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The Hartlepool by-election is a must win for both Johnson and Starmer – politicalbetting.com

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  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    edited March 2021

    The US and China have administered the highest number of doses, 107 million and 53 million respectively.

    I am surprised China is so low. I fully expected them to rush through as many vaccine candidates as possible and then use their enormous state power to ramp up massive vaccine production and go around compelling whole towns to be vaccinated in a week.

    Isn't China's relatively slow roll out down to them being very cautious that mass vaccination sites/rollouts don't become superspreader events?
    I can't believe that is the reason, as a) very little covid in China and b) they have been happy to do mass testing of whole cities where millions line up to get tested over the course of a few days.

    If you are happy to do that level of testing with all those people standing there for hours, you would be to do the same for vaccinations.

    And again China can compel their population to do exactly what it asks i.e. no I would like to book my jab for a week on Tues, can I have 2pm....they can just repeat how they did lockdown, building #67, building #67, you will be jabbed now.
  • MattW said:

    Catching up on the Dom committee.

    No political games going on at all.

    Dawn Butler to Dom: "Do you consider Eugenics to be a science?"

    Dawn Butler should be as far away from politics as Big Dom.
    But has Big Dom received an endorsement from Barack Obama?

    Still makes me chuckle she tried to pull that over on the voters.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,204
    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,355

    The US and China have administered the highest number of doses, 107 million and 53 million respectively.

    I am surprised China is so low. I fully expected them to rush through as many vaccine candidates as possible and then use their enormous state power to ramp up massive vaccine production and go around compelling whole towns to be vaccinated in a week.

    China's vaccination program is a story that's hasn't been followed up.

    Lack of bio-tech industrial infrastructure? or what?
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,865
    Glad to see that this has been picked up publicly, it's something that I've been tracking for over a month now, the figures are absolutely amazing and this is with only 3% of adults having had both doses. Two weeks from now that figure goes up to 15% lowering the CFR to zero for vulnerable groups.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    edited March 2021
    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    Psuedo-science....
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,355
    MaxPB said:

    Glad to see that this has been picked up publicly, it's something that I've been tracking for over a month now, the figures are absolutely amazing and this is with only 3% of adults having had both doses. Two weeks from now that figure goes up to 15% lowering the CFR to zero for vulnerable groups.
    What gap are you using for case number to death numbers?
  • The US and China have administered the highest number of doses, 107 million and 53 million respectively.

    I am surprised China is so low. I fully expected them to rush through as many vaccine candidates as possible and then use their enormous state power to ramp up massive vaccine production and go around compelling whole towns to be vaccinated in a week.

    Isn't China's relatively slow roll out down to them being very cautious that mass vaccination sites/rollouts don't become superspreader events?
    I can't believe that is the reason, as a) very little covid in China and b) they have been happy to do mass testing of whole cities where millions line up to get tested over the course of a few days.

    If you are happy to do that level of testing with all those people standing there for hours, you would be to do the same for vaccinations.

    And again China can compel their population to do exactly what it asks i.e. no I would like to book my jab for a week on Tues, can I have 2pm....they can just repeat how they did lockdown, building #67, building #67, you will be jabbed now.
    In some ways China’s vaccination programme has been a victim of the success of its containment policies. Rapid interventions last year brought the pandemic under control and saw case numbers tumble, reducing the incentive to get vaccinated.

    At the same time, the failure of vaccine manufacturers Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino to release comprehensive trial data has damaged confidence among some medical professionals, while many Chinese citizens are choosing to see first whether the vaccinations provoke unwanted side effects for others.

    “In China today there is very little upside for anyone to take the vaccine,” said Chen Long, partner at Beijing-based research company Plenum. “What that all means is a very slow opening of borders.”...

    ...Age restrictions on the use of the Sinopharm and Sinovac shots have also slowed the rollout. Both vaccines are recommended only for people in good health aged 18 to 59, which automatically excludes those who would most want a jab. Instead the government has focused on vaccinating those likely to spread the virus, such as taxi drivers.

    At this rate, analysts estimate it will take well into 2022 to vaccinate most of the population.


    https://www.ft.com/content/58ca570e-38ee-404f-90f5-57c21c458058
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,431

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Same place as the rest of the UK...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    Big Dom diplomatic as ever...

    He added: "It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way it did.

    "It's not coincidental that to do that we had to take it out of the Department of Health," he added.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598

    Charles said:

    Sandpit said:

    The result here is going to be genuinely close, a lot will depend on the candidates chosen by the two main contenders, and any high-profile others such as Tice - as opposed to national political swings.

    A great opportunity for the government to win a by-election gain, which doesn’t happen very often.

    The pressure will be on Starmer if Labour lose the seat though, especially if they also lose control of Wales, overshadowing a successful night at the locals.

    A comfortable win for Sadiq Khan could end up looking like the sole shining beacon of hope for Labour.

    I think that makes him one to watch for future leader of the Labour Party.
    Nah, the King of the North, Andy Burnham, is the one to watch.
    I didn’t know he was a Percy?
    A friend sent me this as a Christmas present because he thought I'd love wearing a t shirt with the face of an Everton loving socialist on it.

    https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/t-shirt/15269962-andy-burnham-king-of-the-north-funny
    Why is there never a White Walker when you need one?

    Or even a Lannister.....
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,662
    edited March 2021

    Big Dom diplomatic as ever...

    He added: "It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way it did.

    "It's not coincidental that to do that we had to take it out of the Department of Health," he added.

    It is no coincidence that the vaccine programme worked well because it didn't go to Dom's mates like some of the Covid contracts did?

    Is that what he means?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,204
    edited March 2021

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Scotland.
    So we can send them to Italy to have them chucked in the bin ?
  • londonpubmanlondonpubman Posts: 3,639
    Blackford is absolutely dreadful!

    Have I said that before? :lol:
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,765
    Your national leaders don't want the AZ/Oxford vaccine. Has she noticed?
  • Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    edited March 2021

    The US and China have administered the highest number of doses, 107 million and 53 million respectively.

    I am surprised China is so low. I fully expected them to rush through as many vaccine candidates as possible and then use their enormous state power to ramp up massive vaccine production and go around compelling whole towns to be vaccinated in a week.

    Isn't China's relatively slow roll out down to them being very cautious that mass vaccination sites/rollouts don't become superspreader events?
    I can't believe that is the reason, as a) very little covid in China and b) they have been happy to do mass testing of whole cities where millions line up to get tested over the course of a few days.

    If you are happy to do that level of testing with all those people standing there for hours, you would be to do the same for vaccinations.

    And again China can compel their population to do exactly what it asks i.e. no I would like to book my jab for a week on Tues, can I have 2pm....they can just repeat how they did lockdown, building #67, building #67, you will be jabbed now.
    In some ways China’s vaccination programme has been a victim of the success of its containment policies. Rapid interventions last year brought the pandemic under control and saw case numbers tumble, reducing the incentive to get vaccinated.

    At the same time, the failure of vaccine manufacturers Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino to release comprehensive trial data has damaged confidence among some medical professionals, while many Chinese citizens are choosing to see first whether the vaccinations provoke unwanted side effects for others.

    “In China today there is very little upside for anyone to take the vaccine,” said Chen Long, partner at Beijing-based research company Plenum. “What that all means is a very slow opening of borders.”...

    ...Age restrictions on the use of the Sinopharm and Sinovac shots have also slowed the rollout. Both vaccines are recommended only for people in good health aged 18 to 59, which automatically excludes those who would most want a jab. Instead the government has focused on vaccinating those likely to spread the virus, such as taxi drivers.

    At this rate, analysts estimate it will take well into 2022 to vaccinate most of the population.


    https://www.ft.com/content/58ca570e-38ee-404f-90f5-57c21c458058
    But that suggest they have lack of supply...otherwise they wouldn't need to do that. And the only good for up to 59 year olds, a) didn't they use any oldies in their trials and b) i fully expected China to say greater good is deems we need to give it to those most at risk.

    Their reaction to everything covid so far as been extreme and "for the greater good"...from welding people in their own homes to siezing how production facilities thay produced medical supplies that were bound for export.

    Something doesn't quite add up. Perhaps issues scaling production?
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    Presumably just wind given last time they threatened us, they were quitely reminded they need us to send them the raw materials to keep the Pfizer factory going.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,765
    Stocky said:

    I've just had Oxford AZN jab. Whole thing took only 6 minutes!

    No blood clot yet.

    Great news.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    edited March 2021
    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Scotland.
    So we can send them to Italy to have them chucked in the bin ?
    What are the death/hospitalisation rates there? This morning on the radio someone from Italy was bemoaning the fact that Italy was about to go into lockdown ie shops and bars shut only open for takeaway. Like us for the past and next three months.
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578

    HYUFD said:
    I think that might shock all the twatterati who seem to think the Boris is akin to Mussolini.

    What is interesting is we are seeing quite a big variation in Labour's number across recent polls, anywhere from low to high 30s. Where as Tories are firmly 42-45 range.
    The Greens have been polling high in recent polls. Wonder whether there is a small but sizeable chunk of Labour's left who are disappointed with Starmer and have decamped over there. Long-term, that might be troublesome (thinking Greens-SPD in Germany)
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,750

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Stealing them from the EU, of course!
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
    Nonsense. Would Boris and the team around him allow them to make nationalistic hay from it and shore themselves up (labour in Wales) politically if that was the truth?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    The EU isn't producing any vaccines. Companies based in the EU are, and are fulfilling their legal contracts.

    Perhaps the US and UK "will reflect on whether exports of raw materials to countries that have blocked the export of vaccines to us is still proportionate"
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578
    MrEd said:

    HYUFD said:
    I think that might shock all the twatterati who seem to think the Boris is akin to Mussolini.

    What is interesting is we are seeing quite a big variation in Labour's number across recent polls, anywhere from low to high 30s. Where as Tories are firmly 42-45 range.
    The Greens have been polling high in recent polls. Wonder whether there is a small but sizeable chunk of Labour's left who are disappointed with Starmer and have decamped over there. Long-term, that might be troublesome (thinking Greens-SPD in Germany)
    And that it is the Greens who eventually become (long term) the party of the left. If Labour's voters are increasingly urban, middle-class professionals (as well as minorities who might be less open to the message), that should be favourable territory for the Greens.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362

    Blackford is absolutely dreadful!

    Have I said that before? :lol:

    Can you be more specific?
  • MrEdMrEd Posts: 5,578
    Well they don't want the Oxford-AAZ jab so presumably that would be exempt
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,590
    I hope they do. Next time round they'll have zero domestic production for anything light weight with a high value.
  • contrariancontrarian Posts: 5,818
    MrEd said:

    MrEd said:

    HYUFD said:
    I think that might shock all the twatterati who seem to think the Boris is akin to Mussolini.

    What is interesting is we are seeing quite a big variation in Labour's number across recent polls, anywhere from low to high 30s. Where as Tories are firmly 42-45 range.
    The Greens have been polling high in recent polls. Wonder whether there is a small but sizeable chunk of Labour's left who are disappointed with Starmer and have decamped over there. Long-term, that might be troublesome (thinking Greens-SPD in Germany)
    And that it is the Greens who eventually become (long term) the party of the left. If Labour's voters are increasingly urban, middle-class professionals (as well as minorities who might be less open to the message), that should be favourable territory for the Greens.
    Quite. Labour is an analogue party in a digital world
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362

    Your national leaders don't want the AZ/Oxford vaccine. Has she noticed?
    Boris will share with an EU country before Easter Monday.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    edited March 2021
    Cartman meltdown again.....i want a new phone...waahhhhhhhhaaaa....you can have a Samsung Galaxy... don't want it, doesn't work.
  • gealbhan said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
    Nonsense. Would Boris and the team around him allow them to make nationalistic hay from it and shore themselves up (labour in Wales) politically if that was the truth?
    You really cannot identify a 'tongue in cheek' comment can you
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,547
    Cookie said:

    algarkirk said:

    dixiedean said:

    Cookie said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Everyone criticises Labour for taking their "heartlands" for granted however the same could very well happen to the Conservatives. All this attention on the "red wall" could very well lead, in the long run, to traditional Conservative seats thinking that the Party is now for urban town dwellers and not for them. Especially if Brexit ends up being a negative for agriculture etc.

    Not something likely to happen in the near future but it's certainly a possibility in the long run. It's difficult juggling multiple competing priorities.

    Absolutely. The LibDems will come back...
    Because they forgot their coat on the way out?
    The Tories have been losing their heartlands too. The suburban middle class have been drifting away from them for years. 40 years ago seats like Sheffield Hallam, Leeds North West, Birmingham Edgbaston would have been safely in the blue column.
    A point which has been disguised by them being in the ascendancy.
    Former heartlands further out such as Altrincham, Macclesfield, Wycombe, etc would be competitive on an even national vote share.
    Part of the ebb and flow.
    The Tory heartlands are in reasonable shape, as instanced by the fact that you can drive fairly easily from Land's End to the outskirts of Edinburgh without leaving Tory held seats. (The possible routes are an interesting tour of the country). You can't do this when Labour's heartlands are in reasonable shape!

    But that's just a function of Labour seats being much smaller than Tory ones.

    And you might not be able do that in the event of a hypothetical election which leaves Tory and Labour even in terms of votes and seats. Such an election might leave an unbroken chain of Labour seats from the Humber to the Mersey. (Actually, on second thoughts, Brigg and Goole would probably be the winning chink in the Tories chain there.)
    Maybe we should abandon FPTP and move to a Blockbusters-style approach to determining a winner.
    Of course it is, but it also shows how Labour have lost the entire rural country (and there is a lot of it - much more than urbanites think) and have shrunk in scale and ambition.

  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    edited March 2021
    Suspend IP...they are f##king insane...that full fat Corbyn....the pharmaceutical companies must be wondering if the EU have been drinking the China koolaid.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,548

    Nigelb said:

    RIP Yaphet Kotto.

    I hadn't realised he turned down the role of Jean Luc Picard.
    That could have been awesome.

    He was great is one of the most underappreciated detective shows of the last thirty years; Homicide: Life on the Streets.
    Cracking actor. And a long career as well.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,355

    Cartman meltdown again.....i want a new phone...waahhhhhhhhaaaa....you can have a Samsung Galaxy... don't want it, doesn't work.
    Surely, at this point, a sensible option would be to ask the Indians what they can do to help?
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,176
    I don't get this. Right now the national governments are making the EU's fuck up look unimportant.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362

    Big Dom diplomatic as ever...

    He added: "It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way it did.

    "It's not coincidental that to do that we had to take it out of the Department of Health," he added.

    It is no coincidence that the vaccine programme worked well because it didn't go to Dom's mates like some of the Covid contracts did?

    Is that what he means?
    Whilst the PPE contracts went to Hancock’s mates? You are missing the point here, Dom’s mates are more competent at delivering than Hancock’s mates - that’s what the country needs, that’s what the fight against COVID needed, not nepotism, competent nepotism.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,548

    Suspend IP...they are f##king insane...that full fat Corbyn....the pharmaceutical companies must be wondering if the EU have been drinking the China koolaid.
    I suspect a lot of pharma companies will be looking at this and seriously considering relocation if they go ahead and do this.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,486

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    When Professor Sarah Gilbert first stepped into the lab to experiment with a vaccine, Mark Drakeford was waiting for her with the formula.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598
    tlg86 said:

    I don't get this. Right now the national governments are making the EU's fuck up look unimportant.
    EU: "Hold my stein......"
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,750
    edited March 2021

    RobD said:

    Companies in the UK are free to export vaccines whenever they want. Providing someone has actually ordered them.
    Wait - "all tools at its disposal". The French have got nukes.

    I took that to mean VdL herself and possibly Macron. They've both demonstrated themselves to be complete tools.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,355
    tlg86 said:

    I don't get this. Right now the national governments are making the EU's fuck up look unimportant.
    Von der Leyen is upset that she isn't in responsible for the biggest mess and tries for the title?
  • O/T thanks for the heads up on the over-50s being able to book their vaccines now, can't remember who posted it. My missus has booked hers this morning.

    She's a few years older than me, so I have to wait a bit longer...
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,587
    edited March 2021

    RobD said:

    Companies in the UK are free to export vaccines whenever they want. Providing someone has actually ordered them.
    Wait - "all tools at its disposal". The French have got nukes.

    Did the EU just threaten to nuke the US???

    Go on say it - "you will not flinch from....."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3BO6GP9NMY&ab_channel=Jmagunda
    One of the greatest clips of all time, along with The Office / staff training day episode.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598
    Andy_JS said:

    RobD said:

    Companies in the UK are free to export vaccines whenever they want. Providing someone has actually ordered them.
    Wait - "all tools at its disposal". The French have got nukes.

    Did the EU just threaten to nuke the US???

    Go on say it - "you will not flinch from....."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3BO6GP9NMY&ab_channel=Jmagunda
    One of the greatest clips of all time, along with The Office / staff training day episode.
    What is disturbing is that it has been overtaken in the "this could really happen" stakes by the EU.....
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,822
    algarkirk said:

    Cookie said:

    algarkirk said:

    dixiedean said:

    Cookie said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Everyone criticises Labour for taking their "heartlands" for granted however the same could very well happen to the Conservatives. All this attention on the "red wall" could very well lead, in the long run, to traditional Conservative seats thinking that the Party is now for urban town dwellers and not for them. Especially if Brexit ends up being a negative for agriculture etc.

    Not something likely to happen in the near future but it's certainly a possibility in the long run. It's difficult juggling multiple competing priorities.

    Absolutely. The LibDems will come back...
    Because they forgot their coat on the way out?
    The Tories have been losing their heartlands too. The suburban middle class have been drifting away from them for years. 40 years ago seats like Sheffield Hallam, Leeds North West, Birmingham Edgbaston would have been safely in the blue column.
    A point which has been disguised by them being in the ascendancy.
    Former heartlands further out such as Altrincham, Macclesfield, Wycombe, etc would be competitive on an even national vote share.
    Part of the ebb and flow.
    The Tory heartlands are in reasonable shape, as instanced by the fact that you can drive fairly easily from Land's End to the outskirts of Edinburgh without leaving Tory held seats. (The possible routes are an interesting tour of the country). You can't do this when Labour's heartlands are in reasonable shape!

    But that's just a function of Labour seats being much smaller than Tory ones.

    And you might not be able do that in the event of a hypothetical election which leaves Tory and Labour even in terms of votes and seats. Such an election might leave an unbroken chain of Labour seats from the Humber to the Mersey. (Actually, on second thoughts, Brigg and Goole would probably be the winning chink in the Tories chain there.)
    Maybe we should abandon FPTP and move to a Blockbusters-style approach to determining a winner.
    Of course it is, but it also shows how Labour have lost the entire rural country (and there is a lot of it - much more than urbanites think) and have shrunk in scale and ambition.

    Your point about 'much more than urbanites think' is a salient one.
  • Starmer's best PMQs.

    Law and order could be Labour's winner IMHO
  • YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172



    The reality is much closer to the Richard Feynman line that no-one is that much smarter.

    Feynman said that? Really? Where?

    Every single story that Feynman ever told in his popular books made Feynman look a great genius and everyone else an idiot.

    Like SeanT stories.

    Feynman is SeanT for scientists.
    I came across the line in James Gleick's biography of RPF, "Genius". It's in a section musing on the link between genius and discovery- someone had written to Feynman asking a "what if X hadn't lived and Y hadn't been discovered?" question. Feynman's reply was that that was an odd question; the individual isn't the key unit of scientific advance. When something becomes needed, someone from the largeish pool of sufficiently bright people will be on the case. His work on the atom bomb may have helped form that view. I guess the development of mRNA vaccines into something useful over the last year is a bit like that.

    Complex character though- whoever came up with "all genius all buffoon" seems (to me) to have nailed it. Incredible integrity about the scientific process, even if it didn't spread much further.
    Ah, thanks. I read someone else's copy of "Genius" twenty years ago, but I did not like it much so don't have a personal copy.

    I really recommend "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track: The Letters of Richard P. Feynman".

    It has many wonderful letters to Feynman and his response; heartbreaking letters to Arlene, enthusiastic ones to young students, perceptive ones to colleagues.

    And funny ones like Feynman responding to letters like:

    Raymond Rogers, Dec 17th, 1965

    Dear Richard Feyman,

    I watched and listened to you on TV tonight and was amazed at your colossal ignorance and smugness ...
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,765
    RobD said:

    My god, just imagine for a minute the UK was still in the EU and having to.go along with dictator VDL threatening IP rights.

    Remember all that screeching about the UK could breach international law over the NI protocol as if the UK was proposing mass murder, that is like been caught speeding compared to what VDL has openly just proposed.

    Did anyone really think that in the months following Brexit the UK would appear to be the calm and competent one? :D
    I didn't. I have to confess. The europeans seem to have collectively lost their minds.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,204
    edited March 2021
    https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1372163811122237443

    Looks like a sensible solution to the nurse pay row - a flat bonus is progressive as it's larger for the lower paid and doesn't creep up year on year as a pay rise would.
    Reckon NHS England might go for this.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,355
    Except the problem isn't IP or licensing production.

    It is getting production up to capacity at existing plants. Starting production at other plants would take a non-trivial amount of time.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598
    Andy_JS said:
    They are also subject to the Covid laws.....
  • TheValiantTheValiant Posts: 1,878

    Pulpstar said:

    I have placed my bets.

    So you're the one backing The Northern Independence Party?

    Heh just realised I am going to call them the NIPs.
    Notice of Intented Prosecution?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,380

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
    Indeed. Boris' vaccination programme in Wales has been first class. Better even than his provision programme for England.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362

    gealbhan said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
    Nonsense. Would Boris and the team around him allow them to make nationalistic hay from it and shore themselves up (labour in Wales) politically if that was the truth?
    You really cannot identify a 'tongue in cheek' comment can you
    No. I thought you were being serious it’s true.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932
    The UK must have received the majority of its Pfizer order at this point, so less dependent on that one supplier.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
    Indeed. Boris' vaccination programme in Wales has been first class. Better even than his provision programme for England.
    I thought England was still ahead overall, just Wales has been doing better recently.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Looks like the US un-lockdown is in full swing....in the middle of a B.1.1.7 surge....

    https://twitter.com/petemuntean/status/1372155789259984899?s=20
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,468

    Andy_JS said:
    They are also subject to the Covid laws.....
    Being outside for work or "recreation" is now allowed whilst maintaining social distancing. It's probably arguable that what they're doing is within the Covid laws...
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,750
    MrEd said:

    HYUFD said:
    I think that might shock all the twatterati who seem to think the Boris is akin to Mussolini.

    What is interesting is we are seeing quite a big variation in Labour's number across recent polls, anywhere from low to high 30s. Where as Tories are firmly 42-45 range.
    The Greens have been polling high in recent polls. Wonder whether there is a small but sizeable chunk of Labour's left who are disappointed with Starmer and have decamped over there. Long-term, that might be troublesome (thinking Greens-SPD in Germany)
    Anecdotally, when I was actually allowed into my university to talk to students and the like (e.g. 2015, 2017 and 2019 elections) the students and some of the post-docs had more enthusiasm for the Greens than for Labour. They would have mostly voted Green if the Greens had had a serious chance of winning the seat. FPTP makes it pretty unlikely that will happen though - the Greens would need to pick up some more seats to show it's possible and build momentum, then several university seats could potentially come into play.

    Almost wonder whether it's worth bumping Caroline Lucas over to target number two (wherever that is) and getting someone else to run in and hopefully* hold Brighton Pavilion.

    *losing that being, of course, the big risk
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216

    Except the problem isn't IP or licensing production.

    It is getting production up to capacity at existing plants. Starting production at other plants would take a non-trivial amount of time.
    Anyone might think the EU and UVDL hasn't fully grasped this thing.....
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,421

    My god, just imagine for a minute the UK was still in the EU and having to.go along with dictator VDL threatening IP rights.

    Remember all that screeching about the UK could breach international law over the NI protocol as if the UK was proposing mass murder, that is like been caught speeding compared to what VDL has openly just proposed.

    You could argue that, if the UK was still in the EU, that it would be able to have a positive impact and prevent things like this, and the deal with China, from happening.

    Instead, we've lost our influence.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    My god, just imagine for a minute the UK was still in the EU and having to.go along with dictator VDL threatening IP rights.

    Remember all that screeching about the UK could breach international law over the NI protocol as if the UK was proposing mass murder, that is like been caught speeding compared to what VDL has openly just proposed.

    You could argue that, if the UK was still in the EU, that it would be able to have a positive impact and prevent things like this, and the deal with China, from happening.

    Instead, we've lost our influence.
    Ah, so this is because of Brexit.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598
    Pulpstar said:

    https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1372163811122237443

    Looks like a sensible solution to the nurse pay row - a flat bonus is progressive as it's larger for the lower paid and doesn't creep up year on year as a pay rise would.
    Reckon NHS England might go for this.

    The Scottish bonus will be £755 pounds......
  • contrariancontrarian Posts: 5,818

    Looks like the US un-lockdown is in full swing....in the middle of a B.1.1.7 surge....

    https://twitter.com/petemuntean/status/1372155789259984899?s=20

    You prefer the European approach to coping with the virus? or the Chinese approach?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598

    Pulpstar said:

    I have placed my bets.

    So you're the one backing The Northern Independence Party?

    Heh just realised I am going to call them the NIPs.
    Notice of Intented Prosecution?
    Nobody calls them the Police Service of Northern Ireland, do they?
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,285

    MaxPB said:

    Nigelb said:

    MaxPB said:

    https://twitter.com/HugoGye/status/1372129499559694341

    Where to start on this historically illiterate comment? Who funded Einstein's early work? The Patent Office?

    Hmm, I think he's probably right. There is definitely an unnecessary safety first approach, especially in the public sector.
    Newton would be governor of the Bank of England, Einstein would be at Imperial or Cambridge, and Turing CTO of a startup recently acquired by Softbank.
    Yes, and their discoveries and advancements would be lost to the UK economy and everything offshored.
    Newton wouldn't be governor of the Bank of England - too much a techie. He'd be some kind of tame quant, probably heading their Research Dept.
    Newton did have a job as Master of the Royal Mint...

    https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/sir-isaac-newton/
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,804
    Meanwhile, in EU headquarters:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmW-ScmGRMA
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    Andy_JS said:
    They are also subject to the Covid laws.....
    Being outside for work or "recreation" is now allowed whilst maintaining social distancing. It's probably arguable that what they're doing is within the Covid laws...
    From what I've read legal observers have no special status whatsoever. To the law they are just members of the public, in this case engaging in a proscribed activity.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598
    felix said:
    "Bat-shit crazy" does seem to be her default setting...
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,865

    MaxPB said:

    Glad to see that this has been picked up publicly, it's something that I've been tracking for over a month now, the figures are absolutely amazing and this is with only 3% of adults having had both doses. Two weeks from now that figure goes up to 15% lowering the CFR to zero for vulnerable groups.
    What gap are you using for case number to death numbers?
    We decided on 23 days for everyone over 60 and 31 days for everyone under. It's crude but works for us to look at the trend.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,468
    RobD said:

    Andy_JS said:
    They are also subject to the Covid laws.....
    Being outside for work or "recreation" is now allowed whilst maintaining social distancing. It's probably arguable that what they're doing is within the Covid laws...
    From what I've read legal observers have no special status whatsoever. To the law they are just members of the public, in this case engaging in a proscribed activity.
    What's the proscribed activity? Protesting?

    They're not protesting.

    They're allowed to be outside for recreation. You could probably argue what they are doing is "recreation", perhaps.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,865
    RobD said:

    The UK must have received the majority of its Pfizer order at this point, so less dependent on that one supplier.
    I don't think we're up to half yet, probably approaching it now.
  • PB Tories: we must praise Johnson for the vaccine rollout in England.

    PB Tories: Drakeford must not be praised for the vaccine rollout in Wales!
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,421
    RobD said:

    The UK must have received the majority of its Pfizer order at this point, so less dependent on that one supplier.
    Given the relatively small number of second doses we've done I'd have thought we would still have a lot of Pfizer second doses to do - but some of them will be in the country.
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556

    Starmer's best PMQs.

    Law and order could be Labour's winner IMHO

    ... if only they didn't make it their invariable policy to side with the criminals, that is.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    RobD said:

    Andy_JS said:
    They are also subject to the Covid laws.....
    Being outside for work or "recreation" is now allowed whilst maintaining social distancing. It's probably arguable that what they're doing is within the Covid laws...
    From what I've read legal observers have no special status whatsoever. To the law they are just members of the public, in this case engaging in a proscribed activity.
    What's the proscribed activity? Protesting?

    They're not protesting.

    They're allowed to be outside for recreation. You could probably argue what they are doing is "recreation", perhaps.
    Protesting isn't the illegal activity. Gathering is.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    Pulpstar said:

    https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1372163811122237443

    Looks like a sensible solution to the nurse pay row - a flat bonus is progressive as it's larger for the lower paid and doesn't creep up year on year as a pay rise would.
    Reckon NHS England might go for this.

    It’s not progressive is it? It’s sneaky electioneering. It’s heavily taxed so they won’t get what everyone thinks they are getting, it’s a one off so poor substitute for pay rise. It should be rightly rejected as taking the p***
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    PB Tories: we must praise Johnson for the vaccine rollout in England.

    PB Tories: Drakeford must not be praised for the vaccine rollout in Wales!

    What's this in reaction to?
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556

    PB Tories: we must praise Johnson for the vaccine rollout in England.

    PB Tories: Drakeford must not be praised for the vaccine rollout in Wales!

    How many vaccines did Drakeford procure? Is it zero?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,421
    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Massive numbers from Drakeford again

    1st dose 2nd dose
    17,385 16,202

    700k UK equivalent

    Where are Wales getting all these shots from?
    Boris
    Indeed. Boris' vaccination programme in Wales has been first class. Better even than his provision programme for England.
    I thought England was still ahead overall, just Wales has been doing better recently.
    Wales is way ahead on total doses administered, but England is in the lead on first doses.
This discussion has been closed.