Johnson's high wage economy

 Johnson's high wage economy is a great plan for the UK. Although maybe "plan" isn't the correct word as we've seen no plan on how this would be achieved.

Baring in mind that the Tories for years said that unions claims for higher wages were unrealistic as the economy would spiral out of control.

We have the bank of England also saying please don't ask for pay rises. 

So when, if ever, is this high wage economy going to be achieved. How is it going to be achieved?

Or is the government just firing out sound bites that they know the people want to hear but they also know aren't achievable.

Interesting that one or the other has to be wrong on the economy the bank of England or the Government.

Interesting that no breaks are being put on bankers bonuses. The same people that were complicit in the 2008 crash.

Interesting that councils are saying that below inflation rate pay rises are unrealistic.  bearing in mind that anything below inflation is a pay decrease.

Interesting that we are now letting those Johnny foreigners back in because we haven't got enough staff for the NHS or Care homes. Could have told them that 3 years ago.

So come on Boris when and how does this high wage economy get achieved, what's the plan.

 
I have little doubt that there is no plan. Just sound bites for the sheep.

Why would Boris Johnson want to mislead the parliament?

Lie to parliament or the more politically correct mislead parliament? They are one and the same to me. However, in parliament, an MP cant accuse another of lying, so they have to use the term mislead. One can mislead by omitting detail but Johnson rarely does that he just states incorrect details, which is lying. I'm not in parliament so I'll go with the term lie

Boris Johnson is well documented for lying and I believe has been sacked twice for it.

I always thought Johnson was a pathological liar. The most dangerous type of liar as they actually believe what they are saying is true, even though it's not and they will defend the lie even when its proved to them that what they are saying is incorrect.

However, I've since discovered that the key feature of a pathological lie is that it has no obvious motivation. This is clearly not the case with Johnson as there is always the motivation behind his lies.

In a 1941 article titled “Churchill’s Lie Factory” Joseph Goebbels wrote:

“One should not as a rule reveal one’s secrets, since one does not know if and when one may need them again. The essential English leadership secret does not depend on particular intelligence. Rather, it depends on a remarkably stupid thick-headedness. The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous.”

Ring any bells?

Johnson likes to think of himself as Churchill and wrote a book on him, he is also distantly related. Boris and Winston are 11th cousins twice removed!

So why does Boris Johnson lie to parliament and the general public?

Johnson works on the principle of if you tell a lie and keep repeating the lie it becomes the truth in the minds of the general population. Regardless of what parliament thinks, Johnson knows that if he can fool the public they are the ones who vote him in.

COVID ~ Downing Street Party

To start its not about a party its about the morals of the party leading the country.

 

1. Mr Johnson says a party didn't happen. Oh sorry he's been assured a party didn't happen.
2. 10 Downing street is the PMs home.
3. If he was at home it should be obvious to him whether a party went on.
4. If he wasn't there it should be easy for him to ascertain whether a party went on in a matter of days if not hours.
   
5. Why does it need an investigation? - again basically to kick the can down the road so that people forget.
   
6. We now have the police saying they don't investigate old cases but there are several old cases from a similar time being investigated.
7. Sajid Javid said categorically there was no party, not that he'd been assured a party didn't happen. 100% a party didn't happen.
8. The get out clause here would be that in the video staff are joking about a party that wasn't a party 
1. "It wasn't a party it was cheese and wine"
2. "Is cheese and wine alright? It was a business meeting"
3. "This fictional party was a business meeting ...and it was not socially distanced"
4.  So Sajid Javid will say when its proven a party did happen that no he didn't lie a party didn't happen it was a cheese and wine business meeting!
9. UPDATE - And now Allegra Stratton resigns over a party that didn't happen? 
10. Boris Johnson says he "doesn't just take responsibility for things that happens in this building, I take responsibility for everything that happens in this government". Although seems he's quite happy to let others fall on their sword. Which makes one wonder exactly what responsibility he's taking?
11. Responsibility without accountability is where the problem lies.
12. But as a Conservative MP pointed out in PMQT seems like this story has been released to distract from something else.
    

LINKS

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59532066
https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/08122021-downing-street-party-scandal-who-is-allegra-stratton/

COVID - Why does the UK have highest death rate in Europe.

The question seems to be being asked as to why we have the highest death rate in Europe.

To me its a no brainer, not sure why its even a question, seems fairly obvious.

1. UK Gov, didn't take on board the reccomendations of the 2016 pandemic report, operation cygnus, this wasnt an if it was a when. It was known this would happen, they just couldnt predict exactly when.
2. Because of point 1 frontline staff ran out of PPE and the Gov had to spend millions to get stocks, some of which were not fit for purpose.
   
3. UK's High population density in relation to land mass.
4. One of the lowest levels of ICU beds and staff in Europe.
5. Didnt close borders. Easy for the UK to close borders as we are an island.
   
6. Slow to react in bring in a lock down, which wasnt really a lock down. Initially went down herd immunity route until doing a sharp U Turn.
   
7. Inconsistent and changing messages all the way through, meaning the public didnt buy into it fully.
8. Allowed major sporting events to go ahead. Cheltenham a point in case 500,000 people from all over the country.
9. Failed to instigate a working track & trace at the start and wasted millions. Other countries seemed to be able to instigate working systems. 
10. Kept schools/universities open, saying "theres no indication of it spreading in schools" and Boris "I'll keep schools open regardless of the cost", he didnt say wether that was monetry cost or deaths.  Meanwhile specialists (so the scientists knew) on the radio were saying of course it spreads in schools and silently, as kids rarely show symptoms. Later schools were struggling to stay open due to lackof staff.

There are many others, but 10 will do.

From previous post

The closest country that is similar to the UK in population and population density is Vietnam total cases 1,549 total deaths 35. (If you believe the figures)

Whilst Vietnam didn't lock down totally. Months before the rest of the world acted, it brought in travel restrictions, closed the border with China, schools were closed for 6 months, anyone entering the country quarantine for 14 days, 40% of quarantined cases had the virus but were asymptomatic carriers. Any towns with Positive cases were locked down with no one allowed in or out until two weeks had passed with no confirmed cases.

It wasnt like this snuck up on us, it could be seen coming across the world like a tidal wave. Italy was the best warning but the UK Gov seemed to chose to ignore, stand on the beach and watch the wave coming, rather than running for high ground.

A short sharp lock down at the start, including locking borders and we would have been out of it in 3-6 months, it would have never got to the levels it has. People will say ah well easy to say that in hindsight, well it wasnt hinsight. Ive been saying it from the start, its just common sense, and Vietnam our closest comparison (land area and population density), did just that, locked down well in advance of other countries and achieved possibly the lowest death rate.

Others that have closed borders etc Australia, NZ have achieved the same, although not really compareable, due to population density being much lower.

 

 ooOOoo

 

 Dr Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, responding to data showing the death toll from COVID-19 has exceeded 100,000 people in the UK, said:

‘This is a tragic milestone, and our deepest sympathy goes out to all those who have lost friends and family to COVID-19.

‘The scene for the current crisis was set long before the virus arrived. There has clearly been a lack of long-term planning and horizon scanning — and the investment across government and public agencies needed to do this. Underinvestment in public services has been ignored, leading to staffing shortages in the NHS, an obviously inadequate system for social care and cuts to public health grants over the last decade. This, plus a bias in decision-making towards the short term, has meant the country was not prepared and has struggled to find the capacity needed to deal with a crisis of this magnitude.

‘Decisions and action to protect people in care homes was late and inadequate. Over a quarter of deaths took place in care homes.

‘There was poor appreciation of the skills available in local authorities to help develop a strong test and trace system. Instead the government relied heavily on private contractors, many selected quickly without normal due diligence to cost or value, and the system has struggled to meet its own targets.

‘The pandemic has severely tested governments around the world. The toll of 100,000 deaths in the UK rightly raises huge questions as to how the pandemic was managed. There will need to be full inquiry to make sure lessons are learned for the future. Crucially, this will need to consider the extent to which existing health and economic inequalities in the UK, compared with other developed nations, made our experience far worse.’

https://www.health.org.uk/news-and-comment/news/health-foundation-response-to-the-uk-covid-19-death-toll-exceeding-100000

 

LINKS

https://www.theweek.co.uk/107044/uk-coronavirus-timeline

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_England_(2020) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_England_(2021)

COVID-19 ~ 2nd Place for Deaths 3rd Highest Spike in New Cases

On the 5th May 2020, the UK took on the sad crown of 2nd highest deaths from coronavirus in the world.  6th of May we have the 3rd highest spike of new cases in the UK since this started.

Is it strange that the two leaders of the countries with the highest deaths or is it a sad indictment of their complacency and failure to act? With literally more data to hand than most other countries? The evidence was there, all the had to do was prepare for it. Did they? Sadly no not quickly enough, they were severely lacking in their response and even in their belief that COVID-19 was a threat. Comments like "its a hoax" and "I shake hands with everyone" are the evidence of their belief in the threat.

Now some will say, and even Johnson said it today you cant compare countries, well yes I'm going to agree with that. The UK has a population density far higher than most other comparable countries.  Which is the reason we needed to move sooner.

I covered population density here Has Sweden Found The Right Route in a blog about Sweden and its herd immunity route

UK population density per Mi2             = 710
Germany population density per Mi2    = 603
Italy population density per Mi2            = 518
China population density per Mi2         = 377
France population density per Mi2        = 319
Spain population density per Mi2          = 241
USA  population density per Mi2          = 87
Brazil population density per Mi2         = 64
Sweden population density per Mi2      = 60

Knowing that we had a much higher population density, there is no question that the Government should have implemented the stay at home policy earlier than others and not waited.  Had they done that 2 weeks earlier, we might even be coming out the other side of it now.  I guess in their defence people wanted coffins to be convinced but Johnson didn't help that with conflicting information.

I'm still shaking my head at the governments herd immunity path they initially followed and don't forget they had all the figures to hand.  Yet they were still going for that scenario, unbelievable.

Herd immunity in Sweden is a possibility and seems to be working but it's understandable with a population density of just 60 per Mi2 and they have got it wrong with many care home deaths. Herd immunity in the UK was never going to be a possibility with a population density of 710 per Mi2.  Nearly 12 times that of Sweden.

It seems now that having been late to initiate stay at home, Johnson is now making noises about relaxing measures. In my opinion, this is far too early we've just become 2nd place in the world for deaths.

As if to serve as a warning we've had the 3rd highest spike (6,111) in new cases today the 6th May 2020, since this started.  2nd highest was 6,201 on 1st May 2020 and the biggest spike was 8,681 back on 10 April 2020.

Johnson has proved to be a likeable, bumbling, schoolboy character and people have voted for him.

Unfortunately, that don't cut it, it doesn't cover the incompetence, the incongruent comments in briefings to the country. The lies, the misinformation this government has made and continues to make.

I covered the Incompetent brothers Johnson and Trump here

The 100,000 test is a good point in question, why lie? Why not say we set an ambitious target and we missed it but we are carrying on improving until we hit it.  Why send out thousands of test kits to random people that never asked for them and include them in the 100,000 figure.  THEY WERN'T TESTED.

Some will say this is not the time to be holding the Government to account. I say its more imperative that we hold the government to account now because if we let them carry on making the mistakes they are it could have fatal ramifications for some of us and no one knows who.

But it could be you.

Would you really let a driver of a bus, drive over a cliff edge without doing something to stop him?



#nomorelies
#nomoremisinformation

COVID-19 ~ Johnson and Trump The Incompetent Brothers

Prime Minister's Speech Greenwich, London 3rd February 2020

In case anyone was in any doubt of good old Boris Johnsons thinking prior to coronavirus hitting the UK. I suggest you take a look at the start of this speech made on the 3rd of February 2020.

“And when there is a risk that new diseases such as coronavirus will trigger a panic and a desire for market segregation that go beyond what is medically rational, to the point of doing real and unnecessary economic damage. Then at that moment humanity needs some government somewhere that is willing at least to make the case powerfully for freedom of exchange” - Boris Johnson

Johnson then goes on to tell us, or those that are concerned about what sort of trade deal the UK might end up with the USA, that they should grow up.

Well, it turned out that he was the one who needed to grow up, particularly after his "I shook hands with everyone" speech at a briefing a month later to the day.

"I was at a hospital the other night, where I think there was a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody! you'll be pleased to know and I continue to shake hands" ~ Boris Johnson 3rd March 2020

Inspirational and outstanding leadership in getting the message across....NOT.  This isn't leadership this is pure childish incompetence.

Yet people still say he's doing a good job, it beggars belief and is the same blind faith exhibited by those followers of Trump. A world leader that lurches from one idiotic statement to another and then claims he's misquoted or his other favourite "its fake news".

Strange that the two leaders who were prepared to sacrifice unknown numbers of the population are now facing seeing the biggest death totals.  The UK is not there yet, but slowly, day by day the UK is overtaking other countries in that area. Will we make number two?  Highly probable in the next few days but certainly in the next few weeks.

But the sheer incompetence of both Johnson and Trump does not remain to be seen it's on plain view.

It's not like coronavirus stealthily crept up on us, we had the warnings, it was plain to see. There was no surprise, it was obvious what was coming to all those with a mediocre of common sense.

Unfortunately, common sense seems to be low in both Johnson and Trump and it nearly cost Johnson his life, if we can believe that part of the saga.

The UK is currently 3rd in the dubious rankings of coronavirus deaths. We should have been lower, we were warned, we knew it was coming. Only the governments slow reaction has put us in what will be 2nd place in the next few days.

The government also failed to plan correctly and put in place stocks of non-perishables, like masks and gowns after the pandemic exercise in 2016, Exercise Cygnus.  The report has never been released, I wonder why?

Covid-19 strategies: Britain planned for herd immunity while Asia intended to contain virus
Britain had prepared for a herd immunity strategy to contain Covid-19, while other countries focused on enhanced testing capacity

Who got it right?

Well it's plain to see from the numbers that certainly the UK and the USA didn't, especially with the advanced warning both countries had. Asian countries have got off lightly with regard to deaths so it was possible.

There is one caveat to this.  Were the deaths enough to get near to herd immunity? Because for every death there are x number of people that have had it and had mild or no symptoms.

Have the deaths been enough to get near the 60-80% needed for herd immunity to work?  As we have no reliable test, or any reliable evidence, as yet, that if you've had it you get immunity. That remains to be seen when the 2nd wave comes. The 2nd wave in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic killed far more than the 1st wave.

So hold onto your hats, we could be in for a bumpy ride and with the likes of Johnson and Trump in charge what could possibly go wrong.....

LOTS!

UPDATE 06 May 2020

6 days after I posted this blog we surpassed Italy in deaths and the UK took on the sad crown of the country with the 2nd highest deaths in the world.

LINKS

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/infection-trajectory-flattening-the-covid19-curve/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Cygnus

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
Johnson said COVID-19 would cause “real and unnecessary economic damage” beyond “what is medically rational”.

Covid-19 ~ Boris Johnson missed 5 Cobra meetings

LINKS
Boris Johnson missed FIVE emergency cobra meetings in early stages of coronavirus response 180420
Boris Johnson ‘skipped five Cobra meetings’ in early stage of coronavirus crisis 180420
The eleven days that may have tragically cost the UK in the fight against coronavirus  170420
https://www.minghella.com/from-the-dark-end-of-the-street/
https://www.minghella.com/eleven-days-in-march/
https://www.minghella.com/ramping-up-the-rubbish-three-reasons-covid-19-testing-is-useless/

COVID-19 ~ 'I shook hands with everybody,' says Boris Johnson

'I shook hands with everybody,' says Boris Johnson

Inspirational and outstanding leadership in getting the message across.
"I was at a hospital the other night, where I think there was a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody! you'll be pleased to know and I continue to shake hands" ~ Boris Johnson 3rd March 2020

It was a totally irresponsible statement and led to a large proportion of the UK to carry on believing the threat wasn't a big as it really was.  It also shows that Johnson didn't really believe the enormity of the situation, even with all of the evidence available from other countries like China and Italy.

Emergency situations have a way of revealing things about people and it showed Boris Johnson for the buffoon, he really is.  Intelligence has no bearing on common sense and Johnson needs a few bags of common sense delivered to his doorstep because at present he's a danger to the UK.


TIMELINE

3rd   March - 'I shook hands with everybody,' says Boris Johnson

11th March - Boris Johnson, meets with the Queen who is 93. (Who thought that was a good idea?)

26th March - Mild symptoms advised to get tested  (23 days on from 3rd March)

27th March - Mr Johnson, 55, announced the test results by posting a video on Twitter where he said he had developed a temperature and a persistent cough.

28th March - It's announced that Johnson will write to every UK household urging people to stay at home

29th March

30th March

31st March

1st    April

2nd  April

3rd   April

4th   April

5th   April - Spends 1st Night in Hospital

6th   April - About 7pm Moved to intensive care overnight

7th   April - Intensive care overnight

8th   April - Intensive care overnight

9th   April - Moved out of intensive care back to a ward.

10th April - father, Stanley Johnson, said the Prime Minister "almost took one for the team"

11th April - 

12th April - Johnson is discharged after seven nights in St Thomas’ and is taken to Chequers.

LINKS
'I shook hands with everybody,' says Boris Johnson weeks before coronavirus diagnosis
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says 'it could have gone either way'
Boris Johnson recovering from coronavirus at Chequers – latest news
Coronavirus intensive care figures: how long Boris Johnson could be in hospital, according to the data - and what the risks are
Timeline: Johnson's activities before his hospitalisation with coronavirus
The strange lead-up to Boris Johnson's admission to hospital

COVID-19 ~ Has Sweden Found the Right Solution to the Coronavirus?

Well, no country is the same, so let's look at population density.

UK population density per Mi2             = 710
Germany population density per Mi2    = 603
Italy population density per Mi2            = 518
China population density per Mi2         = 377
France population density per Mi2        = 319
Spain population density per Mi2          = 241
USA  population density per Mi2          = 87
Brazil population density per Mi2         = 64
Sweden population density per Mi2      = 60

Swedens population density is far less than the UK's, in fact, its the lowest of all those listed above.  Obviously, this figure is purely based on landmass and they may well have highly populated cities but I don't think so.

Sweden is also 1.9 times bigger than the UK. 54.5 million fewer people live in Sweden compared to the UK.

Swedes comply to rules and regulations better and are dealing with self-regulation better. Something that didn't happen in the UK. Mainly I believe due to inconsistent messages given out by the Government with Boris Johnson claiming "I'm still shaking everyone's hand" a good example as the Chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty winced by his side and could only respond "wash your hands" as advise.

Brazil is also going down this route but mainly because the President thinks its just Flu. So all the scientific data being thrown out the window there, at least the Swedes are working on the scientific data.

It's not like flu, Flu has been around for hundreds of years we have gradually built up immunity to it and we have a vaccine. Even so Flu still kills lots of people.

We have no immunity at all to coronavirus, we have no vaccine and the infection rate is 3 times higher than flu. It's as simple as that.

However, we can only get immunity by catching it or if a vaccine is produced. The trick is catching it when the NHS isn't overwhelmed by lots of patients if you are unlucky and need an ICU bed. There's no telling who will get it bad and who won't so Russian roulette.


So yes going back to Sweden, in my opinion, it just makes sense that it may well work in Sweden with their compliance to self-regulation and much, much lower population density.



Update 02/05/20
WHO Declares Sweden's COVID Response a Model for the World
It should be noted that the actual wording from the WHO was "potential “model” for battling the COVID-19.  Also, be that although Swedens death rate appears low, due to population density, it's one of the 10 highest in the world with a high mortality rate in care homes.
As noted above Swedens population density is far far less than the UK's, so not really comparable.
Johnson was indeed going down the same route until the realisation hit that in the UK the NHS would have been quickly overwhelmed and the death rates could have hit levels not worth thinking about. This would have highlighted even more the failings that have happened and possibly Johnson being no more. A complete U-turn was taken from the herd immunity route, basically to save his job and the Tories. He wasn't to know at that point that it would possibly save his life.

It should
However, back to the Sweden model, I think it's valid as a model for coming out of the stay at home policy now the 1st wave has been contained and people are a bit more mindful that it's not just Flu.

LINKS
Has Sweden Found the Right Solution to the Coronavirus?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Whitty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density
'I shook hands with everybody,' says Boris Johnson weeks before coronavirus diagnosis
https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_sweden_goes_it_alone_the_eus_coronavirus_exception
https://inews.co.uk/news/sweden-coronavirus-no-lockdown-covid-19-measures-cases-deaths-social-distancing-restaurants-open-2517991
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-sweden-no-lockdown-asks-people-to-stay-apart-2020-4?r=US&IR=T
Updated 02/05/20
Sweden Says Controversial Virus Strategy Proving Effective
WHO Official: Sweden’s Policy of Individual Responsibility “a Model” for the Rest of World
Has Sweden's coronavirus strategy played into the hands of nationalists?
Sweden says its coronavirus approach has worked. The numbers suggest a different story
What we can learn from Sweden's approach to COVID-19: WHO coronavirus briefing
Updated 16/05/20
Americans calling for herd immunity should look at Sweden's coronavirus experiment to see why it won't work

COVID-19 ~ I wish Boris Johnson a speedy recovery because I don't wish ill on anyone...BUT

It's amazing that in 2008 the greedy banks crashed the world economy and we had to bail out banks that were deemed too big to be allowed to fail. The Tory press and the Tories convinced the country "Labour Bankrupt the country". After 8 years of austerity, we are over 800 billion more in debt, so I think we can put that one to bed and safely say we were nowhere near-bankrupt, we were lied to.

Fast forward 12 years and a nasty little virus comes along, something they always knew would happen.

Apparently, they have been planning for it for years, and it was even higher than terrorism on the treat list. So to plan for this over the last 10 years the government reduced hospital beds by over 12,000-14,000 along with staff, ICU beds, ventilators etc etc. to one of the lowest in Europe. (The sixth richest country in the world has one of the lowest levels of hospital beds? and hence no room to cope for an emergency)

But now we are not allowed to criticise the government’s handling of this, it's insensitive, and they are doing their best in an emergency situation, what utter claptrap. And all the Tory memes are already out in circulation and the sheep are falling for them, sorry but if the cap fits wear it. The same memes that did the rounds during Brexit. Oh, we weren’t allowed to criticise then either I remember, the poor things were dealing with a tough situation. A load of old eyewash my Dad would have said.

I wish Boris Johnson a speedy recovery because I don't wish ill on anyone, even those politicians that I know are pathological liars. However just because you're in hospital doesn't make the government suddenly unaccountable for its actions.

Their actions have certainly been wanting, from Boris Johnson claiming to have shaken hands with Coronavirus patients. A statement along with other woolly and unclear advice that clearly lessened the impact and the reality of the situation to the general public.

We see the evidence of that with people flouting the social distancing rules. Because they don't believe it. They don't believe it because of Boris Johnson’s absolutely ridiculous handling of it. It’s akin to a Dads Army sketch.

And were not allowed to say anything because he has an unborn child. It’s insensitive? Really?  There are plenty of people that have died, some had children I’m sure there are a few others that had unborn children that would have liked to have known their Dad. Boris Johnson doesn’t get the monopoly on it.

FFS boils my piss.

Get well soon Boris but when you get out stop with the Dads Army humour, woolly conflicting information and get it right, because at present you’re not.

COVID-19 ~ Sorry Boris Your Not Fooling Me

Let's say this before continuing. I don't wish Corronavirus on anyone and I wish Boris Johnson a speedy recovery, however.....

Just because you catch Coronavirus and end up in ICU doesn't wipe the slate clean.

Yes I hope Boris gets better. But let's not forget. Yes, he did clap for the NHS at 8pm, he was also there clapping and cheering when they voted down a pay rise for NHS workers who are drastically underpaid for the work they do.  Voting against the pay rise is one thing but cheering? That tells you a lot about the people that voted it down.

Supported the UK? well, that's a moot point. He's switched sides and done everything possible including Lying, (in fact, he's a pathological liar), misleading, insulting anything he could just to get into No10.  I call that self-serving not supporting the UK.

He voted against Mays deal and then claimed to negotiate a better deal which handed the EU what they wanted in the 1st place, a border down the Irish sea and then claimed he'd got a better deal and everyone thought he was a god. It's unbelievable, I mean It literally beggars belief.

WAKE UP PEOPLE YOU'RE BEING CONNED!!

He was possibly the most incompetent Foreign Secretary the UK has ever had and if he hadn't jumped would have probably been sacked. There's a UK citizen still in an Iran jail because of his stupid comments.

He was sacked twice before for lying, misleading information.

For years the Tories have been quietly privatising the NHS, you only have to talk to NHS workers to understand that. But now they claim they are champions of the NHS, because they know its a vote winner.

We have one of the lowest numbers of hospital beds in Europe, so we are already on the back foot in regards to Coronavirus. In the past 10 years, the Tories have reduced the number of hospital beds by over 12,000. 14,000 depending on which stats you use, I'll use the lower.

We also have one of the lowest levels of ventilators in Europe.  We are the 6th richest country in the world, we should not be one of the lowest!!!!

Look around you everything is falling apart, holes in the roads, etc etc the list is endless. 10 years of Tory austerity we've had so many cuts, clubs for kids axed so their all out on the streets now. Police numbers cut, Firefighters cut, nurses cut, social support cut, etc etc

And they are claiming to be heroes for just putting back what they cut in the 1st place. We are over 800 billion more in debt than in 2010 and the debt/fall out from the worldwide banking crash was levelling off at that point.  The Tories brought in austerity and lost our AAA rating. Which we still haven't got back and they were warned that would happen if they carried on on the path that they were going down.  800 billion more in debt, where did the money go?  No one seems to ask that.

I for one am not fooled, I'm not taken in by the charming Buffon pathological Liar, I'm not fooled by the we are champions of the NHS statements.

I'll say it again the Tories clapped and cheered when voting down a pay rise for NHS workers who are vastly underpaid for what they do and they have the audacity to try and win votes by applauding the NHS now.... when they are expecting them to die. Expecting them to put their lives on the line to save people, to save Mr Johnson. For the same pay......For the same pay!!

They say all politicians lie, well maybe they do, but they should not be allowed to and this current government takes it to a whole new level, we've never seen anything like it before and they are getting away with it.

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

I will be clapping the NHS workers for putting their lives on the line to treat you and thousands of others, battling to stay alive.

Boris Johnson, I wish you no ill, I hope you recover and if you do you'll probably come out of this a national hero.



BUT YOU'RE NOT FOOLING ME!!   Not one little bit.

Covid-19 ~ People may knock this man

Facebook post 28/03/20 

A psychopathic liar who is U turning and papering over the cracks of his parties failings over the last 10 years, that just to name 1 point, has led the UK to have one of the lowest levels of hospital beds in the whole of Europe. 

The overzealous cuts have cost this country billions as we play catch up, just as Thatcher did with the military cuts and the Falklands. Just got through that by the skin of our teeth and who saved us ....our amazing under equipped military.

So yeah thank god Corbyn isn't in charge we might have had hospital beds and a NHS that would have got their pay rise. 

Anyone going to say they are not worth it?

My further points are.

1. The UK's delay in responding has been heavily criticised by countries more experienced in dealing with Corvid-19 and the World Health Organisation.
2. We are the 5th or 6th richest economy in the world so the fact we have one of the lowest numbers of hospital beds in the whole of Europe is something people should be questioning not applauding. If Corvid-19 really takes off here a lot of people will die because of those decisions. So no I'm not prepared to let them off they are accountable for their decisions or should be.
3. The UK's herd immunity strategy was seriously flawed and quite why the scientists thought they could advise something different to what the rest of the world was doing is beyond me. If indeed they did advise that.
4. There are some claims that Cummings had a hand in promoting the herd immunity strategy. whether this is true or not remains to be seen. 

Dominic Cummings reportedly led the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic with a strategy that protected the economy and put the elderly at risk.
According to Sunday Times reports the unelected advisor pushed a discredited “herd immunity” response, saying the prerogative was to “protect the economy and if that means some pensioners die, too bad.”  

• The UK is scrambling to correct its coronavirus strategy 
• Professor Hugh Pennington: ‘Herd immunity is a crazy idea, not really supported by any sound science’ 
• Cummings role under scrutiny over delay to UK suppression policy
• Britain Drops Its Go-It-Alone Approach to Coronavirus

Other Links
How countries around the world are battling coronavirus

Covid-19 ~ Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

Facebook post 27/03/20 

If he has it then I wish him well I wouldn't wish potential death on anyone ....however back to the If... 

Putting my devil's advocate hat on, In a time when the inadequacies of the current government decision are being spotlighted. The past tory government's decision to hack the NHS to pieces. One glaring piece of evidence of this is the 5th richest economy in the world has one on the lowest levels of hospital beds in all of Europe. That one thing will soon become glaringly obvious. So what better thing than to become a national hero and contract the virus.... a mild form...apparently. 

He can then recover and return to the forefront having battled on working, saving the country whilst having the Virus. What a hero people will proclaim. In fact they already are. 

The inadequacies are forgotten, the incompetence forgotten. Boris the hero stood outside the night before clapping the NHS when months before the baying mob of Tories applauded and cheered for voting down a pay rise for NHS workers. Just remember that. 

If you do have it fair enough but it doesn't wipe the slate clean.
#devilsadvocate

LINKS

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52060791

Covid-19 ~ To put things in a simplistic nutshell

1. The government has totally messed up the Coronavirus response and I mean really messed up.
2. They should have listened to WHO, and other countries that were way ahead of the UK in dealing with the virus, they didn't, they thought they knew better, they didn't.
3. Not responding when they should have will cost a lot of lives, we could have been ahead of the game. We are now on the back foot.
4. Cheltenham should never have gone ahead and will have been a catalyst for the explosion that is coming.
5. All the lies and misinformation that Boris Johnson has spouted during Brexit has led to people not believing him when he needed them to. In essence, the chickens came home to roost.
6. This is the long haul now don't go thinking that Pubs, clubs etc will be opening next month. This will be the end of the year or even next year and I have no idea how that will work.
7. There are two things that might change this, a cheap and easy test for Coronavirus or a vaccine. Can't see a vaccine being available till next year. Maybe an existing drug can be modified?
8. It's just like Flu - sorry no it's not do some proper research.  Coronavirus is twice as infectious as Flu.
9. Flu kills more people - at present, yes and we have immunity built up over years and vaccines for flu we have nothing for Coronavirus. Flu kills 0.1% of patients Covid-19 is over 10 times higher.  If Coronavirus infected as many people as flu does the death rates would be 10 times higher.
10. It only affects older people badly - Chinese study showed that there was 14.8% mortality among over 80s.  41% of serious cases occurred among under 50s and 27% over 65s.  You may be lucky if you get it and only have something mild or you may not its pot luck.
11. I addition they knew we had a higher population density than most and it would, therefore, spread more quickly, another reason they should have reacted sooner.

LINKS

How does the new coronavirus compare with the flu?

No, Coronavirus Isn't 'Just Like The Flu'. Here Are The Very Important Differences

How The Novel Coronavirus And The Flu Are Alike ... And Different

New blood tests for antibodies could show true scale of coronavirus pandemic

telegraph-Data modelling suggests UK will suffer 20,000 coronavirus deaths

telegrap-UK coronavirus death toll of 20,000 'a good outcome', says chief scientific adviser

telegraph-The terrifying data behind the government's sudden coronavirus lockdown
‘For Unknown Reasons They Waited. And Watched’ – Lancet Editor Exposes Devastating Government Failure On Coronavirus

UPDATES
Graphic added 12/05/20

Covid-19 ~ if you were a government with an aging population

facebook

13 March at 23:18 · 

So if you were a government with an ageing population that you can't afford to pay the pensions for, a health service with not enough nurses because of your own policies. It would be a great idea to risk zigging when everyone else has zagged. Doing exactly the opposite of China where corvid-19 is now tailing off.

Blojo even blatantly admitted people are going to lose loved ones and the inference wasn't small numbers when the chief scientific officer is talking about 80% worst-case scenario. That's way way above what other countries are seeing. Even if you go at 2% your talking over 10,000 deaths way above China.

This strategy is a big gamble or is it.🤔...just saying.

#devilsadvocate

UK and Coronavirus

Something kept bugging me about Boris Johnsons latest Coronavirus announcement.

China put in place the most Draconian methods but appear to have contained Corvid-19 with daily new cases now dropping right off, if the information is correct. However, while the rest of the world Zigs the UK has chosen to Zag, only time will tell whether that is sheer incompetency or a master stroke.

Personally I think we will get a massive rise of cases around the country the requisite time after the biggest sporting event the UK holds has finished, i.e. Cheltenham, half a million people in one place, Hmmmm.

It’s already hitting football managers, Players, sporting events around the world have been cancelled in an unprecedented way.

The UKs response meanwhile is for Boris to stand up and say “lots of loved ones are going to die, but in true British fashion, “We will get through this” 

On the podium as well was Sir Patrick Vallance Chief Scientific Adviser and Christopher Whitty Chief Medical Officer.  Who seemed to have conflicting opinion, Vallance said the worst case scenario 80% of population could get it and we could expect 1% deaths.  Whitty said there was no way of knowing how many might get it. Maybe they should be singing from same hymn sheet?

So let’s just take a look at their the worst case scenario.

80% of population of UK which is currently 67,779,093 = 54,223,274

Worst case scenario 54 million people could get it but these type of figures haven’t happened anywhere else in the world and china is tailing off.

1% deaths would be 542,232 again a figure not seen anywhere else or even remotely close, if we believe the figures being made public.

Assuming this worst case scenario is way above anything seen elsewhere let's go for a small 2% of their 80% worst case which is 1,084,465 infections.

1% of deaths would still be 10,844 still way above anything even China has seen, whose total deaths so far are 3,177.

So why say your using the best knowledge and scientific data of what has happened so far and tell everyone a worst case of 80% when that hasn’t happened anywhere in the world? Must be a reason, we are talking highly knowledgeable people here, with access to extensive data resources.

As they are obviously using modelling with data far better than my fag packet calculations and we know that no country is the same, it could be population density that pushes up our model in the UK.

So lets look at that.

49           United Kingdom                   724/mi²

70           Italy                                       520/mi²                204/mi² difference to UK             39.23%

80           China                                     384/mi²                340/mi² difference to UK             88.54%

The UK's population density is 88% greater than China, Wow really didn't know that and 39% greater than Italy.

So lets extrapolate that.

China cases 80,814 x 88% = 71,116 + 80,814 = 151,930 possible UK infections based on what were being told has happened in China and factoring in the UK being 88% more densely populated.

Lets try deaths in china and factor in the UK increased population density. 3,177 x 88%  = 2795 + 3177 = 5,972 possible UK Deaths

Still way higher than China even using low percentages and way below what the Governments suggesting even taking just 2% of their worst case scenario.  But population density certainly seems to make sense for the increased expectation for the UK.

So why is the government suggesting a worst case of 80% yes its a possibility but the evidence from other countries doesn't even come close.

Something is not right.

NOTE

Just a brain dump of my thoughts nothing more.

LINKS

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/uk-population

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/05/as-chris-whitty-provides-a-dose-of-reality-boris-is-just-an-annoying-distraction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-51862922/up-to-10000-in-uk-likely-to-have-coronavirus-chief-scientific-adviser