[Misc] Piers Morgan v Matt Hancock

[amexer]

Germany has in region of 600k carers. Big problem now because when they go home it is a job to get back leaving Germany a serious shortage of carers.
Talking of Poland which so many try and leave have very few Corona cases. With Belgium and Netherland the opposite maybe geographical position has some influence.

Should have said Polish carers in Germany

 

[Swansman]

At the country level in simple terms it's not, but it's the fundamentally most important factor - hence social distancing and the incidence of cases in cities. I was just using it as an example of a statistic, not defining absolutely the reasons for variance

I agree that the proximity between people obviously play a huge part and I think the very, very large number of single households here are doing its job for the statistics.

 

[maltaseagull]

Personally, if I thought they were doing something wrong, I would criticise the government, whatever colour they were.

Quite right too.

But a number of posters are so biased in their view, whatever the "other " side does is wrong.

Bit like a number of football supporters I suppose and so I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Piers is an arrogant loud mouth, who prefers the sound his own voice to that of those being interviewed. He needs to let them answer without his sycophantic interventions. He could land all the blows he needs to (and he has some great points, I like him) without the obnoxiousness. That said, we desperately need Parliament back.

 

[drew]

Have to say some of these comments about trusting the government and let them get on with it as we are in a crisis are quite sickening. People are dying because of decisions the government have or have not taken or have delayed taking. If the press and opposition don't question that then who knows what position we would be in. It would, and should, be the same regardless of what party was in power however, surely no one can argue that this last decade has seen the systematic running down of the NHS for political reason.

Take testing as an example, I don't think anyone can say we have had a good testing programme. If people didn't challenge that then in all likelihood it wouldn't have been ramped up as much as it could be. Even now, we are only testing 16k a day so somehow we have to increase by over 500% if we are to get to Hancock's promise of 100k by the end of April (and don't forget he stated he was hoping for 250k but erred on the side of caution in stating 100k!!).

As for PPE, I havent' heard anyone state they are 'very' happy with the supply. My wife is in an ITU dept and they are really stretched with regard to PPE. Most of it is single use so there needs to be a steady reliable flow of equipment. This certainly wasn't the case at the start of the crisis in this country and wasn't for many weeks. Even now we see daily news reports of problems.

As for Hancock, it's all well and good talking the talk behind a podium but it is a big difference when it comes to delivering those promises. His failure to back up his talk is why he is not doing a good job.

As for Morgan, can't stand the bloke or his interviewing technique as he will never let anyone finish their point if it is not what he wants to hear. As someone else described him earlier. He is a bully.

 

[WATFORD zero]

So Piers Morgan has been using popularist ranting aimed at appealing to the lowest common denominator in order to increase his ratings.

I wonder where he got that idea

 

[rogersix]

Don't remember BJ or any of the current cabinet doing anything to support the funding the NHS receives

the moment we're out of europe the NHS gets £350 M a week... or something

 

[Swansman]

Take testing as an example, I don't think anyone can say we have had a good testing programme. If people didn't challenge that then in all likelihood it wouldn't have been ramped up as much as it could be. Even now, we are only testing 16k a day so somehow we have to increase by over 500% if we are to get to Hancock's promise of 100k by the end of April (and don't forget he stated he was hoping for 250k but erred on the side of caution in stating 100k!!).

As for PPE, I havent' heard anyone state they are 'very' happy with the supply. My wife is in an ITU dept and they are really stretched with regard to PPE. Most of it is single use so there needs to be a steady reliable flow of equipment. This certainly wasn't the case at the start of the crisis in this country and wasn't for many weeks. Even now we see daily news reports of problems.

Few questions:

1. Whats the point of testing asymptomatic people at this stage, before there is a reliable antibody test?

2. If the supply of PPE masks is bad, how would it help to waste thousands of them by testing asymptomatic people?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

i thought he made a special point of not asking for a timetable?

“The question for Thursday therefore is no longer about whether the lockdown should be extended, but about what the government’s position is on how and when it can be eased in due course and on what criteria that decision will be taken,” Starmer said in a letter to Raab.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Why do you think it is stupid? genuine question.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-week-11973322

Thought for a minute the new leader may just be better than the last but alas he has just come out with this rubbish.

Does he not understand that the too many people are thick and have to treated as such. The government had to bring in laws as advice was not enough to stop these thick idiots from socialising. Even then there's still reports of gatherings. Give them an exit strategy and there'll be a stampede for the front door. This is before we have even reached a peak in this country. There is no timeline currently and that should remain so until ready. Only then should the people know exactly the detail.

Simple example of how the thick react is when they go on their holiday on an aircraft, even though they are told to remain in their seats on landing, the moment the wheels touch the ground, up they get overhead racks opened barging and pushing believing it will get them to their destination quicker. I'd love the captain, when taxing to stand, to slam on the brakes just to see the carnage of tracksuit wearing blobs falling everywhere.

 

[amexer]

My niece works in a hospital and said to me at weekend that they are well stocked for equipment and have been for some time
Please feel free to delete if if you think this is too positive for this board

 

[midnight_rendezvous]

'This crap government'. Hardly had a chance has it? Like many european governments it has struggled in the crisis. I didn't vote for Labour (hardly anyone did) but if they were in power, I would do my utmost to support them as I am sure they would try to do their best for the country as the Tories are now.

Hasn’t had a chance? The party has been in power in 10 years and now we’re seeing the result of a decade of cuts and a sheer lack of empathy for Joe public. Piers Morgan is challenging the government and holding them to account for their action/ inaction, and rightfully so even if he is just doing it for headlines. If you want to pretend that everything is going swimmingly because to do otherwise isn’t ‘supportive’, that’s simply bordering on sycophancy.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

the moment we're out of europe the NHS gets £350 M a week... or something

…….... I wonder what happened to that bus...……..

 

[rogersix]

…….... I wonder what happened to that bus...……..

stanley and bungle are driving it to lift that £13 M off capt. tom

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-week-11973322

Thought for a minute the new leader may just be better than the last but alas he has just come out with this rubbish.

Does he not understand that the too many people are thick and have to treated as such. The government had to bring in laws as advice was not enough to stop these thick idiots from socialising. Even then there's still reports of gatherings. Give them an exit strategy and there'll be a stampede for the front door. This is before we have even reached a peak in this country. There is no timeline currently and that should remain so until ready. Only then should the people know exactly the detail.

Simple example of how the thick react is when they go on their holiday on an aircraft, even though they are told to remain in their seats on landing, the moment the wheels touch the ground, up they get overhead racks opened barging and pushing believing it will get them to their destination quicker. I'd love the captain, when taxing to stand, to slam on the brakes just to see the carnage of tracksuit wearing blobs falling everywhere.

I think the main thing that Starmer is after is more honesty and openness. He is not after a statement that lockdown will end at the end of May, or August or whenever.

And most people are well capable of taking a carefully crafted strategy on board. It would be good for some people's morale to at least have the way out on the agenda...…… even if it is with a "but we are nownere near that yet" caveat.

And if people were as daft as you anticipate, then we could expect some draconian pro-active policing - quite rightly.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Maybe so. It was well publicised that he asked for the government to publish an exit strategy, which is obviously a reasonable request even if it is an open goal for the simpletons to chirp at him for not allowing them to get the current situation under control.

He asked them to tell the public. That is a stupid request.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-week-11973322

Thought for a minute the new leader may just be better than the last but alas he has just come out with this rubbish.

Does he not understand that the too many people are thick and have to treated as such. The government had to bring in laws as advice was not enough to stop these thick idiots from socialising. Even then there's still reports of gatherings. Give them an exit strategy and there'll be a stampede for the front door. This is before we have even reached a peak in this country. There is no timeline currently and that should remain so until ready. Only then should the people know exactly the detail.

Simple example of how the thick react is when they go on their holiday on an aircraft, even though they are told to remain in their seats on landing, the moment the wheels touch the ground, up they get overhead racks opened barging and pushing believing it will get them to their destination quicker. I'd love the captain, when taxing to stand, to slam on the brakes just to see the carnage of tracksuit wearing blobs falling everywhere.

Do you think the UK population are generally thicker than other countries ? This is a summary of what other countries have announced to their public (albeit the first 3 have started).

Italy
Bookshops, laundries, stationers, children’s clothes stores reopened in some regions; forestry workers and IT manufacturers back at work. Full lockdown set to end 4 May

Spain
Some factory and construction workers back on job but most shops and services remain closed and office staff still working from home. Lockdown set to end 27 April but likely to be extended

Austria
Public parks, small shops, DIY and gardening supply stores reopened with strict distancing rules and masks. If virus under control, all stores to reopen on 2 May, restaurants in mid-May

Denmark
Daycare centres and primary schools to reopen 15 April, Restaurants, cafes closed and gatherings of more than 10 people banned until 10 May, larger gatherings until August

France
Lockdown extended until 11 May, after which creches and schools to reopen progressively. Bars, restaurants, cinemas to stay closed; large public gatherings banned until at least mid-July

Switzerland
Authorities to announce on 16 April first easing of measures by the end of month

Finland
Ban on all but essential travel in and out of the Helsinki region lifted, but all other restrictions to remain in place until further notice

Czech Republic
A five-stage plan to start on 20 April with open-air markets and workshops and end on 8 June. Czechs may now also travel abroad providing they undergo two-week quarantine on returning

Norway
Kindergartens to reopen and some health specialists to return to work from 20 April. Partial reopening of high schools and universities, hair, massage and beauty salons from 27 April

And I believe that Starmer has made it very clear he is not asking for dates or a timetable, just the simple plan, but you think the British public are 'too thick' to be told

(It was very good of you to include an example of 'what thick people do' in case anyone was too thick to understand what 'thick' meant )

 

[clapham_gull]

You have to remember that when this virus broke we had a cabinet packed with "small state, government don't interfere with peoples lives" ideologues. Trump lite if you like.

They simply didn't believe you could lock down the UK to any extent because unfortunately (because they won the election) they believed the majority of the population think just like them and wouldn't put up with it.

They were wrong.

The scientist and health leaders aren't blameless either I'm afraid. There were may dissenting views about the early approach but unfortunately due to the hierarchical nature of their profession, they didn't shout loud enough and a wider set of viewpoints wasn't encouraged.

It's still going on. Decisions made by a small circle of experts, without allowing experts outside to see the source data and give their opinion.

It's a problem in many public sector areas, basically a fear to challenge.

 

[drew]

Few questions:

1. Whats the point of testing asymptomatic people at this stage, before there is a reliable antibody test?

2. If the supply of PPE masks is bad, how would it help to waste thousands of them by testing asymptomatic people?

The antibody test is for people that have had the virus and recovered. That is the virus is no longer in their system but the antibodies produced by your body to fight the virus remain. Surely asymptomatic is when you still have the virus but just don't have the symptoms.

That said, not sure why you make reference to it. One of the issues for the NHS related to staff that were self isolating because they were showing symptoms. I thought one of the first targets was to get these tested so that if they didn't have coronavirus they could get back to work but that wasn't possible because we didn't have anywhere near the capacity. In an ideal world, we would be testing every single person so that those with or without symptoms can isolate fully. That isn't going to happen but we still haven't tested all frontline NHS staff. There could be some that are asymptomatic and passing it on to other staff and/or patients!!!

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Morgan is the classic pantomime villain/marmite figure.

But regardless of whether you love him or hate, he's asking all the necessary questions at this time.

As for the Tory bashing on here, IMHO if Uncle Jeremy had won back in December we'd have rioting in the streets by now.

Don't know where you find the time to post,would have thought that you charged with other duties,sadly ?

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

51% in today's poll support Boris. https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/boris-bounce-brits-rally-round-him

52% supporting the Conservatives in a poll last week ... https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/sgj7p6jhwf/TheTimes_VI_200402_W.pdf

You'd never know it from this board though.