Coronavirus

[MrGongGong]

I enjoyed this contribution by Mr Speaker in response to some disorderly heckling, "Secretary of State for Health, I don't mind you advising the Prime Minister, but you don't need to advise the leader of the opposition." Followed by a not-so-veiled threat to chuck him out of the chamber.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52732463 (scroll down).

Far too polite and "parliamentary" IMV

"Shut the F up" would be more appropriate
followed by an "accident" in a dark alley...

[oddoneout]

As I said, they might just throw up their hands and give up on the job.

One of the things that ha become brazenly manifest is just how the very de-centralisation of production units and decision-making post 1979 that was supposed to lead to more profitability and efficiency has turned the country - indeed the world - into a place that is even less prepared for a crisis affecting all sections of society than Britain was in 1939.

You know more about such things so you are doubtless right but one of the things that has struck me over the weeks is the extent to which the centralised systems have apparently been lacking in capability and capacity, leading to such things as schools making visors, community groups making scrubs and hats, testing facilities having responded as requested only to find themselves twiddling their thumbs and hospitals having to undertake their own testing.The de-centralised element seems to have been capable but was hampered by lack of materials, poor or non-existent communication etc at national level. I am not including in that the cronies(other descriptors available...) de-centralised element which seemed to leave much to be desired.
I found it heartening and also reassuring that the potential(and will) to solve problems still seems to exist since we are going to need it with all the challenges that lie ahead. I try not to think about the possibility (likelihood?) that it will be 'discouraged' as not fitting the Tory vision for a glorious all powerful independent UK.

[Braunschlag]

Time for some serious piano practise -

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=coronavirus+etude.&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6zqekmMPpAhXOUBUIHVFbC7UQ_AUoAXoECAoQAQ&biw=320&bih=449&dpr=2#imgrc=wE_n60RY07ixRM

[Serial_Apologist]

You know more about such things so you are doubtless right but one of the things that has struck me over the weeks is the extent to which the centralised systems have apparently been lacking in capability and capacity, leading to such things as schools making visors, community groups making scrubs and hats, testing facilities having responded as requested only to find themselves twiddling their thumbs and hospitals having to undertake their own testing.The de-centralised element seems to have been capable but was hampered by lack of materials, poor or non-existent communication etc at national level. I am not including in that the cronies(other descriptors available...) de-centralised element which seemed to leave much to be desired.

Centralisation on it own is not automatically the panacea if the government obstinately refuses to be part of international schemes to ensure equitable distribution. In our case the tories' refusal out of some misplaced kind of macho independence added to an already embattled situation by other governments to get their often unfair share, based on similar me first insistances.

I found it heartening and also reassuring that the potential(and will) to solve problems still seems to exist since we are going to need it with all the challenges that lie ahead. I try not to think about the possibility (likelihood?) that it will be 'discouraged' as not fitting the Tory vision for a glorious all powerful independent UK.

Absolutely. As an example, in the absence of urgent action by officialdom I would cite the success of the post-Grenfell start of recovery depended on the various independent agencies and charities co-operating. In that instance pressure by the local community, mobilised to the rescue in solidarity with the tenants, was essential in putting the spotlight on the local authority and national government.

[oddoneout]

Centralisation on it own is not automatically the panacea if the government obstinately refuses to be part of international schemes to ensure equitable distribution. In our case the tories' refusal out of some misplaced kind of macho independence added to an already embattled situation by other governments to get their often unfair share, based on similar me first insistances.



Absolutely. As an example, in the absence of urgent action by officialdom I would cite the success of the post-Grenfell start of recovery depended on the various independent agencies and charities co-operating. In that instance pressure by the local community, mobilised to the rescue in solidarity with the tenants, was essential in putting the spotlight on the local authority and national government.

It is to be hoped that people's anger and sense of outrage about the current situation provide and maintain enough energy to initiate and maintain such actions . In that respect the ever-present copy-cat social media activity, which can do so much harm sometimes, may help, as support and help can be shared and individual groups need not 'go it alone'. The classic establishment response "You are not in possession of the full facts/your information is incorrect, therefore we reject your claims" will be weakened more than a tad by the extent of said establishment's own ignorance and lies - and the public knowledge of same.

[MrGongGong]

It is to be hoped that people's anger and sense of outrage about the current situation provide and maintain enough energy to initiate and maintain such actions . In that respect the ever-present copy-cat social media activity, which can do so much harm sometimes, may help, as support and help can be shared and individual groups need not 'go it alone'. The classic establishment response "You are not in possession of the full facts/your information is incorrect, therefore we reject your claims" will be weakened more than a tad by the extent of said establishment's own ignorance and lies - and the public knowledge of same.

One would hope that those who know about things will finally stand up and against the destructive and ignorant people who have been running things.

for example

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-brian-cox-minister-follow-science-comments-a9520041.html

One would also hope that those who value MUSIC will stand against the Brexit disaster that is being sneaked in behind our backs which is scheduled to devastate touring and collaboration.

If those responsible are allowed to get away with it then we will have learnt nothing and gone backwards.

[oddoneout]

Further to an earlier mention of the risks to food standards with the Covid-19 crisis taking attention away from 'other' parliamentary business. An amendment was tabled to the Agriculture Bill going through Parliament at present; it was defeated. Although it deals with the welfare and other standards of food imports, rather than with food production standards in the UK, it is hard to believe that lowering the standard of what we import will not eventually affect farming practice in this country once the EU protections are no longer available to us. If the US insists that we do not label food origin as part of any trade deal with them(and they have form on that front) then even informed and aware consumers are going to struggle to exercise any form of choice in the matter. This article has some of the information

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/stop-the-passage-of-the-agriculture-bill-brexit-food-standards

I am now going to confirm that 'my' MP voted it down, as I assume he will have done, good little career politician that he is. Unfortunately I am all too aware that the quality of food available to the general public is not a priority to the current administration, they will push the 'cheaper' line for all they are worth - in fact I think I saw that Liz Truss has already worked that into her sloganeering around the joys of US trade deals. The two things do not have to be mutually exclusive though - Aldi and Lidl source raw meat from UK producers, the local butchers are cheaper than the other supemarkets, and I can source free range eggs from the farm down the road for half the price they are sold in the supermarkets the firm supplies - the only difference is cosmetic ( look of the shell) as examples from my own experience.
Surely the problems of depending on other countries for supplies rather than producing at least some in this country have been made very clear by issues such as shortage of PPE.
This is the voting result https://www.theyworkforyou.com/divis...-13-42-commons A quick tot up suggests all of 18 cons voted for(including the Chancellor for whom it was apparently an error...) My MP was absent, although he voted on the other clauses including this one https://www.theyworkforyou.com/divis...-13-43-commons concerning a coronavirus emergency food plan.

[DracoM]

Raised exactly same issue by a knowing farmer round here at small local market this very a.m.. Uncanny coincidence. And WORRIED.

[Belgrove]

Another first class interview from UnHerd with Sunetra Gupta from Oxford University’s epidemiology unit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKh6kJ-RSMI

This presents a different stance to the IC group. The interviewer asks intelligent questions and gives the interviewee time to respond in depth.

[jayne lee wilson]

Pressure works sometimes.....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52761052

...keep it up, keep going, everyone....

[oddoneout]

This is worrying

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/uk-first-coronavirus-contact-tracing-group-warns-of-difficulties

So even if the porcine squadron does take to the sky on time and in the manner 'promised', it could all be of limited use. I imagine the clear 'get back to work' message, and the ever-present(even before the present crisis) underlying fear of job and money repercussions of isolating, will do nothing to ensure action will follow any tracing and contacting. It's certainly not going to improve the care home situation.

[oddoneout]

Pressure works sometimes.....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52761052

...keep it up, keep going, everyone....

That is good news, but until the basic mindset of those in government changes towards something halfway intelligent and humane, there will continue to be these case by case battles - and therefore those who will fall through the cracks for want of enough pressure being applied.

[MrGongGong]

A warning to folks using iPhone (and probably Android as well)
if you have automatic updates switched on
it's possible that it will install a contact tracing app automatically (POSSIBLE )

Now, i'm not doing a foil hat thing
BUT i'm not going to help the likes of Cummings and his nasty mates

[johnb]

A warning to folks using iPhone (and probably Android as well)
if you have automatic updates switched on
it's possible that it will install a contact tracing app automatically (POSSIBLE )

Now, i'm not doing a foil hat thing
BUT i'm not going to help the likes of Cummings and his nasty mates

There have been a number of reports of the problems with the current NHSX app. This article is worth a read:

"The UK’s coronavirus contact-tracing app has been found to have wide-ranging security flaws.... "

https://www.itpro.co.uk/security/privacy/355711/uk-coronavirus-app-fails-to-meet-security-protocols?_mout=1&utm_campaign=itpro_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

It comes as no surprise.

What would be a genuine surprise is if the government got something (anything) right.

[MrGongGong]

What would be a genuine surprise is if the government got something (anything) right.

(what Miriam Margolyes said )