Coronavirus: social, economic and other changes as a result of the pandemic

[french frank]

And so, as the “ Freedom Pass” idea is floated in more detail, we draw ever closer to my line in the sand.

It is so dangerous and concerning.

I must have missed something. What is this Freedom Pass that you're talking about, team?

[Bryn]

I must have missed something. What is this Freedom Pass that you're talking about, team?

I'm not sure what the current reference is to but London's Freedom Pass for those over 65 (a step up from the National Bus Pass, only available to qualifying London residents) has had its usability cut during the COVID-19 crisis. The disabled Freedom Pass remains usable 24/7/ Both were valid 24/7 but the over 65 version is now only valid after 09:00 Monday to Friday, but still 24 hours a day at weekends. I think the day is considered to end at 04:00, rather than 23:00 as it does in the rest of the country. This, though, is not made clear in any public statement I can find.

[french frank]

I'm not sure what the current reference is to but London's Freedom Pass for those over 65 (a step up from the National Bus Pass, only available to qualifying London residents) has had its usability cut during the COVID-19 crisis. The disabled Freedom Pass remains usable 24/7/ Both were valid 24/7 but the over 65 version is now only valid after 09:00 Monday to Friday, but still 24 hours a day at weekends. I think the day is considered to end at 04:00, rather than 23:00 as it does in the rest of the country. This, though, is not made clear in any public statement I can find.

I think team must be referring to this story (Sun - also in Telegraph and Mail). You get a 'freedom pass' if you can show you've tested negative twice, and are therefore able to travel more freely.

[Dave2002]

I think team must be referring to this story (Sun - also in Telegraph and Mail). You get a 'freedom pass' if you can show you've tested negative twice, and are therefore able to travel more freely.

Can I have a free hand bell if I refuse to go with the "freedom pass" - and do I get fined if I don't shout out "Unclean" as I move around?

[teamsaint]

I think team must be referring to this story (Sun - also in Telegraph and Mail). You get a 'freedom pass' if you can show you've tested negative twice, and are therefore able to travel more freely.

The Telegraph “ broke” the story, FF, though the scheme has been a while in the planning.
A scheme so full of holes and downsides, not least the gigantic cost, that you would think that even this govt would think twice then quietly drop it.
But then, IMO , it goes well beyond that, and presents real and substantial long term dangers, and these are not accidental.

[ardcarp]

Can I have a free hand bell if I refuse to go with the "freedom pass" - and do I get fined if I don't shout out "Unclean" as I move around?

You might get a big 'C' branded on your forehead!

[Anastasius]

The Telegraph “ broke” the story, FF, though the scheme has been a while in the planning.
A scheme so full of holes and downsides, not least the gigantic cost, that you would think that even this govt would think twice then quietly drop it.
But then, IMO , it goes well beyond that, and presents real and substantial long term dangers, and these are not accidental.

Exactly. Who's going to 'police' it ? Our own police have got enough on their plate. Disaster. re the 'accidental' comment. I don't think that Boris has any forward planning or agenda that stretches that far, TS !

[DracoM]

Isn't this how the Chinese govt award community points which in turn allow access to price cuts / privileges of some sort???

'1984' - here we come.

[Frances_iom]

Isn't this how the Chinese govt award community points which in turn allow access to price cuts / privileges of some sort?.

but surely it is merely a widening of the existing Tory party system that a party card gives access to various benefits such as planning permission, 25% profit of middleman deals etc - just as the old Soviet Union had multiple tiers of shops for the various levels in the party hierarchy - now BJ is merely widening to allow various restrictions on the new internal passport to keep the proles in their place.

[oddoneout]

The Telegraph “ broke” the story, FF, though the scheme has been a while in the planning.
A scheme so full of holes and downsides, not least the gigantic cost, that you would think that even this govt would think twice then quietly drop it.
But then, IMO , it goes well beyond that, and presents real and substantial long term dangers, and these are not accidental.

That's not how things work though is it? So long as the holes don't affect anyone 'important' they can be ignored, and the cost is irrelevant so long as the money keeps going in the right pockets.
Yes I'm feeling bitter. No furlough for either lockdown and a pay freeze (yet again, it's been the pattern for most of my last 12 years employment) to come, while MPs get yet another pay rise.

In terms of the wider point about such a scheme my concern isn't so much the idea itself as the implementation which would be a combination of proven rank incompetence and dubious motives, from which all the wrong people would benefit.

[Leinster Lass]

I've finally got round to getting myself a Tesco Clubcard (ROI), mainly in the hope that it will give me a bigger say in the development and application of officlal policies that don't happen to meet with my approval - yes, we have them too!

[teamsaint]

That's not how things work though is it? So long as the holes don't affect anyone 'important' they can be ignored, and the cost is irrelevant so long as the money keeps going in the right pockets.
Yes I'm feeling bitter. No furlough for either lockdown and a pay freeze (yet again, it's been the pattern for most of my last 12 years employment) to come, while MPs get yet another pay rise.

In terms of the wider point about such a scheme my concern isn't so much the idea itself as the implementation which would be a combination of proven rank incompetence and dubious motives, from which all the wrong people would benefit.

If you doubt the motives of the govt on implementation,which is reasonable enough given their track record during the crisis, isn’t there even more reason to doubt their motives for creating the scheme?

£100 Bn ? Vastly increased levels of control over the population, and creation of an infrastructure whose use could easily be extended beyond covid?

It’s a truly dreadful prospect, in the hands of any government, and under this lot.....

[Frances_iom]

...

£100 Bn ? Vastly increased levels of control over the population, and creation of an infrastructure whose use could easily be extended beyon[d] covid.....

I'm sure that if spoken to nicely the Chinese could sell BJ a guaranteed working system - they might also be happy to undercut BJ's favourite tory party affiliate and run it for him.

[Anastasius]

I'm sure that if spoken to nicely the Chinese could sell BJ a guaranteed working system - they might also be happy to undercut BJ's favourite tory party affiliate and run it for him.

"World beating". ?

[Serial_Apologist]

I've finally got round to getting myself a Tesco Clubcard (ROI), mainly in the hope that it will give me a bigger say in the development and application of officlal policies that don't happen to meet with my approval - yes, we have them too!

But why would you want to approve "official policies that don't happen to meet with [your] approval?" Unless you're being ironic, of course!

I don't go in for any of these "loyalty cards": for one thing I don't want to save up for two weeks' cruisin' the Caribbean; for another I don't need 5 years' supply of reduced price baked beans; and for a third it's against my religion, as I tell checkout staff.