Boris Johnson 8pm televised address - official match thread

[pb21]

... no one could have predicted the precise mutation in the virus until it happened and now it has the right action has been taken.

Disagree with this.

It's been pretty clear for the past 2/3 weeks that schools would have to close. But instead of using the past 2/3 weeks, when schools were closed, to prepare appropriately for remote learning and everything that goes with that, the Government have been saying schools won't close.

The right action was to close schools last week.

 

[Stat Brother]

No it isn't. Where did Boris Johnson INSTRUCT people to socialise at Christmas? If you were concerned, you should not have. End of.

I can't do this again.

Amazingly we have a whole new WTF precedent, with every probability that it won't be the last.

 

[Weststander]

With respect, the government have been very anti lockdown, the schools minister was threatening to take legal action and the unions were threatening to strike, they went against the expert advice, and this is only a few weeks after the PM mocked the opposition in parliament for wanting to lockdown, only to make it government policy a few days later.

Yes, this is unprecedented but their disastrous handling of this has only exacerbated the situation

Starmer all the way fully backed all schools of all ages remaining open. In every interview including in December he firmly rejected the unions pressure for closures. He also firmly rejected that silly idea of an extra long Xmas holiday, starting early, so that dear beloveds could see Gran and Grandad at Xmas.

Just before Xmas as they were breaking up, Starmer began proposing a brief closing of some schools straight after New Year (i.e. with effect today).

Sturgeon and Drakeford have only today announced that schools are closing to 31/1 and 18/1 respectively. England to 21/2.

So the narrative that Johnson ploughed a lonely furrow, whilst other key politicians for ages demanded that schools be in a proper lock down, does not fit the facts.

Starmer, then Johnson/Sturgeon/Drakeford have reacted to the awful metrics now seen from the new strain of the virus.

 

[darkwolf666]

Players go home to their family. Their partners may have jobs - certainly outside the Premier League - and kids in school.

A kid brings it home, infects a footballer who then takes it into the club environment.

Footballers can't live in a cricket-style bio-bubble, isolated from everyone else, for the entire season.

In which case there are two options. Suspend football for the duration of the lockdown or make teams play with available players and no cancellations, with all testing being done externally so clubs can’t cheat the system!

And on a side note, out of ignorance what is cricket doing different to allow bio-bubbles.

 

[The Wizard]

Can quite work out if you’re an idiot or posing as really macho.

How is that macho? It’s a year already out of our lives, where do you draw the line? It’s got to stop somewhere, if the worst happened and the vaccine didn’t work I genuinely don’t believe the general population would go for perpetual lockdowns.

Calling people names on an Internet forum just makes you look silly mate.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

The lockdown is late and doesn't go nearly far enough but it's encouraging that at least he hasn't set an end date in it and indicated that these restrictions will be with us until mid-March at the earliest. Let's hope all the covidiots stick to the rules now and the punishments to those who break the rules are ramped up.

I would contest that as unless I am mistaken, he stated that schools may be able to begin re-opening for non key worker children from after half term, which is a full month earlier.

 

[Is it PotG?]

 

[mwrpoole]

Not happening.

We won’t have the vaccines in place.

I agree it does sound optimistic.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Public Vote of No Confidence in the Tory Government

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliam...a8f329dee4&utm_content=fht-22495635-en-gb:v12

Oh dear. I suspect you have been whooshed.

 

[portslade seagull]

Public Vote of No Confidence in the Tory Government

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliam...a8f329dee4&utm_content=fht-22495635-en-gb:v12

Desperate, how many times have you voted ?

 

[Bozza]

With respect, the government have been very anti lockdown, the schools minister was threatening to take legal action and the unions were threatening to strike, they went against the expert advice, and this is only a few weeks after the PM mocked the opposition in parliament for wanting to lockdown, only to make it government policy a few days later.

Yes, this is unprecedented but their disastrous handling of this has only exacerbated the situation

But there has been widespread and continued support to keep kids in school for face-to-face learning if at all possible, from all sides of the political spectrum.

Keir Starmer has said schools must stay open. 'The harm caused to children by not being in school is huge,' the Labour leader told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show.​

My son is lucky: he has two well-educated parents who understand and fully support him in all aspects of his schooling. We have speedy connectivity, multiple devices and lots of space to work. He will be well fed with nutritious home-made meals. Many children are not so fortunate and being in school is massively important for their wellbeing.

Yes, vulnerable children (and those of key workers) should still have a school place available, but I know from experience many will not go now, and suffer significantly as a result.

It's entirely understandable why everyone wanted to keep children in school if they possibly could.

 

[BN41Albion]

Disagree with this.

It's been pretty clear for the past 2/3 weeks that schools would have to close. But instead of using the past 2/3 weeks, when schools were closed, to prepare appropriately for remote learning and everything that goes with that, the Government have been saying schools won't close.

The right action was to close schools last week.

Absolutely correct. How anyone can defend Boris and his cronies, especially after this latest shitshow and u-turn after the horse has bolted is beyond comprehension.

Literally yesterday Johnson said it is totally safe for children to return to school.
Tonight, he stated that children can transmit the virus to families, so schools must close.
Unreal.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I think you’re in Tier 4:

4. 70-year-olds and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

Thanks


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[Guinness Boy]

Starmer all the way fully backed all schools of all ages remaining open. In every interview including in December he firmly rejected the unions pressure for closures. He also firmly rejected that silly idea of an extra long Xmas holiday, starting early, so that dear beloveds could see Gran and Grandad at Xmas.

Just before Xmas as they were breaking up, Starmer began proposing a brief closing of some schools straight after New Year (i.e. with effect today).

Sturgeon and Drakeford have only today announced that schools are closing to 31/1 and 18/1 respectively. England to 21/2.

So the narrative that Johnson ploughed a lonely furrow, whilst other key politicians for ages demanded that schools be in a proper lock down, does not fit the facts.

Starmer, then Johnson/Sturgeon/Drakeford have reacted to the awful metrics now seen from the new strain of the virus.

Yep.

Whatever he did before, Boris has acted correctly this evening and Starmer has been just as statesmanlike in openly backing him on his BBC interview. Now Brexit is done I'd really like to see them working together in unity to get vaccines rolled out and keep economic and educational disruption to a minimum, without putting the vulnerable at unnecessary risk.

 

[Weststander]

In which case there are two options. Suspend football for the duration of the lockdown or make teams play with available players and no cancellations, with all testing being done externally so clubs can’t cheat the system!

And on a side note, out of ignorance what is cricket doing different to allow bio-bubbles.

Cricketers are compelled to stay together for months on end in hotels and don’t see their families.

 

[Chicken Run]

Yep.

Whatever he did before, Boris has acted correctly this evening and Starmer has been just as statesmanlike in openly backing him on his BBC interview. Now Brexit is done I'd really like to see them working together in unity to get vaccines rolled out and keep economic and educational disruption to a minimum, without putting the vulnerable at unnecessary risk.

This


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[Randy McNob]

Starmer all the way fully backed all schools of all ages remaining open. In every interview including in December he firmly rejected the unions pressure for closures. He also firmly rejected that silly idea of an extra long Xmas holiday, starting early, so that dear beloveds could see Gran and Grandad at Xmas.

Just before Xmas as they were breaking up, Starmer began proposing a brief closing of some schools straight after New Year (i.e. with effect today).

Sturgeon and Drakeford have only today announced that schools are closing to 31/1 and 18/1 respectively. England to 21/2.

So the narrative that Johnson ploughed a lonely furrow, whilst other key politicians for ages demanded that schools be in a proper lock down, does not fit the facts.

Starmer, then Johnson/Sturgeon/Drakeford have reacted to the awful metrics now seen from the new strain of the virus.

Trying to equalise wrongs with whataboutery is not helpful in time of national crisis. In these times you expect proper leadership and government and they have failed us

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Public Vote of No Confidence in the Tory Government

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliam...a8f329dee4&utm_content=fht-22495635-en-gb:v12

What a load of tosh.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable Boris has promised (ok I made the promise bit up) that you will be vaccinated by mid-February!

Thanks


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[darkwolf666]

Disagree with this.

It's been pretty clear for the past 2/3 weeks that schools would have to close. But instead of using the past 2/3 weeks, when schools were closed, to prepare appropriately for remote learning and everything that goes with that, the Government have been saying schools won't close.

The right action was to close schools last week.

This will be this government’s epitaph (and many people’s) when this whole thing is over, too little much too late!