Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
It's quite viable as there are surprising few border crossings.
Only 5 or so major roads crossing from England to Scotland but 20+ minor ones.
From memory someone on here calculated it at 31, which includes farm tracks and the like which are navigable via car albeit very remote in some cases. Not too many all in all!
It is quite remarkable how few road connections there are across the border.
IF Boris does not follow Scotland ASAP, this could be the end of his career as PM. Or the making of him. It's that big.
Imagine Boris decides to delay. To wait two weeks or more (as some reports suggest). Imagine if, in that time, London and the SE continues to explode with cases, deaths rocket, hospitals turn away heart attack victims, the NHS totters. Imagine, in that same time, Scotland stabilises, deaths in Scotland fall, Scottish hospitals are fine.
Can Boris survive that? Maybe not.
But you make the point. It wouldn't be just him not surviving that. There'd be several thousand others. Which is why he will surely not prevaricate to that extent.
The trouble is that Covid is almost perfectly configured to show up Bozza's temperamental flaws. Not just because a virus is not flattered by sunny optimism. But also his use of prevarication as a management technique.
Action (or inaction) taken today affects the infection data in a week, hospitalisation data in a fortnight, deaths in about a month. (I think those numbers are right- if someone expert wants to correct me, please do!).
So on the upwave, the real situation is always worse than it looks. So the only way to keep a grip on things is to over-react when things are only just beginning to turn bad.
But Johnson's Love of Freedom and Sunak's Fear of Spending Money push them in the opposite direction, waiting until the evidence for action is overwhelming, by which time it's much too late. A lot of the bad stuff that's about to happen is already baked-in, because of decisions taken before Christmas. It's hard to manage a situation where the cause-effect loop is so slow... it's like driving a car where the steering and brakes are working loose... but I fear that the government isn't really trying.
IF Boris does not follow Scotland ASAP, this could be the end of his career as PM. Or the making of him. It's that big.
Imagine Boris decides to delay. To wait two weeks or more (as some reports suggest). Imagine if, in that time, London and the SE continues to explode with cases, deaths rocket, hospitals turn away heart attack victims, the NHS totters. Imagine, in that same time, Scotland stabilises, deaths in Scotland fall, Scottish hospitals are fine.
Can Boris survive that? Maybe not.
What if all of the above do not happen?
As I said: it will be the making of him. If he delays, and Tier 4 starts to work, and London and the SE avoid Apocalypse, and Scotland does no better, then he will look like a prescient hero.
But, I fear all the evidence and data points to him being wrong. And he isn't just gambling with his career, he's gambling with all of us down here in London and the SE
TBH, in this pandemic the public will give you zero credit for taking the more liberal approach to restrictions. Even if the Tier system works as well as Scotland more stringent measures, lots of people will still get it and die, and the call will always be you could and should have been tougher.
Nobody will be arguing x approach was slightly better for job retention. The call will be you still allowed x,000,000 get it and x,000 die, and we could have "just" paid people furlough.
It might be a better approach (I don't think it is, given the current situation), but you definitely won't win brownie points for it.
I believe he would get some credit, but yes, you are more likely to be blamed than praised whatever you do (especially if you err on the side of liberty)
What he needs to do, in terms of presentation, is get Whitty and Van Tam and the rest of the boffins in front of the cameras, explaining why England is not doing the same as Scotland. Unless, of course, all the boffins agree with Sturgeon, in which case Boris is an insane idiot playing politics with our lives.
I am fairly certain Witty especially will be in the "lockdown yesterday" camp. Consistently over the past 9 months, he has always been in take the most cautious approach camp, and fairly clear that he didn't think most of the Tier system works.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Scotland can't close the Airports.
The restrictions make it illegal to travel to the airport but she can't stop the planes. That's a UK competence.
Isn't this a case of do it and dare Westminster to say otherwise? It's a perfect independence wedge issue if Westminster starts banging on about devolution in the middle of a pandemic when the UK government has got the policy completely wrong for a whole year.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Foreign travel isn't devolved. But already nonessential travel within Scotland was discouraged - now to be made formally illegal. I.e. you can't go over the border or out of the airport without breaking the law. I'm waiting to see the details (used to be crossing health board authorities' boundaries, and I do know the police were stopping and talking to people in cars in the bit of boundary near me).
Crossing level 3/4 council boundaries without a reason on the exceptions list has been illegal for weeks.
But the issue isn't Scottish people going to Edinburgh airport, it's flights arriving from Durban or Joburg via Schiphol.
That's still travelling into a level 4 area. The problem is that the law isn't enforced.
Yes, and enforcing that law is much, much more difficult to do than simply closing the airports.
Should still be doable at the airports though (unlike on roads within Scotland). Scottish police might not have authority at the actual border inside the airport, but they do have authority at the airport doors, right? Turn away departures without a good reason, and stick arrivals without good reason into hotels until the first available flight back.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
Sovereignty is the benefit.
Ah you say that is abstract, but so what? It will be for governments we elect to turn it into actual benefits and how it will turn into actual benefits will evolve over time depending upon which governments.
There is no right answer apart from sovereignty. We might elect a more liberal government than the EU - or a more authoritarian one. We might elect a more socialist government - or a more dry Conservative one.
The choice is ours. The future isn't written yet.
The first formal divergence was the abolition of the tampon tax, which was illegal under EU law. It won't be the last one.
Well tampon tax I will give you, but sovereignty really? I am interested in personal freedoms and I can think of a hell of a lot of things I can't do now that I could before and nothing that I can do that I couldn't before.
Enjoying sovereignty in the abstract is the political equivalent of sitting around smelling your own farts. Making it harder for other Europeans to move here and making it harder for us to move to the EU is the principal effect of Brexit. If you think that's a net positive then that is your benefit. If not, there really is no practical benefit.
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
Sovereignty is the benefit.
Ah you say that is abstract, but so what? It will be for governments we elect to turn it into actual benefits and how it will turn into actual benefits will evolve over time depending upon which governments.
There is no right answer apart from sovereignty. We might elect a more liberal government than the EU - or a more authoritarian one. We might elect a more socialist government - or a more dry Conservative one.
The choice is ours. The future isn't written yet.
The first formal divergence was the abolition of the tampon tax, which was illegal under EU law. It won't be the last one.
AIUI, the abolition is now possible in the EU. I believe the Govt hung on to it to make themselves seem good.
Nope. It is still an EU competence as it is VAT. The EU has said they have plans to allow countries to remove it by 2022 but they have not actually done so as yet.
The only country in the EU which has a zero rate is Ireland. It always has had as it maintained the previous pre-EU exemption. As did the UK on books, food and children's clothes.
The trouble is that Covid is almost perfectly configured to show up Bozza's temperamental flaws. Not just because a virus is not flattered by sunny optimism. But also his use of prevarication as a management technique.
Action (or inaction) taken today affects the infection data in a week, hospitalisation data in a fortnight, deaths in about a month. (I think those numbers are right- if someone expert wants to correct me, please do!).
So on the upwave, the real situation is always worse than it looks. So the only way to keep a grip on things is to over-react when things are only just beginning to turn bad.
But Johnson's Love of Freedom and Sunak's Fear of Spending Money push them in the opposite direction, waiting until the evidence for action is overwhelming, by which time it's much too late. A lot of the bad stuff that's about to happen is already baked-in, because of decisions taken before Christmas. It's hard to manage a situation where the cause-effect loop is so slow... it's like driving a car where the steering and brakes are working loose... but I fear that the government isn't really trying.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
It's quite viable as there are surprising few border crossings.
Only 5 or so major roads crossing from England to Scotland but 20+ minor ones.
From memory someone on here calculated it at 31, which includes farm tracks and the like which are navigable via car albeit very remote in some cases. Not too many all in all!
I made it 28 when I counted recently - counting only roads. Of course what counts as a road in north Cumbria and north Northumberland isn't quite the same as in Surrey. I recently waited 20 minutes on one of them while 84 million sheep went past on part of their long walk to the dinner table.
And on the way to one of the minor crossings you can stop off to see the Bewcastle Cross - Cumbria's most glorious Saxon memorial and a national treasure.
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
Presumably his sources have told him that lockdown will prevent Janey Godley turning up with a 'Trump is a C*nt' board (plus several thousand other Trumpophobes).
Wowser. Boris has had a brilliant couple of weeks. That's incredible polling 15 months in and after 10.5 years of a Tory government.
But, if he f*cks up on the new lockdown - which it looks like he might, delaying for a week or two - this will collapse. He's taking an enormous gamble.
Nah that doesn't matter much. If it comes tomorrow or Thursday who cares, no one will be able to determine the difference in the outcomes in a couple of weeks. The succesful Brexit deal gave him a boost but the speed of the vaccine rollout as the light at the end of the tunnel will be more important to VI than lockdown.
But the rumours are that he wants to delay til "the middle of the month". Ten days? Two weeks? That really DOES matter. That's possibly 20,000 lives lost, or not.
So? The earlier delays and the care homes policy has killed that many. People don't care because Brexit.
Here we go......2 days too late. Lets hope it isn't another I am announcing this evening that from a week on Thursday....
Well at least he has managed to do it on the same day as Sturgeon, and at a better time for maximum TV news-drama. So he won't look like the usual Johnny cum lately.
Oh God. Full lockdown in January. Grisly.
And much of Feb I suspect.
But we were all saying on here well before Christmas that this is what the New Year would require. And lo....
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
You can now throw out (or elect), via the ballot box, all the people who make the crucial political decisions that govern your life.
Take the Covid vaccine. The UK government is entirely responsible for buying, distributing and injecting this stuff into our arms. If they fuck it up, vote them out. If they do well, re-elect them, should you so wish.
The EU however, via the Commission, decided to do an EU-wide scheme, launched on the same day, which some have found seriously flawed and laborious.
If you're an EU citizen angry about this, how do you democratically punish those responsible? You can't.
That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive. Our Parliament for the most part (except when hung) is pretty powerless.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things.
Here we go......2 days too late. Lets hope it isn't another I am announcing this evening that from a week on Thursday....
Well at least he has managed to do it on the same day as Sturgeon, and at a better time for maximum TV news-drama. So he won't look like the usual Johnny cum lately.
"That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things."
********
"The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed"
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
Presumably his sources have told him that lockdown will prevent Janey Godley turning up with a 'Trump is a C*nt' board (plus several thousand other Trumpophobes).
'See, Scatland now loves me!'
Can we not declare him persona non grata - just to rub it in that he is a loser.....?
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Foreign travel isn't devolved
Hasn't stopped Guernsey. Test on arrival. Mandatory self quarantine. £10,000 fine for breaches. Test on Day 14. If you don't want to take a test, mandatory quarantine for 21 days. 8 current cases in total - all caught through "Test on arrival".
You're not part of the UK.
The UK government is responsible for foreign relations.
This is a Public Health (which is devolved to Scotland) issue.
Indeed. No reason why ScotGov can’t close the airport itself on public health grounds, or mount checkpoints on all roads out.
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Scotland can't close the Airports.
The restrictions make it illegal to travel to the airport but she can't stop the planes. That's a UK competence.
Ah a bit like independence referenda are the competence of the UK government.
So why is Sturgeon likely to do one and not the other?
Is it she cares more about independence than Covid-19?
Getting a bit logically confused there. PBTory doctrine is that Ms S won't go for an illegal referendum.
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
You can now throw out (or elect), via the ballot box, all the people who make the crucial political decisions that govern your life.
Take the Covid vaccine. The UK government is entirely responsible for buying, distributing and injecting this stuff into our arms. If they fuck it up, vote them out. If they do well, re-elect them, should you so wish.
The EU however, via the Commission, decided to do an EU-wide scheme, launched on the same day, which some have found seriously flawed and laborious.
If you're an EU citizen angry about this, how do you democratically punish those responsible? You can't.
That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive. Our Parliament for the most part (except when hung) is pretty powerless.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things.
"That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things."
********
"The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed"
I mean, listen to yourself. Jeez
Maybe it would be useful if you actually stated what was inaccurate in that statement. Do you think the USA is not a democracy? It has an appointed executive?
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
"Other than"...
From the SAGE report I quoted upthread:
Children are more likely to bring the virus into household than aged 17+ Young people 2-16 yrs are more than twice as likely as adults to be first case in household, and those aged 12-16 are 7x more likely. 2-16 year olds are more than twice as likely to pass on virus in a household than adults.
And that was just before the new, much more infectious strain started to prevail.
And note that government had that report well before Christmas.
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
The strange one about Scotland is kids are still able to mix in playgrounds outside of school. If kids are now being considered a primary route of transmission between families surely this is a rather dangerous loophole?
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Foreign travel isn't devolved
Hasn't stopped Guernsey. Test on arrival. Mandatory self quarantine. £10,000 fine for breaches. Test on Day 14. If you don't want to take a test, mandatory quarantine for 21 days. 8 current cases in total - all caught through "Test on arrival".
You're not part of the UK.
The UK government is responsible for foreign relations.
This is a Public Health (which is devolved to Scotland) issue.
Doesn't make Guernsey any more relevant, especially if you have for years been lecturing us Scots on the benefits of remaining in the UK and sending almost all our tax to Westminster while living in a tax haven.
But the issue needs to be resolved. Though it's not so long since PBTories siuch as you would have erupted at the vcery idea of the Scottish Gmt closing the airports. And, in any case, some travel is necessary - so we will see. More details are to come anyway.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
It's quite viable as there are surprising few border crossings.
Only 5 or so major roads crossing from England to Scotland but 20+ minor ones.
From memory someone on here calculated it at 31, which includes farm tracks and the like which are navigable via car albeit very remote in some cases. Not too many all in all!
It is quite remarkable how few road connections there are across the border.
It probably reflects that either side of the border was not a particularly safe place to live for a very long time so there are comparatively few towns to generate the connections.
The 60 miles or so from Haddington to Berwick has some nice coastline but its astonishingly empty and the area to the north of Carlisle even more so.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
You can now throw out (or elect), via the ballot box, all the people who make the crucial political decisions that govern your life.
Take the Covid vaccine. The UK government is entirely responsible for buying, distributing and injecting this stuff into our arms. If they fuck it up, vote them out. If they do well, re-elect them, should you so wish.
The EU however, via the Commission, decided to do an EU-wide scheme, launched on the same day, which some have found seriously flawed and laborious.
If you're an EU citizen angry about this, how do you democratically punish those responsible? You can't.
That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive. Our Parliament for the most part (except when hung) is pretty powerless.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things.
" I have no control over who I elect" is not a great argument. The rest of the arguments aren't much better.
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
The strange one about Scotland is kids are still able to mix in playgrounds outside of school. If kids are now being considered a primary route of transmission between families surely this is a rather dangerous loophole?
Mixing outside in the playground is way less of a risk than sitting all day in a stuffy classroom.
"That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things."
********
"The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed"
I mean, listen to yourself. Jeez
Maybe it would be useful if you actually stated what was inaccurate in that statement. Do you think the USA is not a democracy? It has an appointed executive?
The Americans just kicked out President Trump. Thank F*ck. Because he's an awful president.
No European citizen will ever get the chance to throw out President von der Leyen. Or Charles Michel. Or any of the other four EU presidents. Or is it five? Ten? It is so easy to forget.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
You can now throw out (or elect), via the ballot box, all the people who make the crucial political decisions that govern your life.
Take the Covid vaccine. The UK government is entirely responsible for buying, distributing and injecting this stuff into our arms. If they fuck it up, vote them out. If they do well, re-elect them, should you so wish.
The EU however, via the Commission, decided to do an EU-wide scheme, launched on the same day, which some have found seriously flawed and laborious.
If you're an EU citizen angry about this, how do you democratically punish those responsible? You can't.
That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive. Our Parliament for the most part (except when hung) is pretty powerless.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Foreign travel isn't devolved
Hasn't stopped Guernsey. Test on arrival. Mandatory self quarantine. £10,000 fine for breaches. Test on Day 14. If you don't want to take a test, mandatory quarantine for 21 days. 8 current cases in total - all caught through "Test on arrival".
You're not part of the UK.
The UK government is responsible for foreign relations.
This is a Public Health (which is devolved to Scotland) issue.
Indeed. No reason why ScotGov can’t close the airport itself on public health grounds, or mount checkpoints on all roads out.
Or require negative PCR test before leaving the airport.
IF Boris does not follow Scotland ASAP, this could be the end of his career as PM. Or the making of him. It's that big.
Imagine Boris decides to delay. To wait two weeks or more (as some reports suggest). Imagine if, in that time, London and the SE continues to explode with cases, deaths rocket, hospitals turn away heart attack victims, the NHS totters. Imagine, in that same time, Scotland stabilises, deaths in Scotland fall, Scottish hospitals are fine.
Can Boris survive that? Maybe not.
But you make the point. It wouldn't be just him not surviving that. There'd be several thousand others. Which is why he will surely not prevaricate to that extent.
So if he's not going to prevaricate and he is going to do it, Just Bloody Do It Now. What possible gain is there in waiting an extra hour, let alone a few days?
It is totally mystifying.
But no longer. He's doing it. Strict national measures for a few weeks at least.
I don't quite get the aversion to looking organized and proactive but I guess he has his reasons.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
Sovereignty is the benefit.
Ah you say that is abstract, but so what? It will be for governments we elect to turn it into actual benefits and how it will turn into actual benefits will evolve over time depending upon which governments.
There is no right answer apart from sovereignty. We might elect a more liberal government than the EU - or a more authoritarian one. We might elect a more socialist government - or a more dry Conservative one.
The choice is ours. The future isn't written yet.
The first formal divergence was the abolition of the tampon tax, which was illegal under EU law. It won't be the last one.
Well tampon tax I will give you, but sovereignty really? I am interested in personal freedoms and I can think of a hell of a lot of things I can't do now that I could before and nothing that I can do that I couldn't before.
Then elect a government that will be more liberal. It is what I will always campaign for.
One thing I hadn't realized is how much better Scotland has done at a macro level at keeping down corona cases.
Unless I'm reading it wrong - they reckon only 2.46% confirmed cases vs. >4% in the other nations (almost 5% in Wales). Presumably that isn't just down to testing levels being different?
Yet their death numbers are not that much lower (possibly due to care home mistakes?)
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
The strange one about Scotland is kids are still able to mix in playgrounds outside of school. If kids are now being considered a primary route of transmission between families surely this is a rather dangerous loophole?
Mixing outside in the playground is way less of a risk than sitting all day in a stuffy classroom.
I agree but the sorts of kids who will generally be playing in a play ground are probably not the ones who will pay much attention to social distancing. Anyone who has seen under 5s - or even under 10s playing in a playground will know this.
I am not generally critical of Sturgeon and think she has done the right thing here overall. It just seems a strange exception.
So do we think we will exceed the 60k cases reported today?
Yes.
Maybe not, fingers crossed. There's not a strong weekend effect for cases (as opposed to deaths), and there is the slim hope that the closure of the schools for the Christmas holidays may have helped to have offset family mixing. On the other hand, there seems to be no stopping the new variant
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
Indeed. The Scottish situation has chopped and changed much less than in England - for one thing we had a decent nmumber of levels to begin with unlike down south, though PBTories criticised that virulently as I recall.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
Sovereignty is the benefit.
Ah you say that is abstract, but so what? It will be for governments we elect to turn it into actual benefits and how it will turn into actual benefits will evolve over time depending upon which governments.
There is no right answer apart from sovereignty. We might elect a more liberal government than the EU - or a more authoritarian one. We might elect a more socialist government - or a more dry Conservative one.
The choice is ours. The future isn't written yet.
The first formal divergence was the abolition of the tampon tax, which was illegal under EU law. It won't be the last one.
Well tampon tax I will give you, but sovereignty really? I am interested in personal freedoms and I can think of a hell of a lot of things I can't do now that I could before and nothing that I can do that I couldn't before.
Then elect a government that will be more liberal. It is what I will always campaign for.
How would electing a more liberal UK government restore my freedom of movement rights in the EU? That is the kind of freedom that is only obtained by pooling sovereignty beyond national borders.
"That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things."
********
"The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed"
I mean, listen to yourself. Jeez
Maybe it would be useful if you actually stated what was inaccurate in that statement. Do you think the USA is not a democracy? It has an appointed executive?
The Americans just kicked out President Trump. Thank F*ck. Because he's an awful president.
No European citizen will ever get the chance to throw out President von der Leyen. Or Charles Michel. Or any of the other four EU presidents. Or is it five? Ten? It is so easy to forget.
To be fair the Commission President is now supposed to come from the party with the largest number of elected MEPs in the European Parliament
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Foreign travel isn't devolved
Hasn't stopped Guernsey. Test on arrival. Mandatory self quarantine. £10,000 fine for breaches. Test on Day 14. If you don't want to take a test, mandatory quarantine for 21 days. 8 current cases in total - all caught through "Test on arrival".
You're not part of the UK.
The UK government is responsible for foreign relations.
This is a Public Health (which is devolved to Scotland) issue.
Indeed. No reason why ScotGov can’t close the airport itself on public health grounds, or mount checkpoints on all roads out.
Or require negative PCR test before leaving the airport.
Or implement mandatory quarantine. It seems on this one, the four Governments are very much in step.
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
The strange one about Scotland is kids are still able to mix in playgrounds outside of school. If kids are now being considered a primary route of transmission between families surely this is a rather dangerous loophole?
Kids up to 11 only. My son, 17, has previously been exempt from many of the restrictions which has allowed him to meet up with school friends and his girlfriend but no longer. But the evidence that even young kids can spread at least the new variant does seem to be growing stronger.
In March most of the playgrounds were locked up in practice as the staff were "working from home". I suspect it will be the same again.
Other than closing schools what is the difference between what NS has just annouced for Scotland compared to Tier 4 in England?
Its depressingly hard to work out but in Scotland the religious exemption is gone. Travel for education is no longer possible, nor training. It's mainly schools tbh.
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
The strange one about Scotland is kids are still able to mix in playgrounds outside of school. If kids are now being considered a primary route of transmission between families surely this is a rather dangerous loophole?
It's outdoors. Not so long close to the same people as when sat in a classroom.
"Danish firm DFDS launch new direct cargo service between Ireland & France to bypass the UK. The first ship today carried over 100 trucks & the service is already over-subscribed. Hauliers say the route is longer but avoids Brexit red-tape they would otherwise experience on the UK route."
Suppose it will keep the queues down!
Keeps the traffic down on UK roads. No issue with that.
Well absolutely. I think I made that point, but doesn't it just maybe make you think 'well maybe it has cost and competitive issues for UK companies exporting and UK customers of EU products if Irish hauliers prefer a mega sea journey.
Marginally, so be it. We already have marginal cost issues by using a different currency but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Plus of course the Irish potentially need to do the paperwork twice, whereas the Brits only need to do it once.
I agree with all of your reply Philip except one. What are these benefits? I mean actual benefits not abstract ones Iike sovereignty. I can list a whole lot of benefits I have personally lost. I can not think of a single benefit I have gained.
You can now throw out (or elect), via the ballot box, all the people who make the crucial political decisions that govern your life.
Take the Covid vaccine. The UK government is entirely responsible for buying, distributing and injecting this stuff into our arms. If they fuck it up, vote them out. If they do well, re-elect them, should you so wish.
The EU however, via the Commission, decided to do an EU-wide scheme, launched on the same day, which some have found seriously flawed and laborious.
If you're an EU citizen angry about this, how do you democratically punish those responsible? You can't.
That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive. Our Parliament for the most part (except when hung) is pretty powerless.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things.
" I have no control over who I elect" is not a great argument. The rest of the arguments aren't much better.
Also "However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA."
Executive power in the USA is vested in the President. I believe they just had an election of some sort for him.
Tbh, even Nicola is failing the border test. Why hasn't Scotland closed its airports and opened checkpoints into Scotland from England with rapid testing stations. Something like that would be perfectly reasonable at this time. It might even shock Westminster into acting, keeping the border with Scotland open is far more important than keeping the border open with RoW. The UK should be an impenetrable fortress at this point a year after we first realised this was going to be awful.
Scotland can't close the Airports.
The restrictions make it illegal to travel to the airport but she can't stop the planes. That's a UK competence.
Ah a bit like independence referenda are the competence of the UK government.
So why is Sturgeon likely to do one and not the other?
Is it she cares more about independence than Covid-19?
Getting a bit logically confused there. PBTory doctrine is that Ms S won't go for an illegal referendum.
"That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things."
********
"The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed"
I mean, listen to yourself. Jeez
Maybe it would be useful if you actually stated what was inaccurate in that statement. Do you think the USA is not a democracy? It has an appointed executive?
The Americans just kicked out President Trump. Thank F*ck. Because he's an awful president.
No European citizen will ever get the chance to throw out President von der Leyen. Or Charles Michel. Or any of the other four EU presidents. Or is it five? Ten? It is so easy to forget.
The irony is that if the EU really were a superstate like Brexiteers claim, its citizens would be able to elect its president. The reason EU citizens don't get to vote for these positions directly is because national governments have retained those decisions for themselves. Because they are still sovereign. Because the EU isn't a superstate.
Here we go......2 days too late. Lets hope it isn't another I am announcing this evening that from a week on Thursday....
Well at least he has managed to do it on the same day as Sturgeon, and at a better time for maximum TV news-drama. So he won't look like the usual Johnny cum lately.
Oh God. Full lockdown in January. Grisly.
And much of Feb I suspect.
But we were all saying on here well before Christmas that this is what the New Year would require. And lo....
It was really obvious as soon as it became clear how much more infectious the new variant was. The lack of obvious preparation since that time (roughly mid December) seems pretty suboptimal.
Comments
2021 is gonnae be some ride!
Action (or inaction) taken today affects the infection data in a week, hospitalisation data in a fortnight, deaths in about a month. (I think those numbers are right- if someone expert wants to correct me, please do!).
So on the upwave, the real situation is always worse than it looks. So the only way to keep a grip on things is to over-react when things are only just beginning to turn bad.
But Johnson's Love of Freedom and Sunak's Fear of Spending Money push them in the opposite direction, waiting until the evidence for action is overwhelming, by which time it's much too late. A lot of the bad stuff that's about to happen is already baked-in, because of decisions taken before Christmas. It's hard to manage a situation where the cause-effect loop is so slow... it's like driving a car where the steering and brakes are working loose... but I fear that the government isn't really trying.
https://twitter.com/Dr2NisreenAlwan/status/1345661874302578689
US President Donald Trump could be planning a trip to Scotland to avoid attending his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to aviation sources.
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/donald-trump-could-be-planning-turnberry-trip-as-scots-airport-told-to-expect-a-high-flyer-the-day-before-joe-bidens-inauguration/?utm_source=twitter
The only country in the EU which has a zero rate is Ireland. It always has had as it maintained the previous pre-EU exemption. As did the UK on books, food and children's clothes.
And on the way to one of the minor crossings you can stop off to see the Bewcastle Cross - Cumbria's most glorious Saxon memorial and a national treasure.
'See, Scatland now loves me!'
But we were all saying on here well before Christmas that this is what the New Year would require. And lo....
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things.
"That is just utter nonsense. Firstly like many I have no control over who I elect and I did have a vote for the European parliament. The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed. However in many democracies the executive is appointed (eg USA, London Mayor) and monitored by the elected representatives. These are just different types of democracies and it is debatable that ours is superior. I think many would argue it is inferior at it nearly always results in what many call an elected dictatorship with conflicted roles between the executive and those elected to pass laws and monitor the executive.
So I have no power whatsoever to get rid of a Govt, but I have lost the right to do many things. Actual tangible things."
********
"The only difference between us and the EU was that our executive comes (largely but not exclusively eg Lords) from an elected parliament rather than being appointed"
I mean, listen to yourself. Jeez
Nicola could introduce a quarantine rule while he's en route and make him stay in the Edinburgh Airport Travelodge
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-55531589
And February...and probably March.....
Someone accused me earlier of being depressed. And I - correctly - said I wasn't. Now, I dunno.....
EDIT: I have no idea why my laptop has gone mad with its quoting. Maybe it is a secret antivaxxer
One thing that we must learn from this disaster is that attempts by politicians to fine tune restrictions and frequent changes of rules is hugely and completely counter-productive resulting in far less compliance and effectiveness. One can see the attraction, especially from the Treasury, but it is just not worth it.
From the SAGE report I quoted upthread:
Children are more likely to bring the virus into household than aged 17+
Young people 2-16 yrs are more than twice as likely as adults to be first case in household, and those aged 12-16 are 7x more likely.
2-16 year olds are more than twice as likely to pass on virus in a household than adults.
And that was just before the new, much more infectious strain started to prevail.
And note that government had that report well before Christmas.
We will tomorrow.
I think he got upset when I told him he 'had become a political catamite of the Brexit right'.
Edit - I think also said he's a pound shop Emperor Valerian, the human foot stool of the ERG.
But the issue needs to be resolved. Though it's not so long since PBTories siuch as you would have erupted at the vcery idea of the Scottish Gmt closing the airports. And, in any case, some travel is necessary - so we will see. More details are to come anyway.
The 60 miles or so from Haddington to Berwick has some nice coastline but its astonishingly empty and the area to the north of Carlisle even more so.
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1346110314224340993?s=20
No European citizen will ever get the chance to throw out President von der Leyen. Or Charles Michel. Or any of the other four EU presidents. Or is it five? Ten? It is so easy to forget.
I don't quite get the aversion to looking organized and proactive but I guess he has his reasons.
Unless I'm reading it wrong - they reckon only 2.46% confirmed cases vs. >4% in the other nations (almost 5% in Wales). Presumably that isn't just down to testing levels being different?
Yet their death numbers are not that much lower (possibly due to care home mistakes?)
I am not generally critical of Sturgeon and think she has done the right thing here overall. It just seems a strange exception.
1. Ridiculously ruffled hair.
2. Schoolboy smirk.
3. 'Comedy' analogy.
4. Total failure to convince.
If not it should not be the plan.
Close the effing border Boris. Then it is your own plan. Listen to Hunt.
(I feel absolutely awful saying close the border)
In March most of the playgrounds were locked up in practice as the staff were "working from home". I suspect it will be the same again.
Executive power in the USA is vested in the President. I believe they just had an election of some sort for him.
Meanwhile Nut Nuts is taking care of the baby.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/55522329