. There have and will have been policy decisions which do have a significant impact, but he has certainly taken it more seriously than, say, Trump, and the problem I have with attributing too much of the response on his individual failings rather than institutional failings or national circumstances, is that there are places which have from the general stats been about as badly hit as the UK, or even worse hit, and they don't have bumbling leaders known for their communication gaffes.
So while Boris may face a recognition for his failings contributing to things, I do struggle with the idea that the things he fails at have been the most significant factor, and therefore that that is what people internationally would focus on.
Why do we always compare ourselves with America?
What about Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia.....................
The USA is utterly awful at most things health related so really should not be any benchmark to measure ourselves against.
They’ve been saying exactly the same thing for months. Can one of these “sources” come up with something that doesn’t sound like a pre-prepared sound bite designed to appease the Tory right? Like some specifics?
Fish, at a guess. If we take our waters out of the CFP then all the other fishing nations need to adjust their quotas, and more importantly need to argue amongst themselves then agree how to adjust their quotas. We've been told the sticking points are fish and state aid, and it is hard to see why other states would kick off over the latter.
Well I came back to PB this evening hoping that no poster would be crass enough to call this a "U-turn" only to find it in the header.
For fuck's sake.
--AS
U-turns happen and are often a good thing, but as a label it is used as a sign of weakness and thus makes people defensive and resistant to do it in the first place change position and in the second do so again. So it is not a useful term, but I'm not sure how to delineate when it would usefully and not usefully be utilised.
I think a scenario where someone is presented with some evidence and makes a decision, and then goes on to change their mind without any new evidence could be described as a U-turn. Not sure that is the case here.
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
I think someone idly looking at the most common stats on Covid worldwide would conclude some bad things have gone down for us, but I do think the individual crapness of Boris gets more significance from people here than is the case. There have and will have been policy decisions which do have a significant impact, but he has certainly taken it more seriously than, say, Trump, and the problem I have with attributing too much of the response on his individual failings rather than institutional failings or national circumstances, is that there are places which have from the general stats been about as badly hit as the UK, or even worse hit, and they don't have bumbling leaders known for their communication gaffes.
So while Boris may face a recognition for his failings contributing to things, I do struggle with the idea that the things he fails at have been the most significant factor, and therefore that that is what people internationally would focus on.
Why do we always compare ourselves with America?
What about Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia.....................
The USA is utterly awful at most things health related so really should not be any benchmark to measure ourselves against.
I was thinking more just in presentational terms, in that people usually hate both Trump and Boris, and go absolutely insane in insisting upon absolute continuity between them in style and approach, which particularly on this issue just is not borne out.
I'm not sure all of those countries you list would be better comparators, though certainly some are. Big Western European nations have had a very rough time, with only Germany of those in a category apart, despite recent difficulties.
Sadiq win must be nailed on sadly, a bad place to put your money?
Quite a lot of potential news ahead. I've been laying this Brian Rose character who's clearly just trying to buy himself some publicity. The LD candidate isn't even listed.
I guess a big mistake by Khan (and lets hope not), some weird vote for Rose (my bank manager hopes not), and some great press for Bailey or Porritt could make it closer, but hard to see beyond Khan as you say.
Sadiq win must be nailed on sadly, a bad place to put your money?
Quite a lot of potential news ahead. I've been laying this Brian Rose character who's clearly just trying to buy himself some publicity. The LD candidate isn't even listed.
I guess a big mistake by Khan (and lets hope not), some weird vote for Rose (my bank manager hopes not), and some great press for Bailey or Porritt could make it closer, but hard to see beyond Khan as you say.
Even assuming a certain amount of 'sure, we say this, but that doesn't mean we'll do it' from the public, I think it does show the difference between mere urging from the government to do X, guidance to do X and law to do X. At each stage, whilst plenty will ignore it, the public are pretty law abiding and guidance following, so the 'people will ignore crowd' are right to a degree, but it's likely not as significant as they think.
Heck, it's a problem in fact that people sometimes follow guidance too much, like the police thinking it is the same as law!
Comments
Only himself to blame for raising expectations for weeks all though autumn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpzty172gtM
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SUPER OFF PEAK
Some of us ride both horses.
Although here I am asking why he doesn’t make any effort to keep a promise. Dumb question.
Few people, in the long run, will associate Johnson with anything but Covid, and everybody will want to forget Covid just as soon as possible.
MML being the slow, stopping, diesel shite and ECML being the fast, fewer stops, electric route.
https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1340402309432569858
Maybe more of the Cabinet should read PB?
Johnson couldn't have made a worse sodding mess of this if he had tried.
https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/1340416949424152576
This hasn't gone unnoticed.
It's not enough to just vote for a Brexit deal, not have an idiot as your leader who's not Corbyn: people have to really know you're proud of it and you care for its future.
If you look at Labour's three convincing election wins in 1945, 1966 and 1997 they all offered compelling visions of national renewal.
I’ve seen a couple of these on social media
Lord North must be laughing. He is finally not going to be the worst PM ever.
Give people 5 days and they take 14.
https://twitter.com/StellaParton/status/1340143588064305152
https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1340418612461514752
There are plenty of reasons to wish Johnson wasn't there but the idea that the rest of the world has any opinion of us at all over Covid is just bollocks and part of this continuous narrative by those opposed to Johnson who want to make us seem like a laughing stock. We just don't register highly enough on their radars most of the time for that to be the case.
You, Josias Jessop formerly of this parish, and Nigel Thrift are the only people I've ever seen use "yet alone" instead of "let alone" (which I'm pretty sure is the correct phrasing)
Oh dear Boris. I'm one of his biggest supporters but even I am struggling to defend this.
They surely knew they'd be doing this even on Wednesday? How cruel to give people this false hope, and also to let hard-up families spend a fortune on food that will never be eaten
Once again, Boris looks not up to the job
This government's capacity for panic seems to know no bounds.
I did not vote for Boris and you all see why now..he is weak and not capable of being a leader.
Outrageous
Johnson needs to be ousted, hopefully by somebody who can understand some maths and has sense of perspective.
Graham Brady needs to start collecting MP names prepared to put useless Boris up for a leadership challenge. I must admit I was hopeful that he would do a good job, but alas those warning against him were right. The man is a weak fool who cannot get a grip of a complex problem or demonstrate any leadership.
Oh look, it's actually from 2015
https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/significant-risk-operation-brock-not-1805052
It annoys me because there are so many valid and (what should be) career ending reasons to criticise Johnson. You don't need to make up this BS about other countries laughing at us. It is lazy and stupid and actually undermines the serious criticisms that should be taking place.
The Men in Grey Suits should visit No.10 at whatever point in the Summer the worst of this is, pray God, finally behind us, and it's worth attempting to start over.
Other than very local trains, every announcement says you can't board without a reservation to maintain social distancing.
Tell me it isn't one rule for Northerners who might take pox South...
I mean, the Mayite heresy was suppressed only very recently.
Students returning are exempt from the travel ban, and should have been screened.
Once had to leave a night out in Sheffield early because there was bus replacement on the last train back to Huddersfield, extending the journey from the already glacial 1h15m to 3h15m for 24 miles distance.
For fuck's sake.
--AS
Meanwhile in the real world every country in Europe seems to be in the same boat except in this one hundreds of thousands have been vaccinated. Millions more will in next few months.
I'd rather be going into 2021 in the UK's shoes than the rest of Europe's.
There is also a grim realisation from all of us that this new virus strain means no easing even with the current vaccine plan.
Frankly, that is worse. They should be prosecuted if they aren't enforcing social distancing.
Pubs and restaurants can be shut. They don't just say "if you don't like it don't come in."
But the Mayor of London may find other people easier to blame.
So while Boris may face a recognition for his failings contributing to things, I do struggle with the idea that the things he fails at have been the most significant factor, and therefore that that is what people internationally would focus on.
What about Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia.....................
The USA is utterly awful at most things health related so really should not be any benchmark to measure ourselves against.
This was last time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Greater_Manchester_mayoral_election#/media/File:Greater_Manchester_Mayoral_Election_2017_by_Wards.svg
I'm not sure all of those countries you list would be better comparators, though certainly some are. Big Western European nations have had a very rough time, with only Germany of those in a category apart, despite recent difficulties.
I guess a big mistake by Khan (and lets hope not), some weird vote for Rose (my bank manager hopes not), and some great press for Bailey or Porritt could make it closer, but hard to see beyond Khan as you say.
Heck, it's a problem in fact that people sometimes follow guidance too much, like the police thinking it is the same as law!
That's surprisingly high.