Brexit, for once some facts.

[flecc]

Even the Daily Mail is still critical:

Downing Street today insisted England must wait until Monday before lockdown rules are officially eased, allowing groups of six people to meet up outdoors, despite the nation heading for a sunny 80F weekend. Boris Johnson set out a significant loosening of restrictions which will enable up to half a dozen people from different households to mix outside and in gardens from June 1, as primary schools reopen and non-essential shops prepare to follow suit. However, the Prime Minister's decision to set out his plans on a Thursday but not to roll them out until Monday means the country is facing a weekend of temptation as temperatures soar and many people head outside. Number 10 is adamant that people must wait for the new freedoms to kick in despite the fact that Scotland's more limited changes come into force today, prompting concerns of mixed messages and mass confusion. Meanwhile, scientists are becoming increasingly outspoken over the Government's approach as they warn ministers that the pandemic is far from over. Mr Johnson's suggestion that barbecues will be acceptable under the new regime has provoked particular anger with experts saying that in fact they are 'really dangerous'. It came as Mr Johnson faced questions over his decision to ease lockdown as it emerged that the Government has not lowered its coronavirus alert level.

And Independent is not exactly happy:

Lockdown restrictions are being lifted in England before experts are ready to cut the threat level from coronavirus from “high”, No 10 has admitted.

Boris Johnson had been expected to lower the alert level from 4 to 3 when he gave the go-ahead for groups of 6 to mix in gardens and parks, but failed to mention it.

Now his spokesman has conceded the level remains at 4 – where transmission of the virus is said to be “high” – while arguing it is “coming down from 4 to 3”.

On Wednesday, before the lockdown-easing announcement, the prime minister told MPs: “We're coming down from level 4 to level 3 we hope, we're taking a decision tomorrow.”

If my experiences in the reserve this afternoon were anything to go by, they've already blown it. The following is what I wrote in an email to a fellow committee member on my return:

"Social distancing is rapidly disappearing it seems, a number of families on the paths making no effort. Also three groups of teens in Great Field, each group sitting close together and only coming from one family if they had six to nine kids all very different looking! Maybe the lockdown easing announcement has sent the wrong message."
.

 

[oyster]

I see the
Dominic Cummings must be sacked
petition has reached a million.
https://www.change.org/p/dominic-cummings-must-be-sacked

 

[Wicky]

Fiendish

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1265965343375273990

 

[oyster]

Fiendish

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1265965343375273990

And hope his home broadband is through TalkTalk... That would really cut him off.

 

[Barry Shittpeas]

Even the Daily Mail is still critical:

Downing Street today insisted England must wait until Monday before lockdown rules are officially eased, allowing groups of six people to meet up outdoors, despite the nation heading for a sunny 80F weekend. Boris Johnson set out a significant loosening of restrictions which will enable up to half a dozen people from different households to mix outside and in gardens from June 1, as primary schools reopen and non-essential shops prepare to follow suit. However, the Prime Minister's decision to set out his plans on a Thursday but not to roll them out until Monday means the country is facing a weekend of temptation as temperatures soar and many people head outside. Number 10 is adamant that people must wait for the new freedoms to kick in despite the fact that Scotland's more limited changes come into force today, prompting concerns of mixed messages and mass confusion. Meanwhile, scientists are becoming increasingly outspoken over the Government's approach as they warn ministers that the pandemic is far from over. Mr Johnson's suggestion that barbecues will be acceptable under the new regime has provoked particular anger with experts saying that in fact they are 'really dangerous'. It came as Mr Johnson faced questions over his decision to ease lockdown as it emerged that the Government has not lowered its coronavirus alert level.

And Independent is not exactly happy:

Lockdown restrictions are being lifted in England before experts are ready to cut the threat level from coronavirus from “high”, No 10 has admitted.

Boris Johnson had been expected to lower the alert level from 4 to 3 when he gave the go-ahead for groups of 6 to mix in gardens and parks, but failed to mention it.

Now his spokesman has conceded the level remains at 4 – where transmission of the virus is said to be “high” – while arguing it is “coming down from 4 to 3”.

On Wednesday, before the lockdown-easing announcement, the prime minister told MPs: “We're coming down from level 4 to level 3 we hope, we're taking a decision tomorrow.”

The lockdown easement is driven by a desire to create news, thus displacing Dominic Cummings out of the headlines and reduce the pressure on Johnson. Nothing else.

It was raised today. Why are we easing lockdown when we are still at Level 4? The government said we needed to be at Level 3. They only set the parameters a few day ago and already they are busting them. Of course, the question got a non-answer in reply.

Johnson is buying his way out of trouble using lives as the currency with which to pay. He’s a criminal.

 

[oyster]

What was that about reducing immigration?

Three million Hong Kong residents 'eligible' for UK citizenship

Home Office decision infuriates Chinese government and could risk backlash among traditional Tory voters

 

[Barry Shittpeas]

What was that about reducing immigration?

Three million Hong Kong residents 'eligible' for UK citizenship

Home Office decision infuriates Chinese government and could risk backlash among traditional Tory voters

Do they come with a free helping of Coronavirus?

 

[flecc]

What was that about reducing immigration?

Three million Hong Kong residents 'eligible' for UK citizenship

Home Office decision infuriates Chinese government and could risk backlash among traditional Tory voters

They've always had this entitlement though, I remember it being stated at the time of the handback to China so it's not a change of any sort.

They didn't exercise their option back then in 1999 so many won't do now.
.

 

[Barry Shittpeas]

Can anyone remember Matt Handcock’s pledge to deliver medicines and PPE supplies by drone? How are we doing with it?

 

[oyster]

They've always had this entitlement though, I remember it being stated at the time of the handback to China so it's not a change of any sort.

They didn't exercise their option back then in 1999 so many won't do now.
.

Number changed from 350,000 just the other day.

 

[Wicky]

How did Cummings miss out from his timeline being spotted out and about to an Abba soundtrack on April 5th

A witness said they were going past the Cummings family home on 5 April on their regular exercise route when they heard Abba’s Dancing Queen playing loudly from the property.

“I got the shock of my life, as I looked over to the gates and saw him,” they said. “There was a child, presumably his little boy, running around in front. I recognised Dominic Cummings, he’s a very distinctive figure.”

Yet according to his wife's account, he "couldn't get out of bed".

"Day in, day out for 10 days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs,"

 

[flecc]

Number changed from 350,00 just the other day.

No it didn't, they were two different things. The circa three million have that entitlement due to living there before the handback to China, it equally caused a fuss here when it was announced in 1999. The Tory press kicked off and announced we'd be flooded with Chinese. In fact virtually none of them came here then. The few who did were very welcome, they'd been loyal British citizens during a hundred years.

The 350,000 are British Nationals among them who hold aBritish Passport and will be granted visa rights.
.

 

[Wicky]

The few who did were very welcome, they'd been loyal British citizens during a hundred years.

And loaded - I helped do up a very plush house in Wembley, just before Patten's handover in 1997, for a newly arriving family bailing out.

 

[oldgroaner]

Even the Telegraph is turning!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/29/revealed-government-ignored-coronavirus-experts-risks-reopening/
Revealed: How the Government ignored its own coronavirus experts on the risks of reopening shops and schools
A document from Government scientific advisors warns that opening non-essential shops, bars and schools could push the R number above 1

 

[oldgroaner]

Even the Express!
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1288835/brexit-news-uk-eu-trade-deal-latest-boris-johnson-michel-barnier-transition-period
Brexit warning: Boris could 'blink last minute' in EU talks to avoid catastrophic no deal
BORIS JOHNSON could "blink at the last minute but present it as a win" as post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU threaten to collapse that could result in a disastrous no deal scenario for both sides, political experts have warned.

So now it's a "Disastrous No deal"?
How times have changed

 

[Woosh]

it's kinda funny to see the Express juxtaposing the word 'catastrophic' and 'no deal'.
You are right, Boris is for turning.

 

[Nev]

Can anyone remember Matt Handcock’s pledge to deliver medicines and PPE supplies by drone? How are we doing with it?

Drone deliveries soar in rural Scotland during coronavirus outbreak

Isle of Mull among areas trialling use of unmanned aircrafts to distribute supplies

www.theguardian.com

 

[Woosh]

Even the Telegraph is turning!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/29/revealed-government-ignored-coronavirus-experts-risks-reopening/
Revealed: How the Government ignored its own coronavirus experts on the risks of reopening shops and schools
A document from Government scientific advisors warns that opening non-essential shops, bars and schools could push the R number above 1

I am worried about the consequences of the current easing of lockdown. Every day of the week, we have 10 times more people exposed to Covid than in the whole of India.
Trying to re-open the economy in time for the 3 summer months may turn out to be a false economy.

 

[Woosh]

current statistics: Covid occupied hospital beds: 8k, 1k fewer each week.
We should continue with lockdown for at least 6 more weeks.

 

[oldgroaner]

Spin Doctor's day off?