The longer the EU row goes on the better it is for Hancock and Johnson – politicalbetting.com

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The longer the EU row goes on the better it is for Hancock and Johnson – politicalbetting.com

The latest research on the effectiveness of the AZC/Oxford vaccine reinforces the kudos for Hancock in getting early supplies and being a media savvy politician it was he who was the minister doing the round of morning media appearance.

Read the full story here

FrancisUrquhart

FFS, Sky News report on paper on new AZN paper........grrhhhhhhhhhhhh......

They stated the scientific community divided over 3 week vs 3 month gap...ok, on Pfizer right, no, no mention of that....new paper says 3 month doesn't lower efficacy..grrrhhhh...no it finds it is optimal range...and in conclusion, this paper suggests government gamble might be right....no it says nothing about Pfizer.

And zero mention of amazing results in terms of no hospitalisations.

i mean FFS...and this is from their supposed health correspondent.

This confusion (media favourite word) is worse than stuff like peoppe died yesterday reports.

FrancisUrquhart

Another example of #10 PR operation upped its game.

https://twitter.com/DrAlexGeorge/status/1356867176561532928?s=19

Scott_xP

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

Sandpit

Fourth rate EU vaccine effort.

MattW

About 10th.

(In base 6)

Pagan2

FPT

Pagan2 said:

On the subject of voting labour, or indeed other parties can I just say as a voter one thing that grinds my gears and makes me disinclined to vote for you is the use of the word "fair". This isn't meant to be a rant or jibe so don't take it as so.

Simply when I see "fair wage" or "fair share of tax" etc...its meaningless at best and at worst makes me think its going to mean I pay a lot more tax. I am not saying you should not have policies on those things just however say what you mean....what is a fair wage for say a supermarket shelf stacker....what is fair tax 22% basic? 25% basic?

If you use the word fair what I read as a voter is "We don't want to put a figure on it so we don't scare you". That actually scares me more

Sandpit

FrancisUrquhart said:

FFS, Sky News report on paper on new AZN paper........grrhhhhhhhhhhhh......

They stated the scientific community divided over 3 week vs 3 month gap...ok, on Pfizer right, no, no mention of that....new paper says 3 month doesn't lower efficacy..grrrhhhh...no it finds it is optimal range...and in conclusion, this paper suggests government gamble might be right....no it says nothing about Pfizer.

And zero mention of amazing results in terms of no hospitalisations.

i mean FFS...and this is from their supposed health correspondent.

This confusion (media favourite word) is worse than stuff like peoppe died yesterday reports.

Media arts majors confused by medical and sciencey stuff, sounds like any other day from the past twelve months.

CarlottaVance

On Labour & patriotism:

https://twitter.com/TomMcTague/status/1356911825980432384?s=20

I think the problem some on the left have is they reject "the nation" as "the collective".

Andy_JS

Difficult to follow the logic of this:


"Why can't UK copy Australia and 'batten down hatches' to stop COVID?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the UK could not "close down" its borders to tackle coronavirus in the same way as countries such as Australia.

He told the Commons Transport Select Committee: "People say 'why don't we just close down and then we'll be safe?'

"But, of course, we wouldn't be safe, because we are an island nation - unlike Australia or something which is an entire continent - and that means that we need to get medicines in, we need to get food in, we need to get our raw materials in, sometimes we have to move people around, scientists and others."

https://news.sky.com/story/uk-covid-news-latest-updates-in-coronavirus-lockdown-12205059

CarlottaVance

https://twitter.com/HarryYorke1/status/1356912955716173825?s=20

MattW

Pagan2 said:

FPT

Pagan2 said:

On the subject of voting labour, or indeed other parties can I just say as a voter one thing that grinds my gears and makes me disinclined to vote for you is the use of the word "fair". This isn't meant to be a rant or jibe so don't take it as so.

Simply when I see "fair wage" or "fair share of tax" etc...its meaningless at best and at worst makes me think its going to mean I pay a lot more tax. I am not saying you should not have policies on those things just however say what you mean....what is a fair wage for say a supermarket shelf stacker....what is fair tax 22% basic? 25% basic?

If you use the word fair what I read as a voter is "We don't want to put a figure on it so we don't scare you". That actually scares me more

It means "we want more of somebody else's money for our pet cause".

Used in precisely the same way as Just William talking about jammie dodgers.

Occasionally VEB gets activated.

"We are going to thkweem and thkweem and thkweem until you are sick."

Slackbladder

CarlottaVance said:

On Labour & patriotism:

https://twitter.com/TomMcTague/status/1356911825980432384?s=20

I think the problem some on the left have is they reject "the nation" as "the collective".

I agree.. this is a cycle which has gone around and around since 2010. Remember 'blue labour' back with Miliband.

This is a circle which can't be squared yet for Labour.

CarlottaVance

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale.....

https://twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1356872414114828288?s=20

FrancisUrquhart

CarlottaVance said:

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale.....

/twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1356872414114828288?s=20

In 2 months time, Comical Ali will more than likely be using rate of 2 doses given to over 80s from the beginning of Feb onwards...UK bottom of the league table.

Sandpit

Andy_JS said:

Difficult to follow the logic of this:


"Why can't UK copy Australia and 'batten down hatches' to stop COVID?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the UK could not "close down" its borders to tackle coronavirus in the same way as countries such as Australia.

He told the Commons Transport Select Committee: "People say 'why don't we just close down and then we'll be safe?'

"But, of course, we wouldn't be safe, because we are an island nation - unlike Australia or something which is an entire continent - and that means that we need to get medicines in, we need to get food in, we need to get our raw materials in, sometimes we have to move people around, scientists and others."

https://news.sky.com/story/uk-covid-news-latest-updates-in-coronavirus-lockdown-12205059

The unwillingness to close the border properly, is the one aspect of government policy that confuses the hell out of me at the moment. If you're an island nation, why on Earth wouldn't you isolate yourself from a nasty virus?

Stark_Dawning

Scott_xP said:

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

Boris's deal is looking very much like a botched job. When superman Matt Hancock eventually takes over - for it will surely be he! - then he'll need to use his fastidious eye for detail, uncanny powers of prognostication and inspiring man management to forge something more optimal. The rest of us can only wait for that platinum dawn.

CarlottaVance

https://twitter.com/leonardocarella/status/1356733137573838848?s=20
https://twitter.com/leonardocarella/status/1356733812915511300?s=20

RochdalePioneers

Scott_xP said:

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

"Hi, its Michael Gove here. We've got a bit of a problem. You see we've signed this Trade and Co-operation Agreement and since we switched it on those annoying chappies in Ulster have pointed out that there's now a border down the Irish Sea. Is there any chance that we can avoid having to implement all of the processes we insisted on and committed to do when we signed the agreement?"

Or, more succinctly...

RochdalePioneers

Its a brilliant Private Eye front page. Of course for the Tories the advantage to the whole shebang is, as OGH points out, we were first.

On the other hand, it highlights the completely unworkable "solution" which they insisted on for Northern Ireland. Who knew that placing a border down the Irish Sea and making Norniron unionists at best semi-detached from the rest of the UK might not be a good idea?

Oh yes, thats right. Boris Johnson knew. "No British Prime Minister, especially a Tory one, would ever do such a thing". Perhaps he should have a word with himself.

eek

Sandpit said:

Andy_JS said:

Difficult to follow the logic of this:


"Why can't UK copy Australia and 'batten down hatches' to stop COVID?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the UK could not "close down" its borders to tackle coronavirus in the same way as countries such as Australia.

He told the Commons Transport Select Committee: "People say 'why don't we just close down and then we'll be safe?'

"But, of course, we wouldn't be safe, because we are an island nation - unlike Australia or something which is an entire continent - and that means that we need to get medicines in, we need to get food in, we need to get our raw materials in, sometimes we have to move people around, scientists and others."

https://news.sky.com/story/uk-covid-news-latest-updates-in-coronavirus-lockdown-12205059

The unwillingness to close the border properly, is the one aspect of government policy that confuses the hell out of me at the moment. If you're an island nation, why on Earth wouldn't you isolate yourself from a nasty virus?

Because Global Britain and the Government is scared that it may stop someone buying something.

More accurately its politically far harder for us to do this than Australia / New Zealand which are a long distance away or the IoM / channel islands that are far smaller.

noneoftheabove

Stark_Dawning said:

Scott_xP said:

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

Boris's deal is looking very much like a botched job. When superman Matt Hancock eventually takes over - for it will surely be he! - then he'll need to use his fastidious eye for detail, uncanny powers of prognostication and inspiring man management to forge something more optimal. The rest of us can only wait for that platinum dawn.

But how would Hancock govern? Will it depend on if he last watched West Wing, House of Cards, Yes Minister or Thick of IT?

Philip_Thompson

Roger said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Nemtynakht said:

MarqueeMark said:

SouthamObserver said:

MarqueeMark said:

SouthamObserver said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Morning all! Have we already talked about Labour's plans to de-twat themselves by slapping on lots of union jacks? It reads like a brilliant piece of dumb focus group research, "ex-voters actually like this country, bizarrely, so lets dress up like them to make them like us".

If Tony Blair was leader, and was convincing on that front with a front-bench of eager reformers, then yes, that's the strategy. Sadly Keir "we're here to hear" Starmer is leader, half the front bench are "who?" and the back benches are stuffed full of nutters.

I was a member of the Labour Party for 25 years. I really struggle to understand what it is about and who it thinks it is speaking to - and this dumb "stick a flag in the background" effort will convince nobody. Had Keith purged the nutters, said mea maxima culpa and spent the last year actually reforming the party in the background then maybe.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/02/labour-urged-to-focus-on-flag-and-patriotism-to-win-voters-trust-leak-reveals

Not letting the Tories own patriotism - especially after all the harm they have done with it - is a good thing. That's where I start from on this. Beyond that, wrapping the flag around higher public spending, fair wages for essential workers, a strong NHS, a better deal for schools, a decent and dignified care system, more affordable housing, tolerance, openness and solidarity is absolutely what Labour should be doing. These are all values that most voters will identify with. The Corbyn years caused immense harm to Labour's image as a party that actually liked the country it wanted to govern. You have to start somewhere in changing that. And in terms of party control, Starmer is pretty much there. He now owns the NEC and the PLP. The nutters are leaving, as the fall in membership demonstrates. Still a long, long way to go. But progress is being made.

It's not the Tories owning patriotism that is the issue. It is Labour owning - for decades - national self-loathing. Sticking a few flags on a PPB isn't going to convince anybody that behind their hands, Labour isn't laughing at the insincerity of its own actions.

The embodiment of Labour's problem here is Emily Thornberry tweeting about the ridiculousness of draping flags over your house. Anyone want to assess her private views on this new policy. a) Yes Leader, I'm right behind you. I love a flag. I love OUR flag or b) pfffft - what bullshit?

You make my point for me. Disliking the Tory version of patriotism is not self-loathing. It is disliking the Tory version of patriotism - one that has led us to where we are today: a horribly divided country which erects barriers to trade and celebrates removing freedoms from its citizens. Patriotism doesn't have to be like that.

Gloriously showing why Labour will get stuffed next time too. The citizens voted to remove those freedoms from its citizens. It was the result of democracy.

And SKS and the Labour movement love flags, for sure. We have seen them emblazoned everywhere. They fly flags VERY proudly. Unfortunately, for the past five years, that flag has been gold stars on a blue background.

If you want to stop dividing this country, stop flying the flag of a foreign power all over your social media presence, Remainers. That is a weird type of patriotism you've got there....

It's not just the EU flag. Trade union flags, Palestine, etc. There are plenty of flags on all sides. The strange thing is that in lots of countries e.g. France there is no problem or insinuations about self gratification related to the flag, whereas in the UK it seems to be different.

Because there's nothing wrong with flags.

The problem is that some people hate their own country. They hate what the flag represents. They are ashamed of their own nation and loathe to see their own flag as a result.

An embarrassing post.

Embarrassing for you maybe, since you're a prime person who hates his own country and loathes his own national flag.

You go further though into hating your own compatriots. You should be banished to Hartlepool until you can get over your irrationality.

CarlottaVance

Dido of Carnage, who was surprised reopening schools increased spread, now blindsided by "viruses mutate".....

https://twitter.com/breeallegretti/status/1356904251864330240?s=20

Yorkcity

I think most commentators and on here are underestimating the economic tsunami coming our way.
Any government would be effected by it , and how it handles the debt once the pandemic is eventually under control.

Pulpstar

CarlottaVance said:

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale.....

https://twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1356872414114828288?s=20

I'm fine with him using that metric, as you say - will he be in a few weeks & months ?

Gallowgate

Philip_Thompson said:

Roger said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Nemtynakht said:

MarqueeMark said:

SouthamObserver said:

MarqueeMark said:

SouthamObserver said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Morning all! Have we already talked about Labour's plans to de-twat themselves by slapping on lots of union jacks? It reads like a brilliant piece of dumb focus group research, "ex-voters actually like this country, bizarrely, so lets dress up like them to make them like us".

If Tony Blair was leader, and was convincing on that front with a front-bench of eager reformers, then yes, that's the strategy. Sadly Keir "we're here to hear" Starmer is leader, half the front bench are "who?" and the back benches are stuffed full of nutters.

I was a member of the Labour Party for 25 years. I really struggle to understand what it is about and who it thinks it is speaking to - and this dumb "stick a flag in the background" effort will convince nobody. Had Keith purged the nutters, said mea maxima culpa and spent the last year actually reforming the party in the background then maybe.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/02/labour-urged-to-focus-on-flag-and-patriotism-to-win-voters-trust-leak-reveals

Not letting the Tories own patriotism - especially after all the harm they have done with it - is a good thing. That's where I start from on this. Beyond that, wrapping the flag around higher public spending, fair wages for essential workers, a strong NHS, a better deal for schools, a decent and dignified care system, more affordable housing, tolerance, openness and solidarity is absolutely what Labour should be doing. These are all values that most voters will identify with. The Corbyn years caused immense harm to Labour's image as a party that actually liked the country it wanted to govern. You have to start somewhere in changing that. And in terms of party control, Starmer is pretty much there. He now owns the NEC and the PLP. The nutters are leaving, as the fall in membership demonstrates. Still a long, long way to go. But progress is being made.

It's not the Tories owning patriotism that is the issue. It is Labour owning - for decades - national self-loathing. Sticking a few flags on a PPB isn't going to convince anybody that behind their hands, Labour isn't laughing at the insincerity of its own actions.

The embodiment of Labour's problem here is Emily Thornberry tweeting about the ridiculousness of draping flags over your house. Anyone want to assess her private views on this new policy. a) Yes Leader, I'm right behind you. I love a flag. I love OUR flag or b) pfffft - what bullshit?

You make my point for me. Disliking the Tory version of patriotism is not self-loathing. It is disliking the Tory version of patriotism - one that has led us to where we are today: a horribly divided country which erects barriers to trade and celebrates removing freedoms from its citizens. Patriotism doesn't have to be like that.

Gloriously showing why Labour will get stuffed next time too. The citizens voted to remove those freedoms from its citizens. It was the result of democracy.

And SKS and the Labour movement love flags, for sure. We have seen them emblazoned everywhere. They fly flags VERY proudly. Unfortunately, for the past five years, that flag has been gold stars on a blue background.

If you want to stop dividing this country, stop flying the flag of a foreign power all over your social media presence, Remainers. That is a weird type of patriotism you've got there....

It's not just the EU flag. Trade union flags, Palestine, etc. There are plenty of flags on all sides. The strange thing is that in lots of countries e.g. France there is no problem or insinuations about self gratification related to the flag, whereas in the UK it seems to be different.

Because there's nothing wrong with flags.

The problem is that some people hate their own country. They hate what the flag represents. They are ashamed of their own nation and loathe to see their own flag as a result.

An embarrassing post.

Embarrassing for you maybe, since you're a prime person who hates his own country and loathes his own national flag.

You go further though into hating your own compatriots. You should be banished to Hartlepool until you can get over your irrationality.

I feel that your suggested cruel and unusual punishment would be against the European Convention on Human Rights.

FrancisUrquhart

Pulpstar said:

CarlottaVance said:

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale.....

https://twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1356872414114828288?s=20

I'm fine with him using that metric

He keeps picking a different metric...a couple of weeks ago it was all about fudging the start date of when he counted as vaccination roll out of each country. He is the Alister Haimes of vaccination numbers.

You watch in 6 weeks when UK smashing the 2nd doses, he will pick something else.

Floater

Words fail

https://twitter.com/lookner/status/1356782078579396609

Stark_Dawning

CarlottaVance said:

https://twitter.com/HarryYorke1/status/1356912955716173825?s=20

Does rather ask the question why did he and Boris agree to put that mechanism in place if using it was so dangerous. Just saying that it was never expected to be used doesn't stack up - these things need to be absolutely bullet proof.

CarlottaVance

I wonder if anyone in the EU did a "cost/benefit" analysis:

https://twitter.com/IanWishart/status/1356919494229303297?s=20

MattW

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Dura_Ace

Yorkcity said:

I think most commentators and on here are underestimating the economic tsunami coming our way.
Any government would be effected by it , and how it handles the debt once the pandemic is eventually under control.

It's pretty obvious how they are going to handle it; keep borrowing and let inflation rip.

What are the other options?

FrancisUrquhart

Floater said:

Words fail

https://twitter.com/lookner/status/1356782078579396609

A South Carolina hotel hosted a 500-person rave Saturday that had been approved by state regulators despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

Gallowgate

Dura_Ace said:

Yorkcity said:

I think most commentators and on here are underestimating the economic tsunami coming our way.
Any government would be effected by it , and how it handles the debt once the pandemic is eventually under control.

It's pretty obvious how they are going to handle it; keep borrowing and let inflation rip.

What are the other options?

I have only seen very low inflation throughout my entire adult life. To be honest I'm quite fearful of it.

glw

CarlottaVance said:

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale

What's really stupid about this is that the data strongly suggests that for AZ at least you should be doing the single dose and waiting a long interval for the second. It would be less efficient and less beneficial to double dose quickly. This may also be true for the other vaccines. So his measure of success will likely turn out to favour countries that ultimately get the least benefit from using their vaccines effectively. Success = failure.

noneoftheabove

CarlottaVance said:

Dido of Carnage, who was surprised reopening schools increased spread, now blindsided by "viruses mutate".....

https://twitter.com/breeallegretti/status/1356904251864330240?s=20

From the November Select committee when repeatedly pressed on testing demand:

"Chair: Carol’s question was, is there a particular time that you are looking forward at, to anticipate a need for a surge?
Baroness Harding: I defer to the clinical experts on that rather than think that it is my job to know the answer to that question."

--------

She does not think it is her job to know when the increases for testing were likely to happen. Absolutely fine to defer to the experts as to when the demand might be, nonsensical that you can be responsible for testing and have no interest or understanding of what the demand will be.

CarlottaVance

https://twitter.com/remkorteweg/status/1356918461851705346?s=20

FrancisUrquhart

glw said:

CarlottaVance said:

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale

What's really stupid about this is that the data strongly suggests that for AZ at least you should be doing the single dose and waiting a long interval for the second. It would be less efficient and less beneficial to double dose quickly. This may also be true for the other vaccines. So his measure of success will likely turn out to favour countries that ultimately get the least benefit from using their vaccines effectively. Success = failure.

Pseudo-science....

Pulpstar

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

eek

Dura_Ace said:

Yorkcity said:

I think most commentators and on here are underestimating the economic tsunami coming our way.
Any government would be effected by it , and how it handles the debt once the pandemic is eventually under control.

It's pretty obvious how they are going to handle it; keep borrowing and let inflation rip.

What are the other options?

None - and it's hopefully a freak one off occurrence so there is little point trying to redesign the economy to pay for it.

The Treasury has enough problems working out where to get lost Business Rates revenue from now the High Street is dead and offices aren't as necessary as they were a year ago.

FrancisUrquhart

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

Just like haggling for that carpet....

Roger

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

BluestBlue

CarlottaVance said:

On Labour & patriotism:

https://twitter.com/TomMcTague/status/1356911825980432384?s=20

I think the problem some on the left have is they reject "the nation" as "the collective".

That's it exactly - their spiritual collective is the world, and their home nation merely a small, embarrassing nuisance.

A perfect attitude for winning seats in the World Parliament (which, er, doesn't exist) and losing them in the UK Parliament (which does).

MarqueeMark

People might want to say that "Brexit was a botched job", complain about NI borders in the sea, inability to get fresh fish or strawberries or mangoes. But what might have been politically awkward for Boris has been obscured by the EU. They are now standing in front of him with a half-arsed vaccine strategy and a tenth-arsed blame strategy that just soaks up those arrows shot at him.

MaxPB

Totally agree Mike.

Some advanced data from the publicly available UK dataset:

First wave:
Older cohorts - 40% drop in peak hospitalisation rate after 20 days.
Younger cohorts - 60% drop in peak hospitalisation rate after 20 days.

Second wave:
Older cohorts - 34% drop in peak hospitalisation rate after 20 days.
Younger cohorts - 28% drop in peak hospitalisation rate after 20 days.

The younger cohorts are coming down almost exactly as expected on the basis of Kent COVID having a 50% higher transmission rate. If older people were following the same reduction we'd have seen a reduction of just 13-16% in the hospitalisation rate by now, we actually have a 34% drop. Vaccines are making a huge difference and in the next two weeks it should become even clearer as the hospitalisation rate for old people drops even faster.

Theuniondivvie

Floater said:

Words fail

https://twitter.com/lookner/status/1356782078579396609

Not for the first time.

CarlottaVance

noneoftheabove said:

CarlottaVance said:

Dido of Carnage, who was surprised reopening schools increased spread, now blindsided by "viruses mutate".....

https://twitter.com/breeallegretti/status/1356904251864330240?s=20

From the November Select committee when repeatedly pressed on testing demand:

"Chair: Carol’s question was, is there a particular time that you are looking forward at, to anticipate a need for a surge?
Baroness Harding: I defer to the clinical experts on that rather than think that it is my job to know the answer to that question."

--------

She does not think it is her job to know when the increases for testing were likely to happen. Absolutely fine to defer to the experts as to when the demand might be, nonsensical that you can be responsible for testing and have no interest or understanding of what the demand will be.

It just goes to show she wasn't asking the right questions. One Govt appointee has been a spectacular success, the other a dud.

HYUFD

Biden likely to keep US troops in Afghanistan beyond the May withdrawal deadline initially agreed between the Trump administration and the Taliban

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-admin-us-troops-afghanistan-amid-escalating-violence/story?id=75547504&cid=social_twitter_abcn

Malmesbury

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

It comes back to being prepared to be rude to some communities/beliefs - in the interest of society as a whole.

We are going to have fun in the next year - companies will start demanding COVID vaccinations, as condition of employment. People will be arguing in court this is against their rights

CarlottaVance

Oh dear.....

https://twitter.com/gorbalsgoebbels/status/1356921629792759810?s=20

FrancisUrquhart

Malmesbury said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

It comes back to being prepared to be rude to some communities/beliefs - in the interest of society as a whole.

We are going to have fun in the next year - companies will start demanding COVID vaccinations, as condition of employment. People will be arguing in court this is against their rights

NHS and care home workers, we just can't have them not being vaccinated.

HYUFD

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

No major surprise

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-400-wedding-stamford-hill-covid-rules-b900761.html

OldKingCole

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

TBH, you'd think that as a qualified medic she'd know better.

algarkirk

Stark_Dawning said:

Scott_xP said:

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

Boris's deal is looking very much like a botched job. When superman Matt Hancock eventually takes over - for it will surely be he! - then he'll need to use his fastidious eye for detail, uncanny powers of prognostication and inspiring man management to forge something more optimal. The rest of us can only wait for that platinum dawn.

Obviously there is no such thing as a solution, since all the solutions which involve playing nicely are rejected by enough people.

But just as the Brexit Referendum required most of us to make a forced choice between leave and remain, neither of which most wanted as most wanted a reformed EU, perhaps NI needs to have a forced choice and to grow up. Stage one of the forced choice would be to grant NI independent status with HM as head of state but being neither in UK or RI, and then for NI and no-one else to determine its future. The UN can have a mandate to protect its peace. Can the NI possibly grow up until it learns, like a stroppy 20 something, to leave home, get a job and make tough choices without relying on mum and dad?

FrancisUrquhart

OldKingCole said:

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

TBH, you'd think that as a qualified medic she'd know better.

Medic != Any idea about procurement

Bit like saying sailors know how to go about doing deals for aircraft carriers.

Scott_xP

Stark_Dawning said:

Boris's deal is looking very much like a botched job. When superman Matt Hancock eventually takes over - for it will surely be he! - then he'll need to use his fastidious eye for detail, uncanny powers of prognostication and inspiring man management to forge something more optimal. The rest of us can only wait for that platinum dawn.

https://twitter.com/DPhinnemore/status/1356740342628900865

Andy_JS

Of course you can be left-wing and patriotic. Jim Callaghan, Harold Wilson, Clement Atlee, George Orwell, etc.

CarlottaVance

FrancisUrquhart said:

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

Just like haggling for that carpet....

As someone pointed out, the EU Commission are administrators, not "a government". A government can be sacked in its entirety by its electorate - their jobs are always on the line. Administrators usually just get reassigned, or promoted upwards (yes UvdL, I'm looking at you).

Slackbladder

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

Theuniondivvie

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

BluestBlue

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

Bad move, Brittas!

Andy_JS

Pulpstar said:

CarlottaVance said:

I see "fully vaccinated" (2 doses) is Mr Keating's preferred metric to stop the UK coming top of showing vaccine roll out across Europe.

I expect that metric to last until the UK starts doing second doses at scale.....

https://twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1356872414114828288?s=20

I'm fine with him using that metric, as you say - will he be in a few weeks & months ?

The only metric he cares about is being as anti-British as possible.

Philip_Thompson

OldKingCole said:

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

TBH, you'd think that as a qualified medic she'd know better.

I'm not sure why she doesn't just plagiarise Boris's vaccine homework.

She should be good at that.

Nigelb

Gallowgate said:

Dura_Ace said:

Yorkcity said:

I think most commentators and on here are underestimating the economic tsunami coming our way.
Any government would be effected by it , and how it handles the debt once the pandemic is eventually under control.

It's pretty obvious how they are going to handle it; keep borrowing and let inflation rip.

What are the other options?

I have only seen very low inflation throughout my entire adult life. To be honest I'm quite fearful of it.

...and after a decade of it wiping out your savings, you get Mrs.T.

BluestBlue

Andy_JS said:

Of course you can be left-wing and patriotic. Jim Callaghan, Harold Wilson, Clement Atlee, George Orwell, etc.

Telling that one has to reach for figures from 40, 50, and 80 years ago...

Big_G_NorthWales

CarlottaVance said:

https://twitter.com/HarryYorke1/status/1356912955716173825?s=20

Never mind, Scott will post it is all our fault

MattW

Theuniondivvie said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

I think there conclusions are too timid there. It has to do with a pattern of larger, extended families and women being out and about less than men.

A comparison with say orthodox Islamic families in Bradford may be instructive.

Dura_Ace

HYUFD said:

Biden likely to keep US troops in Afghanistan beyond the May withdrawal deadline initially agreed between the Trump administration and the Taliban

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-admin-us-troops-afghanistan-amid-escalating-violence/story?id=75547504&cid=social_twitter_abcn

They've only been there twenty years. I'm sure another couple of decades will crack it.

Stuartinromford

algarkirk said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Scott_xP said:

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

Boris's deal is looking very much like a botched job. When superman Matt Hancock eventually takes over - for it will surely be he! - then he'll need to use his fastidious eye for detail, uncanny powers of prognostication and inspiring man management to forge something more optimal. The rest of us can only wait for that platinum dawn.

Obviously there is no such thing as a solution, since all the solutions which involve playing nicely are rejected by enough people.

But just as the Brexit Referendum required most of us to make a forced choice between leave and remain, neither of which most wanted as most wanted a reformed EU, perhaps NI needs to have a forced choice and to grow up. Stage one of the forced choice would be to grant NI independent status with HM as head of state but being neither in UK or RI, and then for NI and no-one else to determine its future. The UN can have a mandate to protect its peace. Can the NI possibly grow up until it learns, like a stroppy 20 something, to leave home, get a job and make tough choices without relying on mum and dad?

Trouble is that fails the "Boris doesn't want to go down in history as breaking up the Union" test. Only with more people prepared to use guns and bombs than in Scotland.

Basically, it's a right pickle and no mistaking, missus.

Theuniondivvie

Nigelb said:

Gallowgate said:

Dura_Ace said:

Yorkcity said:

I think most commentators and on here are underestimating the economic tsunami coming our way.
Any government would be effected by it , and how it handles the debt once the pandemic is eventually under control.

It's pretty obvious how they are going to handle it; keep borrowing and let inflation rip.

What are the other options?

I have only seen very low inflation throughout my entire adult life. To be honest I'm quite fearful of it.

...and after a decade of it wiping out your savings, you get Mrs.T.

A EUrophile and eco warrior? Oh well, light at the end of the tunnel.

Nigelb

CarlottaVance said:

noneoftheabove said:

CarlottaVance said:

Dido of Carnage, who was surprised reopening schools increased spread, now blindsided by "viruses mutate".....

https://twitter.com/breeallegretti/status/1356904251864330240?s=20

From the November Select committee when repeatedly pressed on testing demand:

"Chair: Carol’s question was, is there a particular time that you are looking forward at, to anticipate a need for a surge?
Baroness Harding: I defer to the clinical experts on that rather than think that it is my job to know the answer to that question."

--------

She does not think it is her job to know when the increases for testing were likely to happen. Absolutely fine to defer to the experts as to when the demand might be, nonsensical that you can be responsible for testing and have no interest or understanding of what the demand will be.

It just goes to show she wasn't asking the right questions. One Govt appointee has been a spectacular success, the other a dud.

Both were 'well connected'.
One had relevant expertise; the other didn't.

Dura_Ace

FrancisUrquhart said:

Bit like saying sailors know how to go about doing deals for aircraft carriers.

It's a good job we left it to the experts: 7 years behind schedule and 50% over budget.

FrancisUrquhart

Captain Sir Tom Moore's family have revealed he only tested positive for coronavirus after his ten-day stay in hospital being treated for pneumonia.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9218431/Captain-Sir-Tom-Moore-tested-negative-coronavirus-testing-positive-stay-hospital.html

Endillion

Theuniondivvie said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

Some synagogues are still, unbelievably, holding regular services. Mine stayed open for a bit during lockdown but then shut after Sadiq Khan led a push to close all places of worship (one of the few things he's ever done I can unconditionally support).

Worth noting that the report Roger links to relates to (as far as I can tell) the ultra-orthodox community specifically, which is a fairly small and self-contained part of the wider community. Although it's pretty clear that the findings are applicable to both, albeit to differing extents.

Cyclefree

Malmesbury said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

It comes back to being prepared to be rude to some communities/beliefs - in the interest of society as a whole.

We are going to have fun in the next year - companies will start demanding COVID vaccinations, as condition of employment. People will be arguing in court this is against their rights

I really hope this sort of nonsense is stopped. It is no more a breach of their rights than it is to expect someone handling food to take a course in food safety and hygiene and to wash their hands regularly, not come into work if they are ill etc.

Vaccination is not against anyone's beliefs and if someone does not want to have one then they need to accept the consequences for themselves of their actions. Not seek to pass those consequences onto others.

The Orthodox Jewish community is behaving disgracefully in flouting the regulations in this way. I really don't see why they should be treated as exempt from the rules or their enforcement.

Roger

Theuniondivvie said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

I don't know the answer to that but many families will have twelve children or more and social distancing will be non existent. Many of course have the quaint belief that him upstairs will look after them which is another problem.

Scott_xP

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Never mind, Scott will post it is all our fault

Who do you think wrote Article 16?

It only exists because of Brexit.

Who do you blame for that?

Casino_Royale

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

That's going to be a big big problem for him.

Cyclefree

OldKingCole said:

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

TBH, you'd think that as a qualified medic she'd know better.

Andrew Wakefield was once a qualified medic. Doctors are not immune from being stupid. And dangerous.

Nigelb

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

Shame she ignored the "every day matters" bit.
In the cost benefit analysis for vaccines, rapid results means trillions of dollars, globally.
And you can vaccinate the entire globe for a few tens of billions.

Haggling was utterly pointless.

Casino_Royale

On topic, the EU shat the bed. They've left themselves wide open on the NI protocol as a result, and I suspect they know it.

The solution (long-term) will have to be an SPS arrangement/derogation for *the whole* of the British Isles.

It makes no sense to have free movement of people in the CTA, but no free movement of animals and plants, when the British/Irish farming system is effectively one and has all the same standards and rules anyway.

tlg86

Casino_Royale said:

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

That's going to be a big big problem for him.

I don't think so. The key thing is he says "used to" - he just needs to say clearly how much respect he has for Her Maj and that it serves the country well etc. etc.

algarkirk

Stuartinromford said:

algarkirk said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Scott_xP said:

TAKE BACK CONTROL...

https://twitter.com/lisaocarroll/status/1356911827721080838

Boris's deal is looking very much like a botched job. When superman Matt Hancock eventually takes over - for it will surely be he! - then he'll need to use his fastidious eye for detail, uncanny powers of prognostication and inspiring man management to forge something more optimal. The rest of us can only wait for that platinum dawn.

Obviously there is no such thing as a solution, since all the solutions which involve playing nicely are rejected by enough people.

But just as the Brexit Referendum required most of us to make a forced choice between leave and remain, neither of which most wanted as most wanted a reformed EU, perhaps NI needs to have a forced choice and to grow up. Stage one of the forced choice would be to grant NI independent status with HM as head of state but being neither in UK or RI, and then for NI and no-one else to determine its future. The UN can have a mandate to protect its peace. Can the NI possibly grow up until it learns, like a stroppy 20 something, to leave home, get a job and make tough choices without relying on mum and dad?

Trouble is that fails the "Boris doesn't want to go down in history as breaking up the Union" test. Only with more people prepared to use guns and bombs than in Scotland.

Basically, it's a right pickle and no mistaking, missus.

I'm sure this is right. But it fails fewer tests than most, including status quo, which fails every bit of logic. And the truth is in most of England, Wales and even Scotland there is massive indifference about the legal status of NI; looking at a map suggests to most people that if Scottish independence is possible and feasible then NI either being independent or reunified with the island of Ireland must be also. The only thing truly in the way is religious bigotry and violent threat. The passage of time is dealing with the first, and the UN should deal with the second.

Morris_Dancer

How long ago did Starmer make those comments?

Cyclefree

FrancisUrquhart said:

Captain Sir Tom Moore's family have revealed he only tested positive for coronavirus after his ten-day stay in hospital being treated for pneumonia.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9218431/Captain-Sir-Tom-Moore-tested-negative-coronavirus-testing-positive-stay-hospital.html

I thought the regulations prevented foreign holidays. You could not even leave a Tier 4 area.

Don't care about the Captain - can quite understand why a free holiday at age 100 would appeal. But as a more general point, were foreign holidays permitted?

Slackbladder

Morris_Dancer said:

How long ago did Starmer make those comments?

2005

CarlottaVance

"A nest of singing birds"

https://twitter.com/joannaccherry/status/1356721676021608449?s=20

MaxPB

Nigelb said:

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

Shame she ignored the "every day matters" bit.
In the cost benefit analysis for vaccines, rapid results means trillions of dollars, globally.
And you can vaccinate the entire globe for a few tens of billions.

Haggling was utterly pointless.

I'd suggest it was worse than pointless, it's resulting in a vaccine shortage and political game playing by politicians to reduce demand for them.

The latest AZ study from last night is absolutely incredible and it was done in the background of the Brazil variant for around half the cohort so to come out at 82% efficacy against any symptoms, a two thirds reduction in infection and a 100% reduction in severe symptoms, hospitalisation and death is the best news we've had since the start of this. A $4 vaccine will save millions of lives.

Malmesbury

Endillion said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

Some synagogues are still, unbelievably, holding regular services. Mine stayed open for a bit during lockdown but then shut after Sadiq Khan led a push to close all places of worship (one of the few things he's ever done I can unconditionally support).

Worth noting that the report Roger links to relates to (as far as I can tell) the ultra-orthodox community specifically, which is a fairly small and self-contained part of the wider community. Although it's pretty clear that the findings are applicable to both, albeit to differing extents.

Most of the err... mainstream Synagogues shut. They certainly stopped services.

The Ultra Ultra You Bet We are More Ultra types glory in their resistance to... reality pretty much.

It's worth pointing out that in Judaism, as in Islam, there are ancient, ancient rulings in the scholarship that when it comes to clash between religion rules and preserving life, preserving life should come first.

So, ironically, the hard core characters are breaking the rules here.

Personal note : I'm half Jewish.

Philip_Thompson

Casino_Royale said:

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

That's going to be a big big problem for him.

TSE and I still advocate it.

Liz Truss used to advocate it too.

But yes it will be a bigger issue for him. Because he already has a patriotism issue and frankly Liz Truss does not.

When you lose the benefit of the doubt it becomes harder to avoid tough questions.

RobD

Cyclefree said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Captain Sir Tom Moore's family have revealed he only tested positive for coronavirus after his ten-day stay in hospital being treated for pneumonia.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9218431/Captain-Sir-Tom-Moore-tested-negative-coronavirus-testing-positive-stay-hospital.html

I thought the regulations prevented foreign holidays. You could not even leave a Tier 4 area.

Don't care about the Captain - can quite understand why a free holiday at age 100 would appeal. But as a more general point, were foreign holidays permitted?

When he went, yes.

FrancisUrquhart

I doubt that one comment will do Starmer much harm, but we do know his current image is being carefully crafted, unlike Jezza willing to say things that previously he would never as his eye is on the prize of winning, not sticking to appearing idealogically pure.

Roger

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

I wonder why Guido uses such an unattractive and old fashioned typeface? I keep wondering whether its to match the ugliness of his content but surely that would be too subtle for him?

Alistair

https://twitter.com/LloydAMelville/status/1356651266290700288

And the tables

https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/pdqzw72qoe/InternalResults_Favourabilitty_210125.pdf

Casino_Royale

tlg86 said:

Casino_Royale said:

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

That's going to be a big big problem for him.

I don't think so. The key thing is he says "used to" - he just needs to say clearly how much respect he has for Her Maj and that it serves the country well etc. etc.

Nah, you can't row back from that. It's only sixteen years ago. He was a senior QC and comfortably into his forties by then - he wasn't a trendy student. And it's clear from his smile and body language he believes it.

Of course, he will try - but he won't be believed.

It's not a mistake Blair (or even Brown) would have ever made.

RobD

MaxPB said:

Nigelb said:

Pulpstar said:

MattW said:

Ooooh. Yes it was to prove the EC was a paragon.

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1273169395515351040

Telling comment, "neccessary at a good price". Like buying widgets....

Shame she ignored the "every day matters" bit.
In the cost benefit analysis for vaccines, rapid results means trillions of dollars, globally.
And you can vaccinate the entire globe for a few tens of billions.

Haggling was utterly pointless.

I'd suggest it was worse than pointless, it's resulting in a vaccine shortage and political game playing by politicians to reduce demand for them.

The latest AZ study from last night is absolutely incredible and it was done in the background of the Brazil variant for around half the cohort so to come out at 82% efficacy against any symptoms, a two thirds reduction in infection and a 100% reduction in severe symptoms, hospitalisation and death is the best news we've had since the start of this. A $4 vaccine will save millions of lives.

Unless you are French, of course.

Big_G_NorthWales

Roger said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

I don't know the answer to that but many families will have twelve children or more and social distancing will be non existent. Many of course have the quaint belief that him upstairs will look after them which is another problem.

Youi really are unpleasant.

What gives you the right to trash a religions views, other than arrogance and intolerance of other peoples views

If they want go believe in their God who are you to make snide remarks about something they hold dear

I am not Jewish and have no reason to defend them but it tires me when I see such prejudice

MattW

Casino_Royale said:

tlg86 said:

Casino_Royale said:

Slackbladder said:

https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1356923321342918658

oops

That's going to be a big big problem for him.

I don't think so. The key thing is he says "used to" - he just needs to say clearly how much respect he has for Her Maj and that it serves the country well etc. etc.

Nah, you can't row back from that. It's only sixteen years ago. He was a senior QC and comfortably into his forties by then - he wasn't a trendy student. And it's clear from his smile and body language he believes it.

Of course, he will try - but he won't be believed.

It's not a mistake Blair (or even Brown) would have ever made.

It was well-dug-out by someone !

Theuniondivvie

Endillion said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Roger said:

Not a great time to be an Orthodox Jew in London. The worst covid figures in the world

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-orthodox-jews-london-b1796482.html

Not good. Forgive my ignorance but do you know if synagogues are still holding services?

This is grim in the circumstances, but also oddly expressed. Time to become a Christian man...

'Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors, data from Public Health England shows that Jewish men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than Christian men in the UK.'

Some synagogues are still, unbelievably, holding regular services. Mine stayed open for a bit during lockdown but then shut after Sadiq Khan led a push to close all places of worship (one of the few things he's ever done I can unconditionally support).

Worth noting that the report Roger links to relates to (as far as I can tell) the ultra-orthodox community specifically, which is a fairly small and self-contained part of the wider community. Although it's pretty clear that the findings are applicable to both, albeit to differing extents.

Some church 'leaders' (whatever that means) are taking the Scottish government to court for not allowing any church services. One of them was interviewed on the radio on Sunday and the air of messianic entitlement was gobsmacking:

In this time of crisis coming together and witnessing the good news of Jesus is the only way we can bring redemption to the world (I paraphrase but only in detail not intent).

Slackbladder

Alistair said:

https://twitter.com/LloydAMelville/status/1356651266290700288

And the tables

https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/pdqzw72qoe/InternalResults_Favourabilitty_210125.pdf

The lowest circle of hell is reserved for traitors (of the SNP and sainted Nikki).