Colston was toppled last summer. We have had lockdowns since last March. Statues should not be toppled without due process
I do wonder how many statues are actually that controversial. It probably isn't that many as Colston really was one of those exceptions where it was controversial to begin given that local people didn't pay for it.
It's not really an issue at all, just something contrived in order to serve the purpose of shouting "look, woke squirrel".
Pulling down statues is popular with many Labour councils because their left-wing membership and activist base dig it - they think the act of doing so demonstrates solidarity with minorities and represents some sort of progress. In reality, it sows division and does nothing to advance the cause of racial equality. In fact, it might even make it more difficult.
They should read the Hope Not Hate poll for what minorities really think about it.
No, that it is happening on any scale without appropriate consultation is a myth, one which it suits Jenrick to exaggerate and peddle for political purposes. A non-story, if every I saw one.
However, it serves a purpose. It stirs people like Casino into a rage. It's something of a Poundland MAGA programme. I find it particularly sworded because it is toxic bile spewed from the mouth of Robert Jenrick, the thinking man's student politician.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
Russia has never controlled an acre of British soil so far as I'm aware, they were an adversary through the cold war due to our position in the globe, nuclear firepower and alliance with the USA via NATO. France and Denmark are the only nations that have properly invaded us iirc, and those feuds in terms of military threats are long gone. Other historical threats have been when we stood up for what we believed (And certainly was in the case of the Nazis) was right in the world, and our own empire building a bit further back. So far as I can see for the forseeable future there won't be a military threat to the UK, it'll be via disinformation/terrorism and so forth that Russia/Iran sponsor and engage in. But that isn't obviously countered with the military.
Holland has invaded several times, most recently a rather halfarsed affair in 1688 which, to everyone’s astonishment, worked. Norway also invaded England in 1066 and Scotland several times, notably Hakon’s catastrophe in 1263. Spain made several less than efficient attempts in the sixteenth century, including one landing in Cornwall in 1595 and an even more inept one the following year.
Couldn't the 1688 affair be reasonably described as 'in support of treasonous activity'?
Yes, though whether the treason was that of James II, who was selling the country to France and the Pope, or the immortal seven, who invited William over, is arguable.
Talking of traitors, the Americans briefly controlled an acre or so of British soil during their raid on Whitehaven in 1778.
Colston was toppled last summer. We have had lockdowns since last March. Statues should not be toppled without due process
I do wonder how many statues are actually that controversial. It probably isn't that many as Colston really was one of those exceptions where it was controversial to begin given that local people didn't pay for it.
It's not really an issue at all, just something contrived in order to serve the purpose of shouting "look, woke squirrel".
Pulling down statues is popular with many Labour councils because their left-wing membership and activist base dig it - they think the act of doing so demonstrates solidarity with minorities and represents some sort of progress. In reality, it sows division and does nothing to advance the cause of racial equality. In fact, it might even make it more difficult.
They should read the Hope Not Hate poll for what minorities really think about it.
No, that it is happening on any scale without appropriate consultation is a myth, one which it suits Jenrick to exaggerate and peddle for political purposes. A non-story, if every I saw one.
Jenrick's article is almost a carbon copy of one Liz Truss wrote a few weeks back for the Mail on Sunday. Culture war is a central part of the government's political strategy. It's how it believes it will keep its voting coalition together.
It's all so boring and predictable. It's the same path the Republicans have taken in the US. Expect a similar destination.
No future for Scottish Labour if it remains Unionist, former minister says A FORMER Labour minister has said there is no future for Labour in Scotland if it continues to be a Unionist party.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday National in the wake of leader Richard Leonard’s resignation, Les Huckfield said that unless the party changed its stance on independence it was “never going to get anywhere”.
Les is in a lot of ways correct. For Scottish Labour to win seats they need to recover Labour to SNP supporters and unionism is reason enough for those people keep voting SNP.
They seem unable to grasp the facts, being seen as the Tories little helpers is a disaster for them
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
Maybe.
Except that at present “ultra-rejoiners” is a phantom conjured up by Brexiters to make themselves feel better for having damaged their own country.
Erecting straw men again I see. I saw that as a bit of a throw-away line. By the next election we might indeed have "ultra-rejoiners".
What is an ultra rejoiner and how do they differ from a regular rejoiner?
Don't really want them to lose, but I'd not begrudge SL a couple of quick wickets at the start of England's innings. What looked to be a dead Test has become rather interesting.
One thing for sure is that 'getting Brexit done' has not made any appreciable difference to anything.
It has produced a swing from the LDs to the Tories, as the new Survation as well as several other polls have confirmed after the LDs opposed the Brexit Deal.
Labour is unchanged and Starmer seems to have made the right call to vote for the Brexit Deal therefore
One thing for sure is that 'getting Brexit done' has not made any appreciable difference to anything.
It has produced a swing from the LDs to the Tories, as the new Survation as well as several other polls have confirmed after the LDs opposed the Brexit Deal.
Labour is unchanged and Starmer seems to have made the right call to vote for the Brexit Deal therefore
MOE 'swings' are not swings.
Regardless we have no idea if things would have turned out differently whatever Starmer did.
I think you're trying to fit the 'facts' to your narrative.
No future for Scottish Labour if it remains Unionist, former minister says A FORMER Labour minister has said there is no future for Labour in Scotland if it continues to be a Unionist party.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday National in the wake of leader Richard Leonard’s resignation, Les Huckfield said that unless the party changed its stance on independence it was “never going to get anywhere”.
Les is in a lot of ways correct. For Scottish Labour to win seats they need to recover Labour to SNP supporters and unionism is reason enough for those people keep voting SNP.
They seem unable to grasp the facts, being seen as the Tories little helpers is a disaster for them
Being seen as the SNP's little helpers would be an even bigger disaster for them, would lose them Tory tactical votes in the central belt and not see them win over any voters back from the SNP
One thing for sure is that 'getting Brexit done' has not made any appreciable difference to anything.
It has produced a swing from the LDs to the Tories, as the new Survation as well as several other polls have confirmed after the LDs opposed the Brexit Deal.
Labour is unchanged and Starmer seems to have made the right call to vote for the Brexit Deal therefore
So far, that would seem to be the case, but much more from Raab and things might well change.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
There is a middle group on Brexit who could stop the country being evenly split if we were ever listened to, neither the govt nor remain ever seem interested in us though. I could get behind some versions of leave but not this one and certainly not the process to get us here.
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
Maybe.
Except that at present “ultra-rejoiners” is a phantom conjured up by Brexiters to make themselves feel better for having damaged their own country.
Erecting straw men again I see. I saw that as a bit of a throw-away line. By the next election we might indeed have "ultra-rejoiners".
What is an ultra rejoiner and how do they differ from a regular rejoiner?
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
Yep - we are a very divided country. Neither of the main parties has the leadership to change that. It could well be that the 2019 general election result comes to be seen as the outlier, caused by a combination of a desire to get Brexit done and an historically unpopular LOTO.
Don't really want them to lose, but I'd not begrudge SL a couple of quick wickets at the start of England's innings. What looked to be a dead Test has become rather interesting.
I am sure Sibley will oblige. His technique is far too suspect for sub-contient conditions.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
Maybe.
Except that at present “ultra-rejoiners” is a phantom conjured up by Brexiters to make themselves feel better for having damaged their own country.
Erecting straw men again I see. I saw that as a bit of a throw-away line. By the next election we might indeed have "ultra-rejoiners".
What is an ultra rejoiner and how do they differ from a regular rejoiner?
Also a member of the National Trust.
Oh. So basically me.
And me too, I think. Perhaps we can petition Moscow for some funds. I have a loft extension project which needs money..
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
Given that Nigel's only policy seems to be No Lockdown during Covid what is he going to offer people come June when Covid is a solved (for the moment) problem.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
There is a middle group on Brexit who could stop the country being evenly split if we were ever listened to, neither the govt nor remain ever seem interested in us though. I could get behind some versions of leave but not this one and certainly not the process to get us here.
The other question is how well it turns out to go. It either be accepted as a success, or it won't.
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
Given that Nigel's only policy seems to be No Lockdown during Covid what is he going to offer people come June when Covid is a solved (for the moment) problem.
He’s Mr Anti-Woke. Defend the Channel; Defund the National Trust; Save Our Statues etc.
Which might even explain the govt’s activities in this space: not as a wedge against Labour, but as a hedge against Farage.
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
Yep - we are a very divided country. Neither of the main parties has the leadership to change that. It could well be that the 2019 general election result comes to be seen as the outlier, caused by a combination of a desire to get Brexit done and an historically unpopular LOTO.
Is one of the reasons for the stability that people can't meet their friends in pub, club, shopping centre or whatever and share grouses?
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Um, you need to find people to do it.
And given that this are health professionals they are already doing something so it's a matter of solving a (stupid) problem by creating a different problem elsewhere.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Um, you need to find people to do it.
They aren't struggling for people to rapidly expand the programme. The trials will be at supermarkets pharmacies who already have people working nearly 24hrs already.
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
Given that Nigel's only policy seems to be No Lockdown during Covid what is he going to offer people come June when Covid is a solved (for the moment) problem.
He’s Mr Anti-Woke. Defend the Channel; Defund the National Trust; Save Our Statues etc.
Which might even explain the govt’s activities in this space: not as a wedge against Labour, but as a hedge against Farage.
Conservatives don't like it when you say that Farage has been driving their policies for some time, even though because it's true.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
I agree, although the over 80s are/were probably less likely to use a 24 hours service, whereas younger age groups may be more likely to use it.
NHS and care home staff who work antisocial shifts. Also it isn't about 80 year olds going at 3am, lets say if they go between 6am and 10pm. Then the other 8hrs is frontline staff.
Lets see if it looks like it might be a goer or not. The sooner we have a handle on that the better.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Um, you need to find people to do it.
They aren't struggling for people to rapidly expand the programme. The trials will be at supermarkets pharmacies who already have people working nearly 24hrs already.
So it's the emergency pharmacist in the area (a rota that they opt into) being required to do something different.
I actually don't think we will end up doing widespread 24/7, but 6am-10pm doesn't seem too crazy. Especially when we start to get into working age people who might do nightshifts.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
There is a middle group on Brexit who could stop the country being evenly split if we were ever listened to, neither the govt nor remain ever seem interested in us though. I could get behind some versions of leave but not this one and certainly not the process to get us here.
The other question is how well it turns out to go. It either be accepted as a success, or it won't.
I think I know the answer to this one! Leavers will declare it a great success, remainers a great failure and realists and pragmatists will be ignored as usual.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
I agree, although the over 80s are/were probably less likely to use a 24 hours service, whereas younger age groups may be more likely to use it.
It would have been pretty useless at beginning as only over 80's being jagged. Get a grip , last thing we need is thousands of staff sitting on their butts all night doing nothing. As you say once it gets to younger ages who are likely to drive , use public transport at night then it makes sense.
Trump has been cavalier about the law requiring that records be preserved. He has a habit of ripping up documents before tossing them out, forcing White House workers to spend hours taping them back together.
White House staff quickly learned about Trump’s disregard for documents as they witnessed him tearing them up and discarding them. “My director came up to me and said, ‘You have to tape these together,’” said Solomon Lartey, a former White House records analyst
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Um, you need to find people to do it.
They aren't struggling for people to rapidly expand the programme. The trials will be at supermarkets pharmacies who already have people working nearly 24hrs already.
Yes a couple of shelfstackers filling in will do the trick.
I'm going to be different and say with one important caveat, I'm fairly supportive of Robert Jenrick's proposals on statues. It should be up to local people to decide and the planning consultation process is as good a method as any.
Where I part company is the notion a Minister will have the final veto - this is grotesque centralisation typical of how this Government thinks and acts. This isn't about a 2,000 home development on farmland - this is about a local statue and it should be left to the elected local councillors to take the final decision.
Conservatives used to believe in decentralisation - now it seems every decision has to either go through No.10 or Whitehall.
Trump has been cavalier about the law requiring that records be preserved. He has a habit of ripping up documents before tossing them out, forcing White House workers to spend hours taping them back together.
White House staff quickly learned about Trump’s disregard for documents as they witnessed him tearing them up and discarding them. “My director came up to me and said, ‘You have to tape these together,’” said Solomon Lartey, a former White House records analyst
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Um, you need to find people to do it.
They aren't struggling for people to rapidly expand the programme. The trials will be at supermarkets pharmacies who already have people working nearly 24hrs already.
Yes a couple of shelfstackers filling in will do the trick.
Some supermarket pharmacies are already open 18hrs a day. And the store are open 24hrs, with staff and security, so you send jabbers there with little extra hassle. Much easier than a civic centre that never nornally opens during those sort of hours.
That would be sensible, but hard to see how it can be revenue neutral with every LA in England in roughly the financial position of RBS under Fred the Shred.
Presumably if the scheme is run nationally, the revenue would be redistributed to LAs, thus replacing one income stream with another. Might there be efficiency savings from this, with a less fragmented collection and administration meaning economies of scale? I'm not a fan of this government's centralising instincts, but this would be good step to take.
Local taxation should be set locally. Otherwise, councils are mere supplicants.
I appreciate this is largely the case already but that’s half the problem.
I think council tax only accounts for about a quarter to a third of LA income.
My view is that a couple of extra council tax bands and a level of local business/sales taxes would make sense, within reason.
How would a local sales tax work?
Add council tax bands and you immediately have a problem of revaluation - and I really do think that is something that the Government is going to want to avoid. Remember house prices in the Red Wall seats are 1/2 to 1/3 of the price down South or worse - any council band revaluations will make that obvious.
I actually think you end up with a land value tax as the more political safe option regardless of the pain it creates.
You stick 1-2 or 3% on VAT by city or county.
Ideally this would be accompanied by central government reducing VAT to 18% in the first instance, which would end up transferring about £20 billion in revenue generation from central to local government.
I think that could have been a very, very good idea in the past, but doesn't work anymore as a local tax due to the rise of online shopping. You'd either have a couple of hubs getting a ridiculous amount of money and everyone else not much - or you'd need to base it on where the customer is and the bureaucracy with that would be ridiculous.
That would be sensible, but hard to see how it can be revenue neutral with every LA in England in roughly the financial position of RBS under Fred the Shred.
Presumably if the scheme is run nationally, the revenue would be redistributed to LAs, thus replacing one income stream with another. Might there be efficiency savings from this, with a less fragmented collection and administration meaning economies of scale? I'm not a fan of this government's centralising instincts, but this would be good step to take.
Local taxation should be set locally. Otherwise, councils are mere supplicants.
I appreciate this is largely the case already but that’s half the problem.
I think council tax only accounts for about a quarter to a third of LA income.
My view is that a couple of extra council tax bands and a level of local business/sales taxes would make sense, within reason.
How would a local sales tax work?
Add council tax bands and you immediately have a problem of revaluation - and I really do think that is something that the Government is going to want to avoid. Remember house prices in the Red Wall seats are 1/2 to 1/3 of the price down South or worse - any council band revaluations will make that obvious.
I actually think you end up with a land value tax as the more political safe option regardless of the pain it creates.
You stick 1-2 or 3% on VAT by city or county.
Ideally this would be accompanied by central government reducing VAT to 18% in the first instance, which would end up transferring about £20 billion in revenue generation from central to local government.
I think that could have been a very, very good idea in the past, but doesn't work anymore as a local tax due to the rise of online shopping. You'd either have a couple of hubs getting a ridiculous amount of money and everyone else not much - or you'd need to base it on where the customer is and the bureaucracy with that would be ridiculous.
As I said before it really doesn't take long until you actually run out of possible options. A lot of things look great in theory but fall apart on implementation
You end up quickly looking at income tax and land value taxes as everything else just isn't practical.
22 overs supposedly left tonight but very unlikely the light will hold. Unless England have a car crash this is going into tomorrow morning.
74 to get.
They will be lucky to get 15 overs. Not enough I suspect.
And of course at Galle, once the light goes, it goes. Lovely place to be though.And the ground staff are amazing, covering and drying up when it rains.
I actually don't think we will end up doing widespread 24/7, but 6am-10pm doesn't seem too crazy. Especially when we start to get into working age people who might do nightshifts.
It still depends on supply. There really is no point in increasing capacity unless there is vaccine to inject. I suspect that we will be able to deliver nearly all of the vaccine we have within a 12 hour window. That doesn't mean that in large cities 24 hours is not worth a go.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Um, you need to find people to do it.
And given that this are health professionals they are already doing something so it's a matter of solving a (stupid) problem by creating a different problem elsewhere.
Armed Forces.
If you had drive-ins open midnight - 6.00am manned by squaddies, then with the overriding caveat that you have spare vaccines, let anybody turn up. Night workers, those who want to go on trips to visit family, the insomniacs lying awake worrying about Covid, night crawlers, nature's queue-bargers - jab them all. If they are out those hours, then you are much more likely to be catching those already out and about (and hence a vector for transmission) than the in-bed-by-ten with their Horlicks brigade that are currently being worked through.
Florida, surely, but I won't be betting on it. More fitting would be if he vanishes for a short period and then turns up - Colonel Kuntz style - crazed and bloated in a deep jungle compound somewhere thousands of miles away, addressing the faithful through youtube, rambling still about stolen elections and being the real president, but with more sound & fury now, filters off, letting it all hang out: "Radical left, no ID, no ID, Patriots are coming, drain the swamp! release the kraken! all the beautiful babies ..." Until, one day, a tough and resourceful young man on a mission arrives. He carries a pair of scissors.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
The new generation of wars will be fought in cyberspace, as much as by conventional militaries with guns, tanks and planes.
Russia has been trying to destabilise the West for a while now. Key to how we win the war is to reduce European dependence on the Russian oil and gas which is pretty much their only source of hand currency.
Indeed. Just because Russia doesn't have tanks on our doorstep threatening immediate physical invasion doesn't mean it's not a threat to us.
It regularly tests British air defences, launches submarine incursions into our waters, hacks our networks and intelligence and carries out acts of state-sanctioned murder on our soil. Not to mention invading its neighbours and trying to destabilise NATO, which keeps us safe overall.
Those who doubt the veracity of this should read the recent cross-party parliamentary report on Russia.
And notably its biggest threat is troll farms stirring up alt.right culture wars amongst useful idiots.
Yes, it does that. It also does it on the left too, seeking to undermine faith and belief in the British state, as well as regional nationalisms.
Disunity and fragmentation is its chief interest because that makes us easy pickings.
The right, in its ideological campaign against government, has most to answer for in undermining faith and belief in institutions.
I wasn't having a go at your wing of the political spectrum here Jonathan (although, admittedly, I often do) I was merely making the point that the Russians and Chinese are entirely undiscerning when it comes to fomenting domestic division.
They'll be funding and encouraging Corbynites, the Alt-Right, BLM, ultra-Brexiteers, pacifists, republicans, Scottish and Welsh nationalists, English nationalists, XR, climate change sceptics, ultra-Rejoiners and condemners of the BBC.
Anything that polarises us.
Hence Salmond on Russia Today, etc. But Putin was (is) a Brexiter.
It really wasn’t only “ultra-Brexiteers” that benefited from Russian support.
And putting “ultra-Rejoiners” into the mix is total lolz.
Surely the way to foment discord in the near future would be to support any future campaign trying to get us back in. Brexit is divisive for two reasons (a) voters appear to be evenly split on the matter and (b) it raises strong emotions, for reasons I don't quite understand. Remain - or rejoin - is just as divisive as Brexit, it just happened to be the status quo.
Maybe.
Except that at present “ultra-rejoiners” is a phantom conjured up by Brexiters to make themselves feel better for having damaged their own country.
Erecting straw men again I see. I saw that as a bit of a throw-away line. By the next election we might indeed have "ultra-rejoiners".
What is an ultra rejoiner and how do they differ from a regular rejoiner?
Also a member of the National Trust.
Oh. So basically me.
And me too, I think. Perhaps we can petition Moscow for some funds. I have a loft extension project which needs money..
I think you will find that Moscow is on the other side of this argument.
Looking at the plans for the G7 summit has anyone tried to get from Falmouth (where the media is) to St Ives?
And unless the hotel has been done up I remember it being very dated when we were last there (3 years ago).
I was there a couple of years ago and they were doing a lot of work on it. Not the place you'd immediately think of for a G7 summit. The food will need to up its game.
St. Ives is not great for the car. I once reversed the entire way round their one way system. Seemed to be the only way to get to where to I could see I wanted to be. /DuraAceMode
Some supermarket pharmacies are already open 18hrs a day. And the store are open 24hrs, with staff and security, so you send jabbers there with little extra hassle. Much easier than a civic centre that never nornally opens during those sort of hours.
I think a lot of the supermarkets have stopped operating 24 hours a day. My local Tesco Extra opens 6am to Midnight where previously it was 24 hour opening and my local large Sainsbury's the same.
Part of me hopes we don't go back to 24 hour opening though, to be fair, in my single days, shopping at 2am and meeting all the single women in the fruit & veg section was the highlight of my social life.
My son has been isolating after a co-worker caught Covid. He has no symptoms and took the test. Rang for his result but was told to ring back a few days later. Rang again. They can't find it so the matter has been handed to the "investigations team". He's been told that he can go back to work after 10 days even if he still does not have his test result.
This is appallingly unsatisfactory for a number of reasons:-
1. He lives with his father and brother. If he has it and is asymptomatic they are at risk but without a test result they have no idea what additional precautions to take beyond what they are already doing. 2. If he develops problems later how does anyone know whether they might be linked to Covid. 3. He is classified as a key worker - as he works in the food sector. So it's pretty important for him to know whether he has the damn thing or not. 4. How is any sort of negative test solution going to work if results are not given out or lost.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any ideas on what else he might do?
My son has been isolating after a co-worker caught Covid. He has no symptoms and took the test. Rang for his result but was told to ring back a few days later. Rang again. They can't find it so the matter has been handed to the "investigations team". He's been told that he can go back to work after 10 days even if he still does not have his test result.
This is appallingly unsatisfactory for a number of reasons:-
1. He lives with his father and brother. If he has it and is asymptomatic they are at risk but without a test result they have no idea what additional precautions to take beyond what they are already doing. 2. If he develops problems later how does anyone know whether they might be linked to Covid. 3. He is classified as a key worker - as he works in the food sector. So it's pretty important for him to know whether he has the damn thing or not. 4. How is any sort of negative test solution going to work if results are not given out or lost.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any ideas on what else he might do?
Thanks in advance.
That is pretty pathetic. However, also have to say that wasn't my experience. I had the result in 18 hours.
Just catching up, a very good and insightful piece from @david_herdson yesterday.
As the USA increasingly looks towards China for its foreign policy issues, European nations are going to have to do much more themselves in the future, to defend against the threats from Russia.
Nah, Russia is no longer a military threat to us. It will concentrate on harassing its neighbours, and bumping off the odd dissident at home and abroad while sowing alt.right trolls across the west.
We have no significant military enemies any more. Indeed need to rethink what our armed forces are for besides bussing vaccines around old folks homes.
Russia has never controlled an acre of British soil so far as I'm aware, they were an adversary through the cold war due to our position in the globe, nuclear firepower and alliance with the USA via NATO. France and Denmark are the only nations that have properly invaded us iirc, and those feuds in terms of military threats are long gone. Other historical threats have been when we stood up for what we believed (And certainly was in the case of the Nazis) was right in the world, and our own empire building a bit further back. So far as I can see for the forseeable future there won't be a military threat to the UK, it'll be via disinformation/terrorism and so forth that Russia/Iran sponsor and engage in. But that isn't obviously countered with the military.
Yes, having enemies and being invaded are two different things, and classic country X invades country Y as per WW2 has become extremely rare across the globe, virtually the only examples being disputed borders and the aftermath of state collapse (Ukraine being the obvious example). Conversely, society is now much more vulnerable to direct cyberattack and more insidious efforts like fake news. I don't see much point in retaining significant tank forces but we should certainly invest in expanding places like GCHQ.
An interesitng question is *why* international invasion has become rare. Has the human race grown up a bit?
1. Financial cost. It just isn't worth the outlay. It takes far too long for the victor to recoup.
2. Many of the world's borders are now very settled. European borders - for centuries the source of most of these international invasions - are not the source of conflict they were.
3. Large power entities have gone from military (British Empire, Warsaw Pact) to economic (Commonwealth, EU). China has found a way to mask ambitions of empire as "friendship" to secure its economic needs - rare earth metals in Africa, for example. Just buy the head guy. So much easier.
4. Don't laugh at the back - The United Nations. A gathering to talk about grievances/heap opprobrium - and sanctions - on those who might invade.
5. Democracy. It is generally hard to get elected on the basis of taking your country to war. We have moved even recently from those prepared to sanction wars when in power - Bush, Blair - to those who don't see its electoral benefits - Trump.
6. Mutual assistance against aggressors - whether formal (NATO) or rather more behind the scenes (US aid to the UK in regaining the Falklands).
7. Not all good news though - the trend is more towards securing power within exisiting borders, whatever that takes - look at Syria.
Fair points, but there are, for example, the recent exceptions of Crimea, Ukraine, and Nagorno Karabakh. And the possible future one of Taiwan, where it’s not just a case of China believing it’s theirs, but that strategically it is more than worth the outlay, if they could avoid war with the US.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
I agree, although the over 80s are/were probably less likely to use a 24 hours service, whereas younger age groups may be more likely to use it.
I'm not sure - clearly some over 80 will simply not be physically able to, but they are certainly the most scared segment and in many cases proud of their discipline and more than ready to turn up at 3am or whatever. As an over-70 I'd certainly do it like a...shot. Anyway, a pilot is right way to test it, but as usual they are being too slow to get round to it.
Colston was toppled last summer. We have had lockdowns since last March. Statues should not be toppled without due process
I do wonder how many statues are actually that controversial. It probably isn't that many as Colston really was one of those exceptions where it was controversial to begin given that local people didn't pay for it.
It's not really an issue at all, just something contrived in order to serve the purpose of shouting "look, woke squirrel".
Pulling down statues is popular with many Labour councils because their left-wing membership and activist base dig it - they think the act of doing so demonstrates solidarity with minorities and represents some sort of progress. In reality, it sows division and does nothing to advance the cause of racial equality. In fact, it might even make it more difficult.
They should read the Hope Not Hate poll for what minorities really think about it.
No, that it is happening on any scale without appropriate consultation is a myth, one which it suits Jenrick to exaggerate and peddle for political purposes. A non-story, if every I saw one.
Jenrick's article is almost a carbon copy of one Liz Truss wrote a few weeks back for the Mail on Sunday. Culture war is a central part of the government's political strategy. It's how it believes it will keep its voting coalition together.
Hmmm. *bell rings in mind* *checks*
In another sign the Conservative Party is no longer a conservative party, it is abandoning its roots in Oxford ant-statue actions:
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
I agree, although the over 80s are/were probably less likely to use a 24 hours service, whereas younger age groups may be more likely to use it.
I'm not sure - clearly some over 80 will simply not be physically able to, but they are certainly the most scared segment and in many cases proud of their discipline and more than ready to turn up at 3am or whatever. As an over-70 I'd certainly do it like a...shot. Anyway, a pilot is right way to test it, but as usual they are being too slow to get round to it.
Actually so far every other aspect of the vaccination programme has not be "as usual too slow". Quite the opposite, they have hit the required rate already and there is no let up. More centres open tomorrow, target is now 500k/day and now talk of hitting 4-5m a week in a 2-3 months.
My son has been isolating after a co-worker caught Covid. He has no symptoms and took the test. Rang for his result but was told to ring back a few days later. Rang again. They can't find it so the matter has been handed to the "investigations team". He's been told that he can go back to work after 10 days even if he still does not have his test result.
This is appallingly unsatisfactory for a number of reasons:-
1. He lives with his father and brother. If he has it and is asymptomatic they are at risk but without a test result they have no idea what additional precautions to take beyond what they are already doing. 2. If he develops problems later how does anyone know whether they might be linked to Covid. 3. He is classified as a key worker - as he works in the food sector. So it's pretty important for him to know whether he has the damn thing or not. 4. How is any sort of negative test solution going to work if results are not given out or lost.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any ideas on what else he might do?
Thanks in advance.
That is pretty pathetic. However, also have to say that wasn't my experience. I had the result in 18 hours.
That's what we all expected. And this is in London. I don't know whether he should just ask for another test. My husband went to London to be with our sons for a bit before the lockdown before last. Now he is trapped there. But is at more at risk than being here. So it is important that the testing system works properly. It is very worrying when this sort of cock up happens and the response is just to say "oh well, never mind, just carry on as if nothing's happened".
Tories up to their tricks again, I see. Seeking to turn the attention of working people away from trivia such as reduced employment protections and onto far more important stuff like "new law to protect our statues from the baying mob!"
My son has been isolating after a co-worker caught Covid. He has no symptoms and took the test. Rang for his result but was told to ring back a few days later. Rang again. They can't find it so the matter has been handed to the "investigations team". He's been told that he can go back to work after 10 days even if he still does not have his test result.
This is appallingly unsatisfactory for a number of reasons:-
1. He lives with his father and brother. If he has it and is asymptomatic they are at risk but without a test result they have no idea what additional precautions to take beyond what they are already doing. 2. If he develops problems later how does anyone know whether they might be linked to Covid. 3. He is classified as a key worker - as he works in the food sector. So it's pretty important for him to know whether he has the damn thing or not. 4. How is any sort of negative test solution going to work if results are not given out or lost.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any ideas on what else he might do?
Thanks in advance.
That is pretty pathetic. However, also have to say that wasn't my experience. I had the result in 18 hours.
That's what we all expected. And this is in London. I don't know whether he should just ask for another test. My husband went to London to be with our sons for a bit before the lockdown before last. Now he is trapped there. But is at more at risk than being here. So it is important that the testing system works properly. It is very worrying when this sort of cock up happens and the response is just to say "oh well, never mind, just carry on as if nothing's happened".
If they're that far behind, that would be the obvious thing to do. If he could book a test today or tomorrow he might have the result Wednesday, which would presumably shave a couple of days off?
Florida, surely, but I won't be betting on it. More fitting would be if he vanishes for a short period and then turns up - Colonel Kuntz style - crazed and bloated in a deep jungle compound somewhere thousands of miles away, addressing the faithful through youtube, rambling still about stolen elections and being the real president, but with more sound & fury now, filters off, letting it all hang out: "Radical left, no ID, no ID, Patriots are coming, drain the swamp! release the kraken! all the beautiful babies ..." Until, one day, a tough and resourceful young man on a mission arrives. He carries a pair of scissors.
I predicted he would go quietly just before Christmas. Off to Florida and never return. That worked out well.
It is difficult to see what he can do now, but with all the potential civil cases (Dominion, IRS, being sued by people claiming rape, etc, etc) that could bankrupt him and all the potential criminal cases (Sedition, IRS again, etc, etc) that could send him to jail for life, then unless he does just think he is immune for some reason, why wouldn't he go all out for something spectacular in the last couple of days? Can't think what though. Martial law? Getting the nutters to take over the State senate buildings? Can't think of anything more rational he can do.
I realise this won't be a popular view but I have serious qualms about the current vaccination programme.
The one thing I have no qualms about whatsoever is the vaccine itself - we should all be vaccinated and it's worrying to see such poor intended take-up in some communities and I'm pleased this is being addressed by religious and other community leaders.
My problem remains with the notion vaccinating a lot of people once is the way forward.
I disagree.
We should be doing this properly. There have been documented instances of individuals getting the first Pfizer vaccination and then contracting Covid and dying. Pfizer made it abundantly clear the maximum immunity is achieved one week after the second vaccination or four week in total after the first vaccination.
We should be proceeding on that basis - ensuring those who are most at risk are properly vaccinated with two vaccinations twenty one days apart. As far as I can see all the current available vaccines rely on two vaccinations - that may not be the case in time but it is now. We use booster vaccinations regularly - MMR and the annual flu vaccination for example.
It's my view getting a smaller number properly protected is preferable to providing a limited degree of immunity for a larger number. The Pfizer vaccination achieves 52% protection 12 days after the first vaccination - 95% is achieved seven days after the second vaccination.
Oxford-AZ is a little better with Moderna better still.
I think there are political reasons why the Government has taken the action it has and I think they are wrong. I want us all to be vaccinated but properly and effectively - we don't, after all, really know how long immunity will last and it may be we will all need further vaccination later in the year.
The figures suggest lock down is having the desired impact in reducing case numbers - ensuring those at risk are properly vaccinated to reduce deaths and hospitalisations seems the obvious way forward in conjunction with the maintenance of restrictions until all those over 50 are properly vaccinated (with two vaccinations).
This is a pretty fierce test of Dan Lawrence. If he can dig England out of this he should be secure for the foreseeable.
Bairstow is yet again running like a lunatic.
I do wonder how bad T20 is for players when it comes to test matches. Bairstow has been out so often in test matches over past 3 years trying to get the ball down to 3rd man from balls he didn't even need to play, because he does that in T20 as the default stroke...and now running like T20 game.
I realise this won't be a popular view but I have serious qualms about the current vaccination programme.
The one thing I have no qualms about whatsoever is the vaccine itself - we should all be vaccinated and it's worrying to see such poor intended take-up in some communities and I'm pleased this is being addressed by religious and other community leaders.
My problem remains with the notion vaccinating a lot of people once is the way forward.
I disagree.
We should be doing this properly. There have been documented instances of individuals getting the first Pfizer vaccination and then contracting Covid and dying. Pfizer made it abundantly clear the maximum immunity is achieved one week after the second vaccination or four week in total after the first vaccination.
We should be proceeding on that basis - ensuring those who are most at risk are properly vaccinated with two vaccinations twenty one days apart. As far as I can see all the current available vaccines rely on two vaccinations - that may not be the case in time but it is now. We use booster vaccinations regularly - MMR and the annual flu vaccination for example.
It's my view getting a smaller number properly protected is preferable to providing a limited degree of immunity for a larger number. The Pfizer vaccination achieves 52% protection 12 days after the first vaccination - 95% is achieved seven days after the second vaccination.
Oxford-AZ is a little better with Moderna better still.
I think there are political reasons why the Government has taken the action it has and I think they are wrong. I want us all to be vaccinated but properly and effectively - we don't, after all, really know how long immunity will last and it may be we will all need further vaccination later in the year.
The figures suggest lock down is having the desired impact in reducing case numbers - ensuring those at risk are properly vaccinated to reduce deaths and hospitalisations seems the obvious way forward in conjunction with the maintenance of restrictions until all those over 50 are properly vaccinated (with two vaccinations).
With Pfizer you may be right. With Oxford the recommended waiting time is three months anyway.
Colston was toppled last summer. We have had lockdowns since last March. Statues should not be toppled without due process
I do wonder how many statues are actually that controversial. It probably isn't that many as Colston really was one of those exceptions where it was controversial to begin given that local people didn't pay for it.
It's not really an issue at all, just something contrived in order to serve the purpose of shouting "look, woke squirrel".
Pulling down statues is popular with many Labour councils because their left-wing membership and activist base dig it - they think the act of doing so demonstrates solidarity with minorities and represents some sort of progress. In reality, it sows division and does nothing to advance the cause of racial equality. In fact, it might even make it more difficult.
They should read the Hope Not Hate poll for what minorities really think about it.
No, that it is happening on any scale without appropriate consultation is a myth, one which it suits Jenrick to exaggerate and peddle for political purposes. A non-story, if every I saw one.
Yes, and it's worth noting that when crowds pulled down a few statues the repsonse was "Why don't they follow democratic procedures and petition the council to do it?" So a couple of councils ("many"??) did consider it and this is the result.
In Waverley we discovered that a local museum highlights a Parliamentary reformer who was also pro-slave trade. We pondered for a few seconds and then said "Oh well" and moved on. I mentioned it in passing to my CLP membership, who collectively shrugged. Proper left-wingers want to change systems, not get hung up on tokenism.
I realise this won't be a popular view but I have serious qualms about the current vaccination programme.
The one thing I have no qualms about whatsoever is the vaccine itself - we should all be vaccinated and it's worrying to see such poor intended take-up in some communities and I'm pleased this is being addressed by religious and other community leaders.
My problem remains with the notion vaccinating a lot of people once is the way forward.
I disagree.
We should be doing this properly. There have been documented instances of individuals getting the first Pfizer vaccination and then contracting Covid and dying. Pfizer made it abundantly clear the maximum immunity is achieved one week after the second vaccination or four week in total after the first vaccination.
We should be proceeding on that basis - ensuring those who are most at risk are properly vaccinated with two vaccinations twenty one days apart. As far as I can see all the current available vaccines rely on two vaccinations - that may not be the case in time but it is now. We use booster vaccinations regularly - MMR and the annual flu vaccination for example.
It's my view getting a smaller number properly protected is preferable to providing a limited degree of immunity for a larger number. The Pfizer vaccination achieves 52% protection 12 days after the first vaccination - 95% is achieved seven days after the second vaccination.
Oxford-AZ is a little better with Moderna better still.
I think there are political reasons why the Government has taken the action it has and I think they are wrong. I want us all to be vaccinated but properly and effectively - we don't, after all, really know how long immunity will last and it may be we will all need further vaccination later in the year.
The figures suggest lock down is having the desired impact in reducing case numbers - ensuring those at risk are properly vaccinated to reduce deaths and hospitalisations seems the obvious way forward in conjunction with the maintenance of restrictions until all those over 50 are properly vaccinated (with two vaccinations).
One wonders if mass vaccination will become the country's new painting of the Forth Rail Bridge i.e. basically you start at the beginning again immediately after you've finished the last go.
Colston was toppled last summer. We have had lockdowns since last March. Statues should not be toppled without due process
I do wonder how many statues are actually that controversial. It probably isn't that many as Colston really was one of those exceptions where it was controversial to begin given that local people didn't pay for it.
It's not really an issue at all, just something contrived in order to serve the purpose of shouting "look, woke squirrel".
Pulling down statues is popular with many Labour councils because their left-wing membership and activist base dig it - they think the act of doing so demonstrates solidarity with minorities and represents some sort of progress. In reality, it sows division and does nothing to advance the cause of racial equality. In fact, it might even make it more difficult.
They should read the Hope Not Hate poll for what minorities really think about it.
No, that it is happening on any scale without appropriate consultation is a myth, one which it suits Jenrick to exaggerate and peddle for political purposes. A non-story, if every I saw one.
Jenrick's article is almost a carbon copy of one Liz Truss wrote a few weeks back for the Mail on Sunday. Culture war is a central part of the government's political strategy. It's how it believes it will keep its voting coalition together.
Hmmm. *bell rings in mind* *checks*
In another sign the Conservative Party is no longer a conservative party, it is abandoning its roots in Oxford ant-statue actions:
Except that even then the aristocratic perpetrators were either expelled or rusticated in disgust, and their action arose from the not-entirely-ungallant purpose of protesting the loss of employment of a member of college staff, not ideological hatred of the subjects of the pieces.
Dean Liddell threw the book at them... (Coat time again)
I realise this won't be a popular view but I have serious qualms about the current vaccination programme.
The one thing I have no qualms about whatsoever is the vaccine itself - we should all be vaccinated and it's worrying to see such poor intended take-up in some communities and I'm pleased this is being addressed by religious and other community leaders.
My problem remains with the notion vaccinating a lot of people once is the way forward.
I disagree.
We should be doing this properly. There have been documented instances of individuals getting the first Pfizer vaccination and then contracting Covid and dying. Pfizer made it abundantly clear the maximum immunity is achieved one week after the second vaccination or four week in total after the first vaccination.
We should be proceeding on that basis - ensuring those who are most at risk are properly vaccinated with two vaccinations twenty one days apart. As far as I can see all the current available vaccines rely on two vaccinations - that may not be the case in time but it is now. We use booster vaccinations regularly - MMR and the annual flu vaccination for example.
It's my view getting a smaller number properly protected is preferable to providing a limited degree of immunity for a larger number. The Pfizer vaccination achieves 52% protection 12 days after the first vaccination - 95% is achieved seven days after the second vaccination.
Oxford-AZ is a little better with Moderna better still.
I think there are political reasons why the Government has taken the action it has and I think they are wrong. I want us all to be vaccinated but properly and effectively - we don't, after all, really know how long immunity will last and it may be we will all need further vaccination later in the year.
The figures suggest lock down is having the desired impact in reducing case numbers - ensuring those at risk are properly vaccinated to reduce deaths and hospitalisations seems the obvious way forward in conjunction with the maintenance of restrictions until all those over 50 are properly vaccinated (with two vaccinations).
One wonders if mass vaccination will become the country's new painting of the Forth Rail Bridge i.e. basically you start at the beginning again immediately after you've finished the last go.
Many experts from the beginning of this pandemic have suggested that your Covid shot could well become like the annual flu jab.
Comments
What looked to be a dead Test has become rather interesting.
Labour is unchanged and Starmer seems to have made the right call to vote for the Brexit Deal therefore
Regardless we have no idea if things would have turned out differently whatever Starmer did.
I think you're trying to fit the 'facts' to your narrative.
In reality the three main parties have not moved in months. The only interesting thing is the arrival of Nigel’s new party, currently hiding under “Others”.
https://twitter.com/cjayanetti/status/1350756761368752129
Perhaps we can petition Moscow for some funds. I have a loft extension project which needs money..
Too slow. Should have been setup by now.and quickly get a handle on if it will work.
Defend the Channel; Defund the National Trust; Save Our Statues etc.
Which might even explain the govt’s activities in this space: not as a wedge against Labour, but as a hedge against Farage.
And given that this are health professionals they are already doing something so it's a matter of solving a (stupid) problem by creating a different problem elsewhere.
Lets see if it looks like it might be a goer or not. The sooner we have a handle on that the better.
Do pharmacies do injections at 3am currently?
White House staff quickly learned about Trump’s disregard for documents as they witnessed him tearing them up and discarding them. “My director came up to me and said, ‘You have to tape these together,’” said Solomon Lartey, a former White House records analyst
https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/17/historians-having-to-tape-together-records-that-trump-tore-up
I'm going to be different and say with one important caveat, I'm fairly supportive of Robert Jenrick's proposals on statues. It should be up to local people to decide and the planning consultation process is as good a method as any.
Where I part company is the notion a Minister will have the final veto - this is grotesque centralisation typical of how this Government thinks and acts. This isn't about a 2,000 home development on farmland - this is about a local statue and it should be left to the elected local councillors to take the final decision.
Conservatives used to believe in decentralisation - now it seems every decision has to either go through No.10 or Whitehall.
And unless the hotel has been done up I remember it being very dated when we were last there (3 years ago).
You end up quickly looking at income tax and land value taxes as everything else just isn't practical.
If you had drive-ins open midnight - 6.00am manned by squaddies, then with the overriding caveat that you have spare vaccines, let anybody turn up. Night workers, those who want to go on trips to visit family, the insomniacs lying awake worrying about Covid, night crawlers, nature's queue-bargers - jab them all. If they are out those hours, then you are much more likely to be catching those already out and about (and hence a vector for transmission) than the in-bed-by-ten with their Horlicks brigade that are currently being worked through.
St. Ives is not great for the car. I once reversed the entire way round their one way system. Seemed to be the only way to get to where to I could see I wanted to be. /DuraAceMode
Part of me hopes we don't go back to 24 hour opening though, to be fair, in my single days, shopping at 2am and meeting all the single women in the fruit & veg section was the highlight of my social life.
My son has been isolating after a co-worker caught Covid. He has no symptoms and took the test. Rang for his result but was told to ring back a few days later. Rang again. They can't find it so the matter has been handed to the "investigations team". He's been told that he can go back to work after 10 days even if he still does not have his test result.
This is appallingly unsatisfactory for a number of reasons:-
1. He lives with his father and brother. If he has it and is asymptomatic they are at risk but without a test result they have no idea what additional precautions to take beyond what they are already doing.
2. If he develops problems later how does anyone know whether they might be linked to Covid.
3. He is classified as a key worker - as he works in the food sector. So it's pretty important for him to know whether he has the damn thing or not.
4. How is any sort of negative test solution going to work if results are not given out or lost.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any ideas on what else he might do?
Thanks in advance.
I seemed to.remember 100s of tweets about how Biden hates Boris so much he will blank him and the UK....
And the possible future one of Taiwan, where it’s not just a case of China believing it’s theirs, but that strategically it is more than worth the outlay, if they could avoid war with the US.
In another sign the Conservative Party is no longer a conservative party, it is abandoning its roots in Oxford ant-statue actions:
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/blog/practical-joke-or-wanton-vandalism-library-statues-row-may-1870
B. 100s of tweets?
Are England trying to lose this game? 🏏
It is difficult to see what he can do now, but with all the potential civil cases (Dominion, IRS, being sued by people claiming rape, etc, etc) that could bankrupt him and all the potential criminal cases (Sedition, IRS again, etc, etc) that could send him to jail for life, then unless he does just think he is immune for some reason, why wouldn't he go all out for something spectacular in the last couple of days? Can't think what though. Martial law? Getting the nutters to take over the State senate buildings? Can't think of anything more rational he can do.
I realise this won't be a popular view but I have serious qualms about the current vaccination programme.
The one thing I have no qualms about whatsoever is the vaccine itself - we should all be vaccinated and it's worrying to see such poor intended take-up in some communities and I'm pleased this is being addressed by religious and other community leaders.
My problem remains with the notion vaccinating a lot of people once is the way forward.
I disagree.
We should be doing this properly. There have been documented instances of individuals getting the first Pfizer vaccination and then contracting Covid and dying. Pfizer made it abundantly clear the maximum immunity is achieved one week after the second vaccination or four week in total after the first vaccination.
We should be proceeding on that basis - ensuring those who are most at risk are properly vaccinated with two vaccinations twenty one days apart. As far as I can see all the current available vaccines rely on two vaccinations - that may not be the case in time but it is now. We use booster vaccinations regularly - MMR and the annual flu vaccination for example.
It's my view getting a smaller number properly protected is preferable to providing a limited degree of immunity for a larger number. The Pfizer vaccination achieves 52% protection 12 days after the first vaccination - 95% is achieved seven days after the second vaccination.
Oxford-AZ is a little better with Moderna better still.
I think there are political reasons why the Government has taken the action it has and I think they are wrong. I want us all to be vaccinated but properly and effectively - we don't, after all, really know how long immunity will last and it may be we will all need further vaccination later in the year.
The figures suggest lock down is having the desired impact in reducing case numbers - ensuring those at risk are properly vaccinated to reduce deaths and hospitalisations seems the obvious way forward in conjunction with the maintenance of restrictions until all those over 50 are properly vaccinated (with two vaccinations).
Bairstow is yet again running like a lunatic.
In Waverley we discovered that a local museum highlights a Parliamentary reformer who was also pro-slave trade. We pondered for a few seconds and then said "Oh well" and moved on. I mentioned it in passing to my CLP membership, who collectively shrugged. Proper left-wingers want to change systems, not get hung up on tokenism.
Dean Liddell threw the book at them... (Coat time again)