Brexit, for once some facts.

[Jesus H Christ]

Kier Starmer needs only to promise at the next general election no personal tax rises, no increase on alcohol and cigarette duty and VAT to win back a large chunk of the red wall and more in the South.
People understand Labour policy on health, education, public services.
They want all that but also want paying as little tax as possible.

I think we’d all like something for nothing. It doesn’t work like that.

I‘d like to see him promise help and opportunities for people to improve their circumstances. I’ve not made my mind up yet whether he will do that or just hammer working people and then hose the cash on wasters, a bit like Corbyn proposed.

 

[Jesus H Christ]

18 hours after receiving the fantastic Oxford vaccine I’m feeling fine. No soreness, fever, headache or joint stiffness. I’m very pleased we were able to develop this vaccine here in the U.K. and ultimately send it across the globe at cost price for the benefit of everyone. I think the U.K. is the only nation on the planet engaging in an act of such benevolence.

 

[oyster]

A one minute silence on 23 March. Phew! That's sorted.

Anniversary of death of Tsar Paul I of Russia. And Jack Russell.

 

[Jesus H Christ]

Has anyone else looked at the U.K. infection rate? I see the signs of the infection rate levelling off at still quite a high figure, possibly even early signs of a slight rise! Is this due to schools reopening?

I think schools should have remained closed until after Easter. I certainly don’t think Party Boy should be opening anything else up until we see what happens to the infection rate. Italy are tightening their COVID restrictions. Like most of the EU, their vaccination record is appalling, but rising infection it is worrying.

 

[oyster]

Has anyone else looked at the U.K. infection rate? I see the signs of the infection rate levelling off at still quite a high figure, possibly even early signs of a slight rise! Is this due to schools reopening?

I think schools should have remained closed until after Easter. I certainly don’t think Party Boy should be opening anything else up until we see what happens to the infection rate. Italy are tightening their COVID restrictions. Like most of the EU, their vaccination record is appalling, but rising infection it is worrying.

Wales' schools took it very slowly and that allowed time to resolve at least some of the issues.

And, thank goodness, we are now slightly more free. They have also recognised that the general five mile travel limit might be, indeed is, inappropriate in rural areas.

 

[Zlatan]

I think we’d all like something for nothing. It doesn’t work like that.

I‘d like to see him promise help and opportunities for people to improve their circumstances. I’ve not made my mind up yet whether he will do that or just hammer working people and then hose the cash on wasters

This pandemic has shown there is still a vital role for Momentum in the Labour party | Tom Blackburn

‘Moderates’ can only offer sticking plasters in response to the coronavirus crisis, says Tom Blackburn, founding editor of New Socialist

www.theguardian.com

Unfortunately Labour has not yet established its own identity yet.
We still have momentum with its Corbynistas, Unite and McCluskey and Starmer a watered down Blair.(and still with Blair haunting party in background)
It will never see power until those 3 stop arguing, work out common policies and more importantly common idealogy.
What Starmer says without a united party is almost irrelevant.
The Marxists will carry on blaming Johnson /Tories/Voters but fail to see they are a massive part of problem. Labour has been torn apart for years now. Hasn't even started healing yet.
Note the tone from Momentum in the article. Not country needs Labour, but Labour needs Momentum.
Momentum sees its self as more important than Labour Party.
Is the Labour Party Momentum, Unite or the moderate Starmer? I certainly don't know.

 

[Jesus H Christ]

Just read with disbelief that a bunch of idiot women are planning to hold a mass vigil for a person they had never heard of two weeks ago. A vigil for a person they don’t know, never knew and have absolutely no connection with.

What‘s wrong with these idiots. Their grief is like a contagion. They see sickly messages on Facebook, marinated in ghastly sentiment and constructed from tired, overused stock phrases. They then “Catch” the grief, get infected, and perpetuate the whole pathetic situation. Mencal Elf is exactly the same.

 

[oldgroaner]

18 hours after receiving the fantastic Oxford vaccine I’m feeling fine. No soreness, fever, headache or joint stiffness. I’m very pleased we were able to develop this vaccine here in the U.K. and ultimately send it across the globe at cost price for the benefit of everyone. I think the U.K. is the only nation on the planet engaging in an act of such benevolence.

Is it?

 

[Nev]

18 hours after receiving the fantastic Oxford vaccine I’m feeling fine. No soreness, fever, headache or joint stiffness.

This is good to hear, I'm getting my Oxford jab in about an hour and a half and have to admit I am a little apprehensive about the side effects.

One of my sisters had it last week and had about 48 hours of feeling really unwell. Several other people in my village have had around 12 to 48 hours of this type of thing. One extremely fit guy I know felt really bad for a week after having the jab.

On the other hand I think I would still prefer to have a day or two of feeling rough rather than actually catching the virus and not knowing how that might turn out.

 

[Zlatan]

This is good to hear, I'm getting my Oxford jab in about an hour and a half and have to admit I am a little apprehensive about the side effects.

One of my sisters had it last week and had about 48 hours of feeling really unwell. Several other people in my village have had around 12 to 48 hours of this type of thing. One extremely fit guy I know felt really bad for a week after having the jab.

On the other hand I think I would still prefer to have a day or two of feeling rough rather than actually catching the virus and not knowing how that might turn out.

We had no affects at all. Neither did daughter or her husband.
Of the 20 or so people I know only one had any. He had mild flu symptoms for a couple of days. He whinges a lot at best of times tho. You won't know you, ve had it.
Nurse I know thinks some side effects are self induced, you think you, ll have some... So you do???

 

[Jesus H Christ]

This pandemic has shown there is still a vital role for Momentum in the Labour party | Tom Blackburn

‘Moderates’ can only offer sticking plasters in response to the coronavirus crisis, says Tom Blackburn, founding editor of New Socialist

www.theguardian.com

Unfortunately Labour has not yet established its own identity yet.
We still have momentum with its Corbynistas, Unite and McCluskey and Starmer a watered down Blair.(and still with Blair haunting party in background)
It will never see power until those 3 stop arguing, work out common policies and more importantly common idealogy.
What Starmer says without a united party is almost irrelevant.
The Marxists will carry on blaming Johnson /Tories/Voters but fail to see they are a massive part of problem. Labour has been torn apart for years now. Hasn't even started healing yet.

Labour‘s problems begin with the fact that a significant number are very wealthy and view themselves as saviours, put onto Earth for the purpose of telling the people that they are poor and that they will save them. When the electorate find this condescending and tell their saviours to **** off, the party blames the electorate.

Is it?

yes.

 

[Zlatan]

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

www.ft.com

Let's hope it isn't premature.

 

[Danidl]

18 hours after receiving the fantastic Oxford vaccine I’m feeling fine. No soreness, fever, headache or joint stiffness. I’m very pleased we were able to develop this vaccine here in the U.K. and ultimately send it across the globe at cost price for the benefit of everyone. I think the U.K. is the only nation on the planet engaging in an act of such benevolence.

Ultimately send it across the globe?... The UK has not done that at all. It has Promised to eventually do so.. While the Jenner Lab promised that the same is not true of AZ

 

[Danidl]

Has anyone else looked at the U.K. infection rate? I see the signs of the infection rate levelling off at still quite a high figure, possibly even early signs of a slight rise! Is this due to schools reopening?

I think schools should have remained closed until after Easter. I certainly don’t think Party Boy should be opening anything else up until we see what happens to the infection rate. Italy are tightening their COVID restrictions. Like most of the EU, their vaccination record is appalling, but rising infection it is worrying.

The vaccine rate in the EU is is higher than the most places on earth . .. Israel and the USA are the world leaders in full vaccination. And on average more people in the EU are fully vaccinated than in the UK.

 

[Zlatan]

The vaccine rate in the EU is is higher than the most places on earth . .. Israel and the USA are the world leaders in full vaccination. And on average more people in the EU are fully vaccinated than in the UK.

You had yours yet Danidl?

 

[sjpt]

Has anyone else looked at the U.K. infection rate? I see the signs of the infection rate levelling off at still quite a high figure, possibly even early signs of a slight rise! Is this due to schools reopening?

I think schools should have remained closed until after Easter. I certainly don’t think Party Boy should be opening anything else up until we see what happens to the infection rate. Italy are tightening their COVID restrictions. Like most of the EU, their vaccination record is appalling, but rising infection it is worrying.

The source I use (below) shows that the new case rate is levelling after dropping very consistently since early Jan.

There was a brief levelling in midFeb and then it started dropping again: I suspected it was trending to a steady-state value for lockdown but no vaccine of around 170. The vaccine then started to have an effect and it started dropping again. It looks as though it may be heading for a steady state value for lockdown+vaccine around 80. (***)

I absolutely agree great care is still needed in releasing lockdown. It's guesswork on the data available, but I guess vaccine without lockdown (or even with limited lockdown) will head for a rate much nearer the 170 than the 80.

It is still encouraging to see UK so low on the (somewhat arbitrary) list of countries I monitor. Only Canada and Portugal slightly below our values, and South Korea and Malawi with tiny figures. Germany quite a bit above our levels. I don't know how Portugal have managed to come from disastrous to one of the lowest.

(***) p.s. mustn't forget the great contribution of our brilliant test and trace. I guess without that the figures would have been 171 and 81.

COVID-19 Data Explorer

Explore global data on COVID-19.

ourworldindata.org

 

[sjpt]

Just read with disbelief that a bunch of idiot women are planning to hold a mass vigil for a person they had never heard of two weeks ago. A vigil for a person they don’t know, never knew and have absolutely no connection with.

What‘s wrong with these idiots. Their grief is like a contagion. They see sickly messages on Facebook, marinated in ghastly sentiment and constructed from tired, overused stock phrases. They then “Catch” the grief, get infected, and perpetuate the whole pathetic situation. Mencal Elf is exactly the same.

The vigil was not really for the person, but for the state of affairs/attitude that contributed to her murder. They have very significant connection with that.

But I do agree it would have been absurd to hold such a vigil in the current state of Covid.

 

[sjpt]

This is good to hear, I'm getting my Oxford jab in about an hour and a half and have to admit I am a little apprehensive about the side effects.

One of my sisters had it last week and had about 48 hours of feeling really unwell. Several other people in my village have had around 12 to 48 hours of this type of thing. One extremely fit guy I know felt really bad for a week after having the jab.

On the other hand I think I would still prefer to have a day or two of feeling rough rather than actually catching the virus and not knowing how that might turn out.

An hour and a half to the minute since you posted; I hope you stay well after the jab.

My wife was one of the many who were quite ill for 48 hours starting the day after (Astra), but as with most others thought it was worth it. I had no effects from Pfizer.

 

[Jesus H Christ]

You had yours yet Danidl?

My friend in France hasn’t. Appalling.

Stupidly, they’ve sown the seeds of mistrust in the AZ vaccine because they think it gives credit to the British. My friend says a lot of his French associates are reluctant to take the AZ vaccine and want PB. That suits me, more AZ for other people.

The EU is leaving vast swathes of its population totally unprotected so that it can add a very small additional level of additional protection to those already protected. It’s totally nuts and you can see the effects of their mistakes in rising infection rates, particularly in Italy and Germany.

As I say, every shot of AZ the EU talk their citizens out of is another shot for someone else in another country. Use it or lose it should be the policy.

 

[flecc]

I,m afraid its a fact Labour's response to emergency would have been as mixed up and convuluted as all their policies

This instantly makes your response irrational, since Boris Johnson has followed Corbyn's main policies of nationalising underperforming rail networks, having his first chancellor Sajid Javid announce large scale investment to boost industry plus extra investment in the NHS and now his second chancellor Rishi Sunak doing the same on both.

Since you've got that so wrong, I see it as indicating you are just as wrong about Corbyn's potential handling of Covid-19. You make the same mistake as so many commentators as seeing Corbyn as indecisive, solely based on him not declaring where he stood on Brexit.

Corbyn is the opposite of indecisive as his unwavering lifelong support for true socialism against all opposition has always shown. Against him it's Boris Johnson who is indecisive to the degree that he constantly changes his mind on everything and is utterly dependent on advisers to help make his mind up for him.

Corbyn refused to declare on Brexit since he recognised that whichever way he went, he would lose votes he couldn't afford to lose. That's not indecisive, it was simply the only option to avoid damaging his chances further which were already slim due to the SNP's success in Scotland in wiping out the British parties there.

Given Corby's strong socialist instincts and total commitment to the NHS, I've no doubt he would have thrown everything at Covid, spending just as much or more and probably quicker off the mark than the Tories disastrously were, so saving lots of now lost lives.
.