Paywalled. What did he have a moan about with Mr J, please?
Mr Lewis, known in Downing Street as “Sonic”, is said by colleagues to have wanted “a clean slate” and to build a new team. A Vote Leave veteran, he is seen as having strong campaigning credentials although he is not known for any particular expertise in Scottish politics. He threatened to resign over the departure of Mr Johnson’s former senior adviser Dominic Cummings in November, but was persuaded by the prime minister to stay in Number 10.
“Oliver is good at this stuff — he knows this can’t just be about brute economics,” said one colleague. “It’s about passion, identity and about promoting the idea that you can be proud to be Scottish and British.”
The future of the UK has become a central challenge for Mr Johnson, after opinion polls have suggested sustained support for Scottish independence. Mr Lewis’s role will be central to Number 10’s efforts to counter the Scottish National Party.
According to officials with knowledge of the dispute, Mr Graham was unhappy with both his role and Number 10’s strategy for the union. “There was a lack of faith in letting him do what he needed to do. A lot of his efforts were frustrated by other people in the building,” one said.
One Scottish Tory said: “Luke was the only Scottish person in there, it’s a big shame he’s gone and speaks to their total lack of a strategy on how to deal with the SNP.”
Mr Graham will now move to Scotland to assist the Scottish Tory party’s campaign for May’s Holyrood elections.
Another Whitehall official said: “Luke Graham has improved the focus of the government on delivering for Scotland and all parts of the UK and has helped ensure communications focused on demonstrating the practical value of the union to people in all parts of the country.”
But others in Number 10 put the blame on Mr Graham for his exit. “Luke had gradually pissed off more and more people. He didn’t endear himself to other spads [special advisers], ministers or civil servants. No one was weeping to see him go,” one government official said.
The problem with this Union unit is TOO MANY BLOODY JOCKS!
They've had some kind of clearance? Seems counterproductive.
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
On thread, well, I guess I keep a red passport when I renew in 2029. Salmond is a liability of course, and it is not a given that separation happens, especially not with the same economic illiteracy of a "sterling" currency that the SNP seems determined to inflict on us, yet TBH, unless England turns against the Tories, it is hard to see the Union continuing at all.
The problem is not the powers of Holyrood, it is the powers of Westminster and Whitehall. So, when we start to talk about those problems, then maybe I´ll believe in a common future. The problem is changing London, not Edinburgh.
The decision is being taken against the advice? Citation please.
HMG seems to have got it right, AND followed the science, with one dose ofOxfordAZ - tho the age thing is still a concern, and now Switzerland have said they won't approve it, which adds to the doubts. The Swiss have no agenda against the UK/AZ
I am much less convinced HMG got it right with Pfizer
Yes, but it wasn't against the advice the government received from its scientists. It was a gamble, and not what Pfizer recommended, but the implication of the post was that Tory politicians were being reckless in a gamble - indeed, that was given as a reason why they should not be in office - when in fact it was a calculated risk taken with the advice of its scientific advisers, with pretty clear reasoning behind it. That is not the same thing at all.
A different government might have made a different call, though I see no evidence of that from what other parties are saying, but there's no reason to believe the advice given to government would have been different.
I agree. I'm just saying there was plenty of expert science on both sides of the argument - about delaying the 2nd dose. The government took a calculated risk in the middle of a grave crisis, and went for one dose and a delay.
We shall soon see if that risk has paid off as well as their vaccine procurement.
Largescale second doses for Pfizer came to an end about 10th January.
So over three weeks ago.
If we're going to hear "got infected because didn't receive second Pfizer dose" stories then they're going to happen very soon.
I'm surprised there haven't been some already.
We discussed this yesterday. There are some anecdata
Paywalled. What did he have a moan about with Mr J, please?
Mr Lewis, known in Downing Street as “Sonic”, is said by colleagues to have wanted “a clean slate” and to build a new team. A Vote Leave veteran, he is seen as having strong campaigning credentials although he is not known for any particular expertise in Scottish politics. He threatened to resign over the departure of Mr Johnson’s former senior adviser Dominic Cummings in November, but was persuaded by the prime minister to stay in Number 10.
“Oliver is good at this stuff — he knows this can’t just be about brute economics,” said one colleague. “It’s about passion, identity and about promoting the idea that you can be proud to be Scottish and British.”
The future of the UK has become a central challenge for Mr Johnson, after opinion polls have suggested sustained support for Scottish independence. Mr Lewis’s role will be central to Number 10’s efforts to counter the Scottish National Party.
According to officials with knowledge of the dispute, Mr Graham was unhappy with both his role and Number 10’s strategy for the union. “There was a lack of faith in letting him do what he needed to do. A lot of his efforts were frustrated by other people in the building,” one said.
One Scottish Tory said: “Luke was the only Scottish person in there, it’s a big shame he’s gone and speaks to their total lack of a strategy on how to deal with the SNP.”
Mr Graham will now move to Scotland to assist the Scottish Tory party’s campaign for May’s Holyrood elections.
Another Whitehall official said: “Luke Graham has improved the focus of the government on delivering for Scotland and all parts of the UK and has helped ensure communications focused on demonstrating the practical value of the union to people in all parts of the country.”
But others in Number 10 put the blame on Mr Graham for his exit. “Luke had gradually pissed off more and more people. He didn’t endear himself to other spads [special advisers], ministers or civil servants. No one was weeping to see him go,” one government official said.
The problem with this Union unit is TOO MANY BLOODY JOCKS!
This is obviously NOT GOOD at all; an eminently mockable situation - but it's not enough to demonstrate 'the practical value of the Union'. It's not a bad thing to do, but it's not enough - we all know that. Hopefully 'Sonic' builds a strong team (of Scottish people) and we see some passion for the Union and for Scotland's place in it coming through in UK Government communications.
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
Be interesting to know what info the UK is giving out. I think my parents got some sort of leaflet, but no idea if it refers to time after jab, they didn't seem especially clued up on how long before any real immunity kicks in.
I can tell you what my husband received because he had his first jab today (hallelujah!)
Two leaflets - a very boring looking black and white thing that resembles the kind of flyer that one finds neatly folded up inside any packet of tablets, and a more user-friendly looking leaflet with two friendly looking people of more mature years smiling on the front.
I scanned the boring looking leaflet and noticed that it contained an instruction to make sure you get your second jab, but I couldn't be arsed to go through the whole thing properly. The colourful leaflet with the older people only says you should plan to attend a second appointment between 3 and 12 weeks after the first, that it's important to have two doses of the same vaccine, and to keep the record card that you get given with the first vaccine safe (presumably so that the second vaccinator can tell what you've had without needing to resort to searching records.)
Separately to the leaflet, of course, patients will also be getting information directly at the vaccination centre - husband was told that his second appointment would be in 12 weeks' time and he would be contacted again to arrange it nearer to that time.*
The colourful leaflet also reminds people that it may take a week or two to build some protection, but vaccines are in any event never completely effective so people should continue to take precautions to avoid infection. It also has another reminder at the end to keep doing the whole hands face space thing.
*EDIT: Husband got his jab at the local GP; my Dad was invited to go to a mass vaccination centre instead, and was therefore invited to book the date for his second appointment at the same time as the first.
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
On thread, well, I guess I keep a red passport when I renew in 2029. Salmond is a liability of course, and it is not a given that separation happens, especially not with the same economic illiteracy of a "sterling" currency that the SNP seems determined to inflict on us, yet TBH, unless England turns against the Tories, it is hard to see the Union continuing at all.
The problem is not the powers of Holyrood, it is the powers of Westminster and Whitehall. So, when we start to talk about those problems, then maybe I´ll believe in a common future. The problem is changing London, not Edinburgh.
The decision is being taken against the advice? Citation please.
HMG seems to have got it right, AND followed the science, with one dose ofOxfordAZ - tho the age thing is still a concern, and now Switzerland have said they won't approve it, which adds to the doubts. The Swiss have no agenda against the UK/AZ
I am much less convinced HMG got it right with Pfizer
Yes, but it wasn't against the advice the government received from its scientists. It was a gamble, and not what Pfizer recommended, but the implication of the post was that Tory politicians were being reckless in a gamble - indeed, that was given as a reason why they should not be in office - when in fact it was a calculated risk taken with the advice of its scientific advisers, with pretty clear reasoning behind it. That is not the same thing at all.
A different government might have made a different call, though I see no evidence of that from what other parties are saying, but there's no reason to believe the advice given to government would have been different.
I agree. I'm just saying there was plenty of expert science on both sides of the argument - about delaying the 2nd dose. The government took a calculated risk in the middle of a grave crisis, and went for one dose and a delay.
We shall soon see if that risk has paid off as well as their vaccine procurement.
Largescale second doses for Pfizer came to an end about 10th January.
So over three weeks ago.
If we're going to hear "got infected because didn't receive second Pfizer dose" stories then they're going to happen very soon.
I'm surprised there haven't been some already.
We discussed this yesterday. There are some anecdata
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
The other day a friend of mine, who is EXTREMELY well informed on politics, the kind of guy who can give you the exact turnout in the 1997 GE, or name the Shadow Defence Secretary, or quote the latest polling on Welsh independence, asked me: "who is the Lib Dem leader?"
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
On thread, well, I guess I keep a red passport when I renew in 2029. Salmond is a liability of course, and it is not a given that separation happens, especially not with the same economic illiteracy of a "sterling" currency that the SNP seems determined to inflict on us, yet TBH, unless England turns against the Tories, it is hard to see the Union continuing at all.
The problem is not the powers of Holyrood, it is the powers of Westminster and Whitehall. So, when we start to talk about those problems, then maybe I´ll believe in a common future. The problem is changing London, not Edinburgh.
The decision is being taken against the advice? Citation please.
HMG seems to have got it right, AND followed the science, with one dose ofOxfordAZ - tho the age thing is still a concern, and now Switzerland have said they won't approve it, which adds to the doubts. The Swiss have no agenda against the UK/AZ
I am much less convinced HMG got it right with Pfizer
Yes, but it wasn't against the advice the government received from its scientists. It was a gamble, and not what Pfizer recommended, but the implication of the post was that Tory politicians were being reckless in a gamble - indeed, that was given as a reason why they should not be in office - when in fact it was a calculated risk taken with the advice of its scientific advisers, with pretty clear reasoning behind it. That is not the same thing at all.
A different government might have made a different call, though I see no evidence of that from what other parties are saying, but there's no reason to believe the advice given to government would have been different.
I agree. I'm just saying there was plenty of expert science on both sides of the argument - about delaying the 2nd dose. The government took a calculated risk in the middle of a grave crisis, and went for one dose and a delay.
We shall soon see if that risk has paid off as well as their vaccine procurement.
Largescale second doses for Pfizer came to an end about 10th January.
So over three weeks ago.
If we're going to hear "got infected because didn't receive second Pfizer dose" stories then they're going to happen very soon.
I'm surprised there haven't been some already.
We discussed this yesterday. There are some anecdata
The ones you pasted certainly weren't.
They were exactly anecdata. Not hard empirical evidence BUT they came from a doctor specialising in old people.
At the time I put them in context. I did not say I he was right, by any means, I said his opinion was worth hearing, which it was
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
The other day a friend of mine, who is EXTREMELY well informed on politics, the kind of guy who can give you the exact turnout in the 1997 GE, or name the Shadow Defence Secretary, or quote the latest polling on Welsh independence, asked me: "who is the Lib Dem leader?"
I think it's a deliberate ploy to remain invisible until close to the election, then emerge as the fresh 'new' face of a new politics just in time for the poll. He knows that we all get tired of politicians and will be fully fed up with Johnson and Starmer by then.
Plus, from recent Lib Dem experience with Swinson that having a leader too long can make them seem really annoying (more than a week or two in her case)
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
On thread, well, I guess I keep a red passport when I renew in 2029. Salmond is a liability of course, and it is not a given that separation happens, especially not with the same economic illiteracy of a "sterling" currency that the SNP seems determined to inflict on us, yet TBH, unless England turns against the Tories, it is hard to see the Union continuing at all.
The problem is not the powers of Holyrood, it is the powers of Westminster and Whitehall. So, when we start to talk about those problems, then maybe I´ll believe in a common future. The problem is changing London, not Edinburgh.
The decision is being taken against the advice? Citation please.
HMG seems to have got it right, AND followed the science, with one dose ofOxfordAZ - tho the age thing is still a concern, and now Switzerland have said they won't approve it, which adds to the doubts. The Swiss have no agenda against the UK/AZ
I am much less convinced HMG got it right with Pfizer
Yes, but it wasn't against the advice the government received from its scientists. It was a gamble, and not what Pfizer recommended, but the implication of the post was that Tory politicians were being reckless in a gamble - indeed, that was given as a reason why they should not be in office - when in fact it was a calculated risk taken with the advice of its scientific advisers, with pretty clear reasoning behind it. That is not the same thing at all.
A different government might have made a different call, though I see no evidence of that from what other parties are saying, but there's no reason to believe the advice given to government would have been different.
I agree. I'm just saying there was plenty of expert science on both sides of the argument - about delaying the 2nd dose. The government took a calculated risk in the middle of a grave crisis, and went for one dose and a delay.
We shall soon see if that risk has paid off as well as their vaccine procurement.
Largescale second doses for Pfizer came to an end about 10th January.
So over three weeks ago.
If we're going to hear "got infected because didn't receive second Pfizer dose" stories then they're going to happen very soon.
I'm surprised there haven't been some already.
We discussed this yesterday. There are some anecdata
Are we really back to the Pfizer 12-week policy? I mean FFS find some new material, we have been over this fucking ENDLESSLY
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
On thread, well, I guess I keep a red passport when I renew in 2029. Salmond is a liability of course, and it is not a given that separation happens, especially not with the same economic illiteracy of a "sterling" currency that the SNP seems determined to inflict on us, yet TBH, unless England turns against the Tories, it is hard to see the Union continuing at all.
The problem is not the powers of Holyrood, it is the powers of Westminster and Whitehall. So, when we start to talk about those problems, then maybe I´ll believe in a common future. The problem is changing London, not Edinburgh.
The decision is being taken against the advice? Citation please.
HMG seems to have got it right, AND followed the science, with one dose ofOxfordAZ - tho the age thing is still a concern, and now Switzerland have said they won't approve it, which adds to the doubts. The Swiss have no agenda against the UK/AZ
I am much less convinced HMG got it right with Pfizer
Yes, but it wasn't against the advice the government received from its scientists. It was a gamble, and not what Pfizer recommended, but the implication of the post was that Tory politicians were being reckless in a gamble - indeed, that was given as a reason why they should not be in office - when in fact it was a calculated risk taken with the advice of its scientific advisers, with pretty clear reasoning behind it. That is not the same thing at all.
A different government might have made a different call, though I see no evidence of that from what other parties are saying, but there's no reason to believe the advice given to government would have been different.
I agree. I'm just saying there was plenty of expert science on both sides of the argument - about delaying the 2nd dose. The government took a calculated risk in the middle of a grave crisis, and went for one dose and a delay.
We shall soon see if that risk has paid off as well as their vaccine procurement.
Largescale second doses for Pfizer came to an end about 10th January.
So over three weeks ago.
If we're going to hear "got infected because didn't receive second Pfizer dose" stories then they're going to happen very soon.
I'm surprised there haven't been some already.
We discussed this yesterday. There are some anecdata
The ones you pasted certainly weren't.
They were exactly anecdata. Not hard empirical evidence BUT they came from a doctor specialising in old people.
At the time I put them in context. I did not say I he was right, by any means, I said his opinion was worth hearing, which it was
They were bollox.
Reporting a 'substantial outbreak' about the time a second dose would have taken place.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Beer gardens at Easter I reckon.
Opening up more widely late June, first day of summer.
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
The other day a friend of mine, who is EXTREMELY well informed on politics, the kind of guy who can give you the exact turnout in the 1997 GE, or name the Shadow Defence Secretary, or quote the latest polling on Welsh independence, asked me: "who is the Lib Dem leader?"
I think it's a deliberate ploy to remain invisible until close to the election, then emerge as the fresh 'new' face of a new politics just in time for the poll. He knows that we all get tired of politicians and will be fully fed up with Johnson and Starmer by then.
Plus, from recent Lib Dem experience with Swinson that having a leader too long can make them seem really annoying (more than a week or two in her case)
Genius
Ah, that's it
Actually, I'm nearly as big a politics geek as him (I'm on here every day for a start), and when he asked me It took me a full 30 seconds to say Ed Davey, and even then it was a bit of a guess. Indeed, it still is
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
On thread, well, I guess I keep a red passport when I renew in 2029. Salmond is a liability of course, and it is not a given that separation happens, especially not with the same economic illiteracy of a "sterling" currency that the SNP seems determined to inflict on us, yet TBH, unless England turns against the Tories, it is hard to see the Union continuing at all.
The problem is not the powers of Holyrood, it is the powers of Westminster and Whitehall. So, when we start to talk about those problems, then maybe I´ll believe in a common future. The problem is changing London, not Edinburgh.
The decision is being taken against the advice? Citation please.
HMG seems to have got it right, AND followed the science, with one dose ofOxfordAZ - tho the age thing is still a concern, and now Switzerland have said they won't approve it, which adds to the doubts. The Swiss have no agenda against the UK/AZ
I am much less convinced HMG got it right with Pfizer
Yes, but it wasn't against the advice the government received from its scientists. It was a gamble, and not what Pfizer recommended, but the implication of the post was that Tory politicians were being reckless in a gamble - indeed, that was given as a reason why they should not be in office - when in fact it was a calculated risk taken with the advice of its scientific advisers, with pretty clear reasoning behind it. That is not the same thing at all.
A different government might have made a different call, though I see no evidence of that from what other parties are saying, but there's no reason to believe the advice given to government would have been different.
I agree. I'm just saying there was plenty of expert science on both sides of the argument - about delaying the 2nd dose. The government took a calculated risk in the middle of a grave crisis, and went for one dose and a delay.
We shall soon see if that risk has paid off as well as their vaccine procurement.
Largescale second doses for Pfizer came to an end about 10th January.
So over three weeks ago.
If we're going to hear "got infected because didn't receive second Pfizer dose" stories then they're going to happen very soon.
I'm surprised there haven't been some already.
We discussed this yesterday. There are some anecdata
Are we really back to the Pfizer 12-week policy? I mean FFS find some new material, we have been over this fucking ENDLESSLY
I DIDN'T START IT
STOP SHOUTING AT ME
I am quite happy to talk about ANYTHING else. Even Scotland
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Its obviously going to be all of February.
We've known that since they set the 15/02 target for categories 1-4.
But if infection and hospitalization rates keep falling and vaccination keeps increasing at current (let alone faster) rates then lockdown ends in March.
Ch4 news mentioned a Universiry of East Anglia study that says infection rates go up for the first week after vaccination. I haven't seen or heard of this (and seems too soon from the start of our vaccination programme to be able to make such a claim)
Anybody know anything about this?
In Israel, there has been a real problem of people throwing caution to the wind immediately after vaccination. People would invite all their friends around for dinner to celebrate having the vaccine.
Israel also has a MAJOR problem with Ultra-Orthodox Jews who simply refuse to obey any lockdown rules. That's about 12% of the Israeli population. Equivalent to 7m people here
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
The other day a friend of mine, who is EXTREMELY well informed on politics, the kind of guy who can give you the exact turnout in the 1997 GE, or name the Shadow Defence Secretary, or quote the latest polling on Welsh independence, asked me: "who is the Lib Dem leader?"
I think it's a deliberate ploy to remain invisible until close to the election, then emerge as the fresh 'new' face of a new politics just in time for the poll. He knows that we all get tired of politicians and will be fully fed up with Johnson and Starmer by then.
Plus, from recent Lib Dem experience with Swinson that having a leader too long can make them seem really annoying (more than a week or two in her case)
Genius
Ah, that's it
Actually, I'm nearly as big a politics geek as him (I'm on here every day for a start), and when he asked me It took me a full 30 seconds to say Ed Davey, and even then it was a bit of a guess. Indeed, it still is
*checks Google*
Also means there will be very few people who actually dislike Davey.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
This gender reveal party thing....is this big now? Another crappy thing we have imported from the US...broke the rules to have a party in lockdown to tell people what sex his sprog will be... shakes head.
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
The statement in bold is to the best of my knowledge completely false, it would be a huge news story if true. You should either put up or shut up.
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
The statement in bold is to the best of my knowledge completely false, it would be a huge news story if true. You should either put up or shut up.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Be interesting to know what info the UK is giving out. I think my parents got some sort of leaflet, but no idea if it refers to time after jab, they didn't seem especially clued up on how long before any real immunity kicks in.
I can tell you what my husband received because he had his first jab today (hallelujah!)
Two leaflets - a very boring looking black and white thing that resembles the kind of flyer that one finds neatly folded up inside any packet of tablets, and a more user-friendly looking leaflet with two friendly looking people of more mature years smiling on the front.
I scanned the boring looking leaflet and noticed that it contained an instruction to make sure you get your second jab, but I couldn't be arsed to go through the whole thing properly. The colourful leaflet with the older people only says you should plan to attend a second appointment between 3 and 12 weeks after the first, that it's important to have two doses of the same vaccine, and to keep the record card that you get given with the first vaccine safe (presumably so that the second vaccinator can tell what you've had without needing to resort to searching records.)
Separately to the leaflet, of course, patients will also be getting information directly at the vaccination centre - husband was told that his second appointment would be in 12 weeks' time and he would be contacted again to arrange it nearer to that time.*
The colourful leaflet also reminds people that it may take a week or two to build some protection, but vaccines are in any event never completely effective so people should continue to take precautions to avoid infection. It also has another reminder at the end to keep doing the whole hands face space thing.
*EDIT: Husband got his jab at the local GP; my Dad was invited to go to a mass vaccination centre instead, and was therefore invited to book the date for his second appointment at the same time as the first.
The irony is that it might be more effective to get your second jab from a different vaccine.
Two other far-right US groups - Atomwaffen Division and the Base - have also been designated by Canada as terrorist entities, along with several affiliates of the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda.
If you are going to form a far right extremist group probably not the best idea to call it Waffen something, some people you know might think that you might be you know a far right extremist group.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
The other day a friend of mine, who is EXTREMELY well informed on politics, the kind of guy who can give you the exact turnout in the 1997 GE, or name the Shadow Defence Secretary, or quote the latest polling on Welsh independence, asked me: "who is the Lib Dem leader?"
I think it's a deliberate ploy to remain invisible until close to the election, then emerge as the fresh 'new' face of a new politics just in time for the poll. He knows that we all get tired of politicians and will be fully fed up with Johnson and Starmer by then.
Plus, from recent Lib Dem experience with Swinson that having a leader too long can make them seem really annoying (more than a week or two in her case)
Genius
Ah, that's it
Actually, I'm nearly as big a politics geek as him (I'm on here every day for a start), and when he asked me It took me a full 30 seconds to say Ed Davey, and even then it was a bit of a guess. Indeed, it still is
*checks Google*
Also means there will be very few people who actually dislike Davey.
The problem* the LDs have is that Davey's selling point - that he sounds like a not terribly unreasonable and vaguely competent man in his mid 50s - is exactly the same as Starmer's.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Reckon we’ll squeeze beer gardens plus table service 2 April, otherwise I agree
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Gyms are in tier 3.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
Maybe Boris will move them to Tier 2. It won't be quite the same as the Tiers that we had before. Some people think they are high risk. It's not a venue with which I am familiar!
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
Nah the logic doesn't work. That's like saying that the EU Parliament would need to authorise a Brexit referendum, or Westminster could have held Brexit referenda twice a month.
Whoever determines whether a referenda is legal or not, it will be politics not the law that then determines how often they can be held.
It may be that the Scottish Parliament has the power, or it may be they don't, because the power to allow Indyrefs is not expressly reserved. It depends upon how you read the law - which means its unclear and so SCOTUK could rule either way if it went that far.
I would say that the weird UK information space that still thinks that putting out as many single doses as possible is an acceptable risk, even if it did lead to vaccine resistant strains, and that this decision is being taken by Tory politicians against the advice of the science and that is OK. Well, to be polite, that is not the view in the EU. If vaccine resistance happens, the UK will be quarantined way beyond anything we have seen so far. That this risk has been taken so casually is why the the Tories should not be in office.
The statement in bold is to the best of my knowledge completely false, it would be a huge news story if true. You should either put up or shut up.
Obviously some UVDL desperate mouthpiece
The press are able to question the CSA, CMO, and others on a regular basis about the vaccine strategy, and the press have done so. All the advisers have explained and defended* the vaccine strategy, if the government was going against their advice they are doing a good job of hiding their disagreement. Nor have their been any leaks suggesting the goverment is going against their advice. Frankly the idea that "Tory politicians" are winging it is just daft, they aren't that bright, and even if they were, they somehow have hoodwinked the Scots, Welsh, and Northern Irish too, which seems not just implausible but at odds of what we would expect the politics to lead to. i.e. The SNP would love to say the "Tories are going to get us all killed".
* I listen to all these briefings and Whitty in particular is clearly fully behind the approach of vaccinating as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Gyms are in tier 3.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
Maybe Boris will move them to Tier 2. It won't be quite the same as the Tiers that we had before. Some people think they are high risk. It's not a venue with which I am familiar!
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
I simply don't understand the desire to be in a room full of sweaty, panting people.
Exercise at home? Its perfectly doable without too much equipment*
*Though I have to say my Peloton has been a lifesaver
Okay, some of you gave him a bit longer than me, and some of you still believe he is an adequate replacement for the bumbling idiot currently occupying Number 10.
He’s not.
Well, I wasn't expecting such a frank admission that they'd prefer Boris to Keir.
I'll say this though - when taking the government to task over Covid, she doesn't make the error of implying all the 100k deaths are its fault, merely 'many thousands', which is better than many do.
You have to wonder if Ed Davey has missed his chance to make any sort of impact (not saying it’s his fault during a pandemic - I’m sure that in normal times he’d be making hay on Brexit)?
The Lib Dems get virtually zero media coverage. With COVID, it is all Boris, Hancock, Sunak, then Starmer, then Piers Moron....
The other day a friend of mine, who is EXTREMELY well informed on politics, the kind of guy who can give you the exact turnout in the 1997 GE, or name the Shadow Defence Secretary, or quote the latest polling on Welsh independence, asked me: "who is the Lib Dem leader?"
I think it's a deliberate ploy to remain invisible until close to the election, then emerge as the fresh 'new' face of a new politics just in time for the poll. He knows that we all get tired of politicians and will be fully fed up with Johnson and Starmer by then.
Plus, from recent Lib Dem experience with Swinson that having a leader too long can make them seem really annoying (more than a week or two in her case)
Genius
Ah, that's it
Actually, I'm nearly as big a politics geek as him (I'm on here every day for a start), and when he asked me It took me a full 30 seconds to say Ed Davey, and even then it was a bit of a guess. Indeed, it still is
*checks Google*
Also means there will be very few people who actually dislike Davey.
The problem* the LDs have is that Davey's selling point - that he sounds like a not terribly unreasonable and vaguely competent man in his mid 50s - is exactly the same as Starmer's.
* Yeah OK, one of the LDs problems
Ed Daley (you can tell that someone has a recognition problem when people can't get his name right) needs a big gesture to get himself noticed.
I open the suggestions with ... he should punch Grant Shapps in the face.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Notably, Mother's Day is the following weekend. A particularly busy event in the Johnson household...
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Notably, Mother's Day is the following weekend. A particularly busy event in the Johnson household...
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Gyms are in tier 3.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
Maybe Boris will move them to Tier 2. It won't be quite the same as the Tiers that we had before. Some people think they are high risk. It's not a venue with which I am familiar!
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
I simply don't understand the desire to be in a room full of sweaty, panting people.
Exercise at home? Its perfectly doable without too much equipment*
*Though I have to say my Peloton has been a lifesaver
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Reckon we’ll squeeze beer gardens plus table service 2 April, otherwise I agree
I like it! Feels a bit optimistic though. Wrap up warm 🍺
Rather than deciding when lockdown is likely to be over, let's ask a different question. Is Sunak going to have to move the end date to the furlough scheme again?
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Gyms are in tier 3.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
Maybe Boris will move them to Tier 2. It won't be quite the same as the Tiers that we had before. Some people think they are high risk. It's not a venue with which I am familiar!
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
I simply don't understand the desire to be in a room full of sweaty, panting people.
Exercise at home? Its perfectly doable without too much equipment*
*Though I have to say my Peloton has been a lifesaver
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
Rather than deciding when lockdown is likely to be over, let's ask a different question. Is Sunak going to have to move the end date to the furlough scheme again?
I suspect yes, I also think he'll have to increase the upper limit for the BBLs.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Gyms are in tier 3.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
Maybe Boris will move them to Tier 2. It won't be quite the same as the Tiers that we had before. Some people think they are high risk. It's not a venue with which I am familiar!
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
If the infections and hospitalizations keep falling and the vaccinations keep increasing then lockdown ends.
It doesn't matter how cautious Boris wants to be its the numbers which will determine events.
Its certainly possible, and I think RCS believes this, that infections come down FAST as the effect of more and more vaccinations comes into play.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
The Northern Ireland referendum of 1973 was boycotted by Nationalists, resulting in an almost North Korean 98% vote (to stay in the UK).
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Yes it's all about national level relaxations now. Locally based measures are out the window as they don't work!
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
Gyms are in tier 3.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
Maybe Boris will move them to Tier 2. It won't be quite the same as the Tiers that we had before. Some people think they are high risk. It's not a venue with which I am familiar!
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
I simply don't understand the desire to be in a room full of sweaty, panting people.
Exercise at home? Its perfectly doable without too much equipment*
*Though I have to say my Peloton has been a lifesaver
The gym's good for weights, saves you having to find room for equipment in a small home, and represents a change from running round and round and round the town in circles. Especially when you also live in a small town, where there aren't that many places to go and it can get very dull sometimes.
The room is also very far from full (or was before they closed it again for months, anyway.) One of the few good things about social distancing: you book a slot in advance and don't have to spend two-thirds of the time either trying to make do with the wrong kit or waiting for other people to get out of the damned way.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
One would hope that the SCOTUK would be looking at the situation through the lens of legal and moral principle rather than that of feartie, hypocritical Unionism. I obviously have a higher opinion of British institutions than you.
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Notably, Mother's Day is the following weekend. A particularly busy event in the Johnson household...
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
One would hope that the SCOTUK would be looking at the situation through the lens of legal and moral principle rather than that of feartie, hypocritical Unionism. I obviously have a higher opinion of British institutions than you.
No sane British Government wants this settled in court, and anyway the moral case is clear with an SNP win. On the other hand I can’t see the Scottish Government not giving way a bit on dates in amongst Covid. So I’m thinking there will be a referendum in mid-late 2022.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
All referenda are "advisory", that's the law.
Not so. A referendum can be binding if it (the Act enabling it) refers to already drafted legislation and requires the government to enact it should the referendum proposition be accepted. That was done for the AV referendum.
Normally, of course, such a course is difficult, if not impossible. Although we’d all be better off had Cammo applied a bit of thought to it in place of his hubris in assuming he could see off his nutters regardless.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
All referenda are "advisory", that's the law.
Parliament could legislate for a binding referendum. There’s no overarching law on referenda. An easy way to make one binding would be to pass an Act on whatever topic and then a commencement measure that read “This Act shall come into force the day after its ratification by a popular referendum as detailed in section x”. You would then need another Act of Parliament to repeal it,
Noticeable from Boris tonight, plan for schools 8th March and talk of national easing mot regional. I took that we should expect lockdown or lockdown-- to continue for quite a lot of time yet.
Notably, Mother's Day is the following weekend. A particularly busy event in the Johnson household...
But not as busy as Father's Day.
It would be busier if a bunch of his kids weren’t refusing any contact with him.
Curtice is great on polling and good on politics. He's not a constitutional lawyer.
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
As they are advisory and non binding indeed they could.
We've danced around this handbag a million times. Yes, the SNP could hold a wildcat "advisory" referendum, not legally sanctioned by Westminster
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
If SCOTUK says that Holyrood has the power to call the referendum then it wouldn't be wildcat.
All referenda are "advisory", that's the law.
Not so. A referendum can be binding if it (the Act enabling it) refers to already drafted legislation and requires the government to enact it should the referendum proposition be accepted. That was done for the AV referendum.
Normally, of course, such a course is difficult, if not impossible. Although we’d all be better off had Cammo applied a bit of thought to it in place of his hubris in assuming he could see off his nutters regardless.
The Brexit Referendum couldn't be binding as it involved a deal with a foreign party.
The only way it could have been binding was if it was a 'simple' repeal of the 1972 European Communities Act.
Putting an automaticity for triggering Article 50 wasn't an option either.
Comments
Two leaflets - a very boring looking black and white thing that resembles the kind of flyer that one finds neatly folded up inside any packet of tablets, and a more user-friendly looking leaflet with two friendly looking people of more mature years smiling on the front.
I scanned the boring looking leaflet and noticed that it contained an instruction to make sure you get your second jab, but I couldn't be arsed to go through the whole thing properly. The colourful leaflet with the older people only says you should plan to attend a second appointment between 3 and 12 weeks after the first, that it's important to have two doses of the same vaccine, and to keep the record card that you get given with the first vaccine safe (presumably so that the second vaccinator can tell what you've had without needing to resort to searching records.)
Separately to the leaflet, of course, patients will also be getting information directly at the vaccination centre - husband was told that his second appointment would be in 12 weeks' time and he would be contacted again to arrange it nearer to that time.*
The colourful leaflet also reminds people that it may take a week or two to build some protection, but vaccines are in any event never completely effective so people should continue to take precautions to avoid infection. It also has another reminder at the end to keep doing the whole hands face space thing.
*EDIT: Husband got his jab at the local GP; my Dad was invited to go to a mass vaccination centre instead, and was therefore invited to book the date for his second appointment at the same time as the first.
https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-lawyers-mocked-misspelling-united-states-impeachment-trial-filing-1566447
At the time I put them in context. I did not say I he was right, by any means, I said his opinion was worth hearing, which it was
Arrghghghghghghg!!
If there's nothing meaningful to say, say nothing!
Plus, from recent Lib Dem experience with Swinson that having a leader too long can make them seem really annoying (more than a week or two in her case)
Genius
Reporting a 'substantial outbreak' about the time a second dose would have taken place.
Opening up more widely late June, first day of summer.
Actually, I'm nearly as big a politics geek as him (I'm on here every day for a start), and when he asked me It took me a full 30 seconds to say Ed Davey, and even then it was a bit of a guess. Indeed, it still is
*checks Google*
STOP SHOUTING AT ME
I am quite happy to talk about ANYTHING else. Even Scotland
https://twitter.com/JoshNBCNews/status/1357065678696636417?s=19
We've known that since they set the 15/02 target for categories 1-4.
But if infection and hospitalization rates keep falling and vaccination keeps increasing at current (let alone faster) rates then lockdown ends in March.
Schools in part - from 8 March
Tier 3 eg non essential shopping maybe hairdressers - 29 March
Tier 2 eg gyms - 12 April
Tier 1 Inc pubs but with rule of 6 and mandatory table service - 1 May
https://twitter.com/progressscot/status/1356942944079593474?s=21
This gender reveal party thing....is this big now? Another crappy thing we have imported from the US...broke the rules to have a party in lockdown to tell people what sex his sprog will be... shakes head.
Birmingham City Council said the two people tested positive in early January, but it was not until Friday when random tests picked up the variant.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-55926954
Its here, its spread, only a matter of time before it is dominating local rugby and cricket....
Neither am I, of course, but it seems vanishingly unlikely that the SCOTUK would not come down on the side of Westminster. Allowing indyrefs is expressly reserved to Westminster. And it has to be, as otherwise any constituent nation of the UK could have a referendum any time it likes, twice a month maybe, if its Assembly has that power.
The SNP could call seven a day until they get YES
Logically the power is therefore reserved for Westminster.
They were still open in Yorkshire on 04/01.
When new cases were 60% higher than they are now.
BBC News - Proud Boys: Canada labels far-right group a terrorist entity
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55923485
If you are going to form a far right extremist group probably not the best idea to call it Waffen something, some people you know might think that you might be you know a far right extremist group.
These are the real questions I want answered.
* Yeah OK, one of the LDs problems
https://twitter.com/Rachael_Swindon/status/1357041551336235014?s=19
It would be boycotted by unionists and it would backfire disastrously
Overall the reopening will be more cautious than last summer.
Whoever determines whether a referenda is legal or not, it will be politics not the law that then determines how often they can be held.
It may be that the Scottish Parliament has the power, or it may be they don't, because the power to allow Indyrefs is not expressly reserved. It depends upon how you read the law - which means its unclear and so SCOTUK could rule either way if it went that far.
* I listen to all these briefings and Whitty in particular is clearly fully behind the approach of vaccinating as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
Exercise at home? Its perfectly doable without too much equipment*
*Though I have to say my Peloton has been a lifesaver
He’s not.
Well, I wasn't expecting such a frank admission that they'd prefer Boris to Keir.
I'll say this though - when taking the government to task over Covid, she doesn't make the error of implying all the 100k deaths are its fault, merely 'many thousands', which is better than many do.
I open the suggestions with ... he should punch Grant Shapps in the face.
All referenda are "advisory", that's the law.
It doesn't matter how cautious Boris wants to be its the numbers which will determine events.
Its certainly possible, and I think RCS believes this, that infections come down FAST as the effect of more and more vaccinations comes into play.
The room is also very far from full (or was before they closed it again for months, anyway.) One of the few good things about social distancing: you book a slot in advance and don't have to spend two-thirds of the time either trying to make do with the wrong kit or waiting for other people to get out of the damned way.
Its claimed it is just a random lady, but some are a bit suspicious.
https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/AV_Referendum_Media_Briefing_Pack.pdf
https://twitter.com/nataliexdean/status/1310613702476017666
As covid deaths in Delhi are nearly 11k that would suggest a 0.1% IFR.
Which would be about half that of western cities.
Delhi I would guess would have a younger age demographic and less obesity but would have more air pollution and worse health care.
Not so. A referendum can be binding if it (the Act enabling it) refers to already drafted legislation and requires the government to enact it should the referendum proposition be accepted. That was done for the AV referendum.
Normally, of course, such a course is difficult, if not impossible. Although we’d all be better off had Cammo applied a bit of thought to it in place of his hubris in assuming he could see off his nutters regardless.
06/01 62,322
13/01 47,525
20/01 38,905
27/01 25,308
03/02 19,202
And that is with significantly higher testing and before vaccination has had more than a minor effect.
The only way it could have been binding was if it was a 'simple' repeal of the 1972 European Communities Act.
Putting an automaticity for triggering Article 50 wasn't an option either.
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1357083184039616515