Now what?

Winning a difficult vote will come as an unsurprising relief to the government. They had to rely on the Opposition and on this occasion it worked. It does not however solve the underlying problems.

If the virus continues to spread the government will be told by its ever cautious scientific advisers to lock down more. They are bound to say that as it is the safest thing to say if your one task is to curb the disease. The measures taken this week are unlikely to arrest its progress. Indeed one of the main arguments against the vaccine passports is vaccinated people can get and pass on the virus so how does it help as a device to control Night clubs and large events?

If the virus turns out as some think to be milder so there is no surge in serious cases the governments critics will claim the measures were needless.

More  seriously Ministers have to rebuild trust with a large number of MPs who voted against, abstained or wanted to vote against but responded to persuasion or coercion. Ministers need to grasp both the scepticism about some of the forecasts and measures proposed, and the concern that every time a new variant appears there could be more lockdowns.

Government needs to balance freedoms and economic  needs against pandemic control. It needs to recognise that anti pandemic rules can cause more mental health problems, loss of jobs, businesses and income and damage to the social life of communities. There needs to be more evidence about which measures do most at least collateral damage to contain the spread of the virus.

We could do with more information on what progress has been made with air extraction and cleansing in public buildings, more information on approved and potential treatments and more on disinfection.

Government also needs to ensure extra resources going into  the NHS can be used to tackle the many non covid health problems  that do not go away because of the virus.

 

 

213 Comments

  1. Peter Wood
    December 15, 2021

    Good Morning,
    To answer your headline question, it’s time for a grown-up to run the PCP! Bunter Boris is all very well in opposition, full of entertaining joly japes and one-liners, but he is simply not up to the serious task of national management. His distant view of honesty and strategic managment, his inability to face his deficiencies speak of someone not grown to maturity, let alone running a nuclear armed nation. We deserve better. Look amoung your most accomplished and best and replace the clown Bunter ASAP.

  2. Mark B
    December 15, 2021

    Good morning.

    So we started this whole thing under the belief that a lockdown would arrest the disease. Clearly it hasn’t worked. So their response is, well to lockdown again. This begs the question – If the previous lockdowns did not work, what makes people think that a future ones will ?

    Of course we all know what this is really about and I have stated it here before. They are using this manufactured crisis to piggyback all their nasty little Marxist policies on us. Vaccine Passports are really ID Cards. They have been trying to push that on us for years.

    We are sleep walking into totalitarianism. Something those on the continent and elsewhere are well versed in.

    1. Donna
      December 15, 2021

      Correct. The EU has been planning for vaccine passports for a long time. The timeline for their introduction starts in 2018, with implementation due in 2022. The British Deep State has obviously decided that we will be in their totalitarian scheme. No wonder Starmer supported Johnson’s plan.
      https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/default/files/vaccination/docs/2019-2022_roadmap_en.pdf

    2. BW
      December 16, 2021

      Nothing wrong with ID cards. The sooner the better.

  3. DOM
    December 15, 2021

    This is not a clinical or medical event. This is a political event. We are witnessing the construction of an all powerful State and last night’s vote was another step towards such an eventuality. Covid is merely the justification. I am not quite sure why rebel MPs think otherwise.

  4. lifelogic
    December 15, 2021

    Indeed I am appalled that these dire “government knows best” measures have passed. They very rarely do know best. The many non covid health problems now clearly exceed the Covid ones for the second rate NHS. The collateral damage is vast and increasing daily.

    Interesting to see that the energy correspondent of the Telegraph yesterday does not even seem to know the units for energy. Confusing energy with power twice. I have heard the climate alarmist reporters at the BBC do this too (one BBC chap did not even understand what “positive feedback” in the engineering sense).

    Surely the Telegraph (and perhaps the BBC) could afford someone who has a least understood her physics at GCSE level to be Energy Correspondents?

    Gell-Mann Amnesia – As I turn the page and forget the drivel on the previous page but assume the best of the next one!

  5. SM
    December 15, 2021

    Sir John – with reference to the NHS and its Covid priorities: I have previously mentioned the appalling treatment given to a now acutely suffering friend, all of which has increased in the past 48hrs because her hospital refused to admit her after diagnosing quickly-spreading cancer.

    Yesterday, dazed and in severe pain, she collapsed to the floor – and then lay there for 5hrs awaiting ambulance assistance and to be finally admitted to hospital. During those 5 hrs, her husband (himself confused and stressed) was repeatedly advised to call 999, then 111, then do it all over again – and again, answering the same questions, taking up time that could have been spent on other people needing their services.

    If a public health ‘service’ that has existed for nearly 80 years is unable to cope with efficiently managing cases of extreme severity – which they have to deal with every day – then there is something horrendously wrong with not just the NHS itself, but with the Dept of Health and every other quango/advisory committee and what-have-you in existence.

  6. Fedupsoutherner
    December 15, 2021

    Professor Robert Dingwall, a government advisor, says the virus may be no worse than the flu. Well i never! All this panic for nothing. I know 3 people who have it and all are just feeling under the weather. One is waiting for her first bout of chemo for breast cancer and she doesn’t feel unduly poorly. Everyone I speak to are fed up with the constant threats of lockdown. Time to move on. Nothing to see here.

  7. Oldtimer
    December 15, 2021

    The measures proposed and voted through last night looked to me like a “dead cat” attempt to distract from Johnson’s other problems. Dodgy data has promoted fear on the streets, as intended, will put more businesses out of business and will likely cause yet more delays for those with actual long standing needs for treatment or operations. The odds are it will make matters worse not better. In short it is another example of BJ grasping for the nearest straw to hand in another bungled attempt to escape the consequences of his earlier actions. As for What Now? We await the voters response in the Thursday election, whether the No 10 Carrie On Regardless shambles is replaced with a professional operation, and how much longer Conservative MPs are prepared to tolerate arbitrary misdirection from Johnson himself.

    1. Al
      December 16, 2021

      “The measures proposed and voted through last night looked to me like a “dead cat” attempt to distract from Johnson’s other problems.” – Oldtimer

      Surely closer to a dead horse that has been so thoroughly beaten it is a stain on the ground. I see the British government have made no progress on the issue of conventional vaccines to resolve the problem of allergies and reactions to the mRNA vaccines, despite their promising trial results elsewhere (and the Scottish government negotiating for jobs that should have gone to Northumberland), and we are now looking at a ten-day circuit-breaker lockdown.

  8. Oldwulf
    December 15, 2021

    Yes …. scientists will always be cautious. The economy is not their problem.

    And also decisions are being made by “public sector people” who do not suffer financially by the consequences of their own decision.

    But …. at the back of all of this is the “need” to protect our very expensive NHS which is not fit for purpose. Please, please, please fix our NHS so that we can all get back to normal PDQ.

  9. Gary Megson
    December 15, 2021

    It was very good to see the Opposition parties siding with the government in taking responsible measures. It exposes you far right ideologically-driven dissenters as the fringe extremists you really are. You lost, get over it

    1. Hat man
      December 15, 2021

      The ten LibDem MPs and the Green MP voted against the Tory government, Gary. I’m sure they’d be really worried to hear you call them far right ideologically-driven fringe extremists.

  10. Duyfken
    December 15, 2021

    Would I be right to suggest the “rebellion” of the 99 Tory MPs was as much opposition to the government’s overall performance, as objection to just the virus-related restrictions? If so, it is about time, and the parliamentary Party should follow this up by completing the job: Johnson’s removal.

  11. javelin
    December 15, 2021

    Many people probably thought dying Of covid and From covid was just a cute statistical difference. However from a legal perspective it’s a hugely significant difference that straddles the line of criminal neglect.

  12. jerry
    December 15, 2021

    We have been here before, back in 1995, the outcome did not end well for your party, even worse for the country…

  13. Ian Wragg
    December 15, 2021

    Extra resources for the NHS being used to employ more useless diversity managers.
    More fishing licences for the French and capitulation on ECJ oversight of the NiP.
    Who is in charge of this shambolic government.

  14. Sea_Warrior
    December 15, 2021

    Now what? I’ll make a point of taking lunch today in one of my local restaurants, all of which are hurting. Sunak needs to give consideration to running another Eat Out To Help Out operation, in January, as soon as the mild nature of Omicron has been confirmed.
    P.S. I have always voted Conservative when it comes to choosing an MP. And it won’t surprise you to learn that I am right-of-centre, as are many of your readers. If I had a vote tomorrow, your party wouldn’t get it. I’d take the opportunity of giving it a damn good kicking, in the hope of getting the faux-Con Johnson out of office.

  15. Andy
    December 15, 2021

    There is no shame in winning a vote with the help of opposition parties. The opposition parties do, after all, represent most of the people in this country.

    On this occasion Parliament is reflecting the will of the people rather than the will of the Tory minority who have repeatedly judged Covid wrong and who have led us to the hole we are in. It is quite refreshing.

    1. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      this country? — Are you talking England only? That would be 533 seats.
      Conservatives won 344.
      Once again you talk out of your backside with no basis in fact.

    2. No Longer Anonymous
      December 15, 2021

      Prof Whitty ignores data on Omicron from all over the world.

      Ours is the Doomsday variant for some mysterious reason.

  16. DaveM
    December 15, 2021

    Just for info.

    I’ve just been released from a COViD isolation unit in Korea, having tested positive a few days after arrival.

    The only place I could possibly have caught it was on the plane here. You can’t get near a plane without a double vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test. And you can’t walk into an airport without a mask on. So
.those precautions are clearly not bombproof.

    As for being ill – I’ve had worse colds.

    Thanks for standing up and being counted Mr Redwood.

  17. PeteB
    December 15, 2021

    Of course this group of advisors will continue to offer the same solutions. They are too blinkered and committed to this path to suggest an alternative.

    If the Government want alternative advise then seek alternative advisors. I hear good things of Anders Tegnell over in Sweden.

    Unfortunately this Government has also committed too much to change direction. Please Sir John can you and other Tory ‘rebels’ force the issue and kick out BoJo? There are more important long term problems than Covid.

  18. Andy
    December 15, 2021

    A highlight of the debate was Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting – who was excellent by the way – pointing out that this is not the 1930s and that Sajid Javid is not a Nazi. I don’t much like Mr Javid but Mr Streeting is right.

    I do have genuine doubts about a number of the Tory rebels though. These are the same people who are planning to remove our human rights and judicial review, having already removed the right to protest and having given themselves the power to strip citizenship from those they don’t like. All far more sinister than having to show a QR code to get into a nightclub.

    1. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      The plan is to have our courts rule on human rights cases unhindered by a foreign court.
      You know Andy like most free democratic independent nations do.

    2. SM
      December 15, 2021

      Interestingly, several people in Mr Streeting’s own constituency have this week been arrested on charges of producing fake electronic vaccine passports.

  19. Peter
    December 15, 2021

    ‘Now what?’

    I imagine more of the same

    . I don’t see a change of course taking place. Nor do I see a change of Prime Minister in the near future – not that it would make a difference anyway.

    Government will limp on, pursuing similar politicise becoming less popular along the way.

  20. Nottingham Lad Himself
    December 15, 2021

    The virus will continue to spread whatever – that is not the point.

    The rate of infection, however, can be slowed, so that the numbers of people perhaps needing hospital facilities does not overwhelm them.

    If it does, then they will be denied to those who need them for the whole range of reasons that they always do.

    Sir John, you seem to think that the Government should just take a gamble on this, and with thousands of lives ,yet again.

    1. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      Near where I live is a delightful old pub, log fires, low ceilings and so on.
      Opposite it is a British Legion Club again it has log fires and a lovely bar.
      With this new legislation I can go into the old pub maskless, but if I cross the road and then go into the British Legion I have to wear a mask.
      There is real logic or sense to these current regulations.

    2. No Longer Anonymous
      December 15, 2021

      The experience of other countries is that this is a mild disease.

      Lockdown kills. From bitter personal experience.

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        December 16, 2021

        It will be great, if that be the case.

        Do you think that any responsible government can stake the country on such a gamble though?

        The evidence is far from conclusive atm.

  21. Cartimandua
    December 15, 2021

    At the start of the Pandemic govt was attacked for not acting soon enough. They cannot win. It also seems to be the case that even MPs have forgotten how we live. If the mild illness still takes out vital workers for a few weeks we lose… water, power, food,waste disposal etc. We lose all the systems this overcrowded island relies on. It’s not just deaths and it’s not just the nhs.

    1. DennisA
      December 16, 2021

      But lockdowns self-evidently did not prevent the situation you describe.

  22. Mary M.
    December 15, 2021

    Good Morning, Sir John.

    ‘Now what?’ Good question, especially for example when the evidence for the efficacy of face masks was not taken into account by the majority voting last night to make masks mandatory in shops again.

    (I can’t remember who said that, despite their near-uselessness, masks would be a visible reminder that there was a pandemic on. Or was it even the WHO?)

    Yesterday in the supermarket there were very few shoppers, the space was lovely and airy, but the few shelf-stackers were wearing masks, tweaking them every so often or pulling them down below their noses between putting items on shelves. Apart from masks being very unhygienic and impairing breathing, the wearing of them could possibly be damaging lungs long-term.

    I will continue to go into the supermarket mask-less. I am not advocating that anyone else break the law, it is my own personal decision, but this law is clearly a political one, not one based on scientific evidence.

    Mary M.

    reply This site does not support law breaking. It sometimes promotes changing the law by democratic means.

  23. davews
    December 15, 2021

    Many thanks for your vote last night Sir John. We knew all the legislation would pass but hopefully it will give a sign that there is considerable opposition to what are unnecessary rules that will do little to reduce the spread of a virus that will do what it wants regardless.

  24. Roy Grainger
    December 15, 2021

    It is odd that Boris would choose to alienate a majority of his backbenchers in support of vaccine passports which are wholly ineffective in controlling the Omicron variant as you say. Two AZ vaccinations have near zero effect in stopping infection (though should still protect well against serious illness). Experience in Scotland and Wales also shows they are useless in controlling Delta. Requiring everyone to test before mass events is at least logical. As things stand all the threat at mass events will come from the vaccinated not the unvaccinated.

    Omicron seems to be propagating so fast in London that extra measures, which SAGE will absolutely ensure are imposed, will probably be useless. So, let’s see how the envy of the world health service manages.

  25. Sakara Gold
    December 15, 2021

    Months ago I lamented that it seemed that eventually the government would decide that a certain number of daily deaths would be “acceptable” when balanced with economic needs etc. We would have to “learn to live with the virus” instead of going for the zero virus strategy, as implemented so successfuly by New Zealand

    Well, if 50,000 cases per diem and 1000 fatalities a week is acceptable to you and Mr Baker – such that you will vote against even the most modest additional precautions – shame on you.

    1. Roy Grainger
      December 15, 2021

      And the New Zealand strategy against Omicron is what exactly ? Their vaccination programme won’t stop it so what are they going to do ? Rolling lockdowns until the end of time ?

      Are you proposing a zero flu strategy too ?

      1. Micky Taking
        December 15, 2021

        I am reminded of an old joke about NZ. Q. ‘what time is it in NZ? ‘ A. ‘about 50 years ago.’

      2. Sakara Gold
        December 16, 2021

        @ Roy Grainger
        The global lockdowns appear to have eliminated flu. There is no infuenza circulating anywhere in the world this winter. This has not, however stopped big pharma from flogging 25million doses of flu vaccine to the NHS. New Zealand has has recorded about 100 fatalities with hardly any damage to their economy

    2. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      Near where I live is a delightful old pub, log fires, low ceilings and so on.
      Opposite it is a British Legion Club again it has log fires and a lovely bar.
      With this new legislation I can go into the old pub maskless, but if I cross the road and then go into the British Legion I have to wear a mask.
      There is real logic or sense to these current regulations.

    3. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      Sorry for the duplicated post SG
      I would delete it if it were possible for me to do that.

    4. No Longer Anonymous
      December 15, 2021

      Before Covid NICE accepted 50000 flu deaths per year as routine.

      This was necessary to allow the rest to live healthy lives.

      Lockdown kills.

      1. glen cullen
        December 16, 2021

        Stop trying to bring balance to the discussion

  26. BOF
    December 15, 2021

    Thank you and all the other principled MP’s for voting against these appalling measures.

    Next, I hope will come the abandonment of restrictions in the wake of the certain knowledge that lock downs don’t work, jabs don’t work and face masks don’t work. All the countries that have been the most locked down and jab happy are the most infected and have the worst record through the pandemic. Africa, meanwhile has sailed through with most African countries having barely 5% vaccination rate. Government go figure.

    Unfortunately, I fully expect them to double down with more of the same, totally unable to accept that those policies have failed. A repeat of Govt. policy failure on climate change.

  27. Iain Gill
    December 15, 2021

    the Conservative party is toast, hopefully a new political force will rise from the ashes.

    the whole ruling class have the entire country against them now.

    all bets are off.

  28. alan jutson
    December 15, 2021

    “now what”
    I guess we wait and see.
    In the meantime:
    Longer queues to enter all major events.
    Are crowded stations and trains OK, or do you need a passport to use those ?
    Entering an airport terminal ?

    1. glen cullen
      December 16, 2021

      I see that parliament is exempt any of the new regulations

  29. Brian Tomkinson
    December 15, 2021

    Far more harm has been done by the government, with opposition support, than by the virus. The ‘cure’ is far worse than the disease. Our liberty, freedom and democracy have been taaken away and much harm has been done to the general health of the population, mental health, children’s education, and many businesses. We have a had and continue to have a daily obsession about a virus which has a very low mortality rate. Much of the population has been brainwashed by fear (the weapon of tyrants through the ages). We are being governed by malevolent people who must be replaced. How do we do that with a vichy Parliament?

  30. Sir Joe Soap
    December 15, 2021

    The chuck everything into the boiler routine, applying both to funding the NHS and to these unnecessary restrictions, is both short term thinking and lazy thinking. Collateral damage and blowback later in each case will be enormous. This goverment needs taking out of business.

  31. Micky Taking
    December 15, 2021

    Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab wrongly said 250 people in the UK were in hospital with the Omicron variant, before later revealing the true figure was 10, alleges The Star.
    The Times:- Boris Johnson suffered the biggest rebellion of his premiership last night as nearly 100 Conservative MPs voted against plans for Covid passes and some of them openly questioned his future.
    Almost half of Tory backbenchers voted against new curbs that will require people to show proof of vaccination or a negative test at large indoor venues across England, leaving the prime minister reliant on Labour’s support. The rebellion — which was far bigger than No 10 and the whips expected — came from all wings of the party, including 13 former cabinet ministers and 26 MPs who were elected in 2019.

    At last the sands of time are running out for this incompetent fool.

    1. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      reported in Daily Star and The Times.
      Banishing them?

  32. Andy
    December 15, 2021

    I’ve had my nice little hybrid car for about 5 years. It usually costs me £30-£35 to fill up. It obviously used a lot less fuel than a regular car because it’s a hybrid.

    But now it cost me ÂŁ50 to fill up. The Tory Brexit pensioners told me prices would fall when we left the protectionist EU. And yet prices are risking at their fastest rate in more than a decade.

    This is not what the pensioners said would happen. Were they wrong?

    1. Roy Grainger
      December 15, 2021

      Uh ? You get a policy you and Greta have been demanding – high carbon pricing for fuels – and you’re still not happy ?

    2. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      World oil prices and nations refusing companies ability to drill for oil and taxes on fuel.
      You young any said we must reduce our use of fossil fuels.
      Your pals say end fossil fuel use and leave the oil in the ground.
      So why are you surprised fossil fuel prices are rising.
      To link it to Brexit is ridiculous.

    3. formula57
      December 15, 2021

      @ Andy – so you have both a “nice little hybrid car” and a Tesla?

    4. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      your Tesla was the best car you’ve ever owned. Did it break down and you left it in your garage?
      Regular electricity outages in Amersham/Chesham?

    5. Sea_Warrior
      December 15, 2021

      Have you noticed inflation elsewhere? In the States, perhaps?

    6. Mike Wilson
      December 15, 2021

      I don’t know why I’m bothering but, as you are clearly very, very young, I thought I’d let you know that, just after we joined the EU, petrol prices quadrupled and rationing cards were issued. To be fair it had nothing to do with our EU membership and everything to do with oil prices (and the formation of OPEC).

      Just like the recent rise in petrol prices is to do with the price of oil. Do you think countries in the EU have not had petrol price increases?

    7. Original Richard
      December 15, 2021

      Andy :

      You know it is part of the Government’s (and your) Net Zero (CO2) Strategy to make fossil fuel cars more expensive to run than evs to promote the switch from ices to evs.

      However, be assured that when the Government starts to lose serious amounts of fuel duty revenue, which is not insignificant, additional taxes will need to be applied to evs – such as increased road tax and road pricing.

      BTW, evs, because of their heavy batteries, are much heavier than equivalent ic engined cars and hence cause more damage to road surfaces.

    8. No Longer Anonymous
      December 15, 2021

      Andy ignores 2 years of Covid restrictions.

      What a weird man.

    9. glen cullen
      December 16, 2021

      But whats the cost of the annual subscription and the cost of 30 minutes of rapid charge (for the 50% of the public that can’t charge from home)

  33. Everhopeful
    December 15, 2021

    The underlying problem is that everything the govt does is weird and sinister.
    How does covid or indeed omicron differ from the flus and colds we have all had every year of our lives?
    We stayed indoors, in bed and got better. The economy continued!
    We are not seeing vast mortality. This is not a plague. If it were, the ludicrous responses would see us all dead. Go into a crowded supermarket in a fabric mask when bubonic plague was rife. I don’t think so!!
    This is a testdemic.
    The govt can’t be worried about huge absences from work since it just shuts everything down anyway.
    WHY are they doing this? Partygate?

    1. Everhopeful
      December 15, 2021

      Oh no.
      Silly me.
      They are following the EU.
      Word by word.
      “We need to have a conversation”.

  34. Old Albion
    December 15, 2021

    Or perhaps we should simply accept, like influenza, Covid is here to stay and get on with our lives.

  35. James Bertram
    December 15, 2021

    Well said, Sir John.
    I could add a lot more, in much stronger terms – but I’ll largely leave it at that for the moment. We all know that the approval of vaccine passports leaves a deep stain on this parliament. Shameful.

  36. Everhopeful
    December 15, 2021

    But the MPs must know that this is all supposed to go on until 2025 and that there are already another 3 jabs in the pipeline.
    Mr Elwood said that the govt. should prepare for nos 4,5 and 6.
    How many more years can this be kept up for?
    And I noticed that in Mrs May’s anti govt speech ( seemingly sensible) she dropped the quiet bomb of YEARLY jabs. There has been talk of monthly even. ( why not 24 hour intravenous drip?)
    How is any of this a measured or even sane response?

    1. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      we’ll all be required to have an in-line needle placed in upper arm soon, for administering annual / monthly injections.

  37. Richard1
    December 15, 2021

    There is one really positive thing that could come out of all this, painful and tedious as it is to live through it. Government is being bamboozled into illogical and economically damaging measures driven by a combination of ultra-cautious expert advice and media-driven hysteria , with the political left over-joyed at the statism and socialism of it all.

    If it does turn out, as is beginning to seem to be the case, that omicon no worse than flu and the vaccines have succeeded in removing the major part of the danger, the Country and the World will have seen that it is possible for a consensus among scientific experts to be wrong. In future therefore expert dissenters on contentious issues where policy is stated to follow science will have to be listened to, instead of ignored and denigrated as scientific dissenters from lockdown have been. Proper analyses of costs and benefits must be demanded. Perhaps there might even be a proper examination and debate of the various measures and subsidies under ‘net zero’.

  38. Maylor
    December 15, 2021

    To quote Daniel Hannan,

    ” One word has disappeared entirely from our lockdown debates. That word is not “freedom” or “proportionality” or “immunity”. It is “Sweden”.

    Sweden has avoided lockdowns and other draconian measures and is doing okay.

    Also, look at why infection rates in India and Japan dropped like a brick.

    1. hefner
      December 15, 2021

      Hannan should look at Sweden statistics and compare them to those in nearby Scandinavian countries:

      Country. Cases. Deaths. Cases/million as of 14/12/2021.
      SW



.1,243k
.15,185

121,949
.
      DK




.570k

3,030

.97,994

      NW




328k

1,141


59,961

      FL



..
207k

1,444

.37,282


      Or you could have had a look yourself at worldometers.info covid tracker and doing so avoid being ridiculous.

      1. No Longer Anonymous
        December 15, 2021

        Lockdowns kill.

        We just don’t bother counting how many. Those deaths don’t matter.

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          December 16, 2021

          Lockdowns have many untoward serious effects.

          That is why NZ have been magnificent, in having allowed normal life to carry on for most people by their immediate and effective action right at the very start.

  39. Everhopeful
    December 15, 2021

    But politically speaking last night’s vote was a huge blow to Johnson’s leadership?
    Said to be the biggest rebellion since years apparently.

    I suppose that MPs are fully aware that, according to the media the social workers who should have been looking after that poor, murdered, little boy were deployed elsewhere.
    Giving jabs!!!

  40. Denis Cooper
    December 15, 2021

    I am wondering what happened about the 20 second infection test that was publicised in March:

    https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/03/26/restore-our-freedoms/#comment-1218255

    Has it been put into use at airports? Could it be used to test people queuing to go into crowded venues?

    Ideally for such purposes the quick test would be for infectiousness rather than infection. Blow-in-the-bag tests are available to quickly answer the question “Do you have an excessive level of alcohol in your breath?” and could be used if the management wanted to exercise its right to exclude drunks from the event, and a similar test to detect virus in the breath would circumvent a lot of the problems with “vaccine passports”.

    Did the government decide not to support something that could look like an alternative to vaccination?

  41. Micky Taking
    December 15, 2021

    Now what?
    Well it seems clear 100 have had enough of Johnson. Perhaps the frustration extends to the key point of what is a Conservative, and how does the Party hope to win the next GE?
    I hope there is discussion in what used to be ‘smoke filled rooms’ regarding how many would consider splitting away and forming ‘New Conservatives’ for this might be the only way forward. Half the current Tory MPs don’t appear to be what is needed in the party anyway – CCHQ has a lot to answer for in recent GEs.

  42. Andy
    December 15, 2021

    A lot of the Brexitists objections to Covid passports is based on the claim that they do not work. But that depends on what you think they are supposed to do.

    France has a similar scheme and it has demonstrably worked there – by significantly increasing vaccine uptake. France – a vaccine sceptic country – has a much higher vaccine uptake rate than us with almost 80% of its population double jabbed, and close to a quarter boosted too.

    In Portugal it has worked even better. Close to 90% of its population double jabbed.

    The point of Covid passports is to try to make the vaccine refuseniks get their jabs. The longer they refuse the worse this whole thing is for all of us. I have no qualms if a vaccine refuseniks dies with Covid. Their choice. But we have to waste valuable resources trying to keep them alive first. Resources that I wish we could devote to cancer patients or other people more deserving.

    We really need to make the decision now – that Covid patients will only be treated in hospitals if they have had their jabs. Don’t want the jab – fine. Don’t expect the treatment if your luck runs our. Society is more important than your petty protest.

    1. No Longer Anonymous
      December 16, 2021

      But I’ve complied thus far to no avail.

      This is never going to end.

    2. Nottingham Lad Himself
      December 16, 2021

      It’s Identity Politics, the central pillar of the Right, Andy.

      Being anti masks etc. is an extremely salient matter of identity to these people, like being English etc.

      It therefore is not susceptible to reason.

  43. David Cooper
    December 15, 2021

    “We must not let the cure become worse than the disease” – President Trump. How right he was.

    1. Nottingham Lad Himself
      December 16, 2021

      And he made absolutely sure that the disease was indeed worse than the cure.

  44. Alan Holmes
    December 15, 2021

    Now we will get more lockdown, more rules, more coercion and all for an alleged variant that has killed nobody and you need to rely on a totally unreliable test to know you have it. Given what is happening elsewhere in the world it is quite clear this is a deliberate, worldwide plan to enforce a medical tyranny worse than Stalin’s Russia ever was.

  45. Nig l
    December 15, 2021

    The Government in a panic introduced travel restrictions, both quarantine and additional testing to stop the spread of this variant. Even at the time it was a lie because it was already here.

    As anyone with an ounce of common sense would know, this would have zero effect on the virus, but massive cost/disruption to people’s lives, the part they couldn’t care less about.

    Grudgingly, albeit without an ounce of embarrassment or apology, they have u turned on quarantine but not on pre return testing.

    Why can I go to somewhere for few days in the U.K. where allegedly this thing is rife and return home without a test but cannot go for a similar break but abroad, but need a test.

    Illogical punishing rubbish.

    And in other news we read politicians have vowed to protect the national interest in relation to a possible foreign takeover. This demonstrates yet again their virtue signalling ignorance.

    If they had the national interest at heart, they would have broken up BTs infrastructure monopoly years ago. It’s dead hand has put back the UKs fibre network back by umpteen years and hence its digital economy putting us in the also rans of the industrialised world’s league table. Obviously our subservience to the EUs anti competition policy has not helped.

    BT needs a shakeup from top to bottom and new capital and management will do that. Vodafone one of the worlds leaders in 5G and beyond shows what can and should have been achieved.

    Yet again weak politicians preferring to give in to uninformed brickbats rather than promote/fight for a 21st century U.K.

  46. R.Grange
    December 15, 2021

    What now? The s0-called Online Safety bill currently going through the Lords. If passed, it will heavily restrict online publication that doesn’t conform to the standard narrative on whatever the government chooses to enforce. Those hosting websites will find themselves responsible for content that goes against the narrative, with heavy fines if they don’t play ball. So they will play safe, and make sure any facts that don’t suit our rulers don’t appear on their sites. Let’s see what happens with this one.

  47. Bryan Harris
    December 15, 2021

    Evidence for more severe measures is totally lacking…

    It’s good to see that so many Tory MPs have come to realise ‘some’ of the issues around the handling of this pandemic. It seems like this split of a good number of self thinking Tory MPs has always been a problem for Tory governments – It used to be defined by support or not of the EU, but it is evident that there will always be a large number of MPs who will defy logic and do as they are told for the sake of their career. I would define the split as socialist leaning and voting establishment, against MPs with common sense and guts.

    Why is the government locking out experts that do not agree with their current thinking? In life there is never just one way of making things better, but we are not seeing any challenges to the establishment view – This is outrageous and borders on dictatorial.

    There are so many things wrong with what the government is doing regarding this virus, but I don’t wish to make this too long or it will not get approved – Most of it falls under the heading of dishonesty and bad government.
    The worst crime a government can be charged with is having forgotten who they serve, and we are well past that point.

  48. Ian Smith
    December 15, 2021

    Was your reason for voting against the government that this didn’t go far enough or went too far? By asking for a lateral flow test it doesn’t penalise non vaccinated but we almost just need a rule where everybody shows proof of a negative test to go anywhere. This is fair and gives more reassurance to try and keep all businesses open.

    The reason why Covid passes haven’t been a massive success elsewhere and why in reality they may not work in England is likely to be because too many people still can’t follow the law and wear a mask and be sensible. None of us want to do it but there are too many selfish and ignorant people potentially mucking it up for the majority. People should be allowed to make choices to a point, but where the health and safety of everyone is involved then more enforcement is needed.

    Last night felt like it was more about Conservative egos again than actually trying to solve a problem. I really don’t understand why the Conservatives don’t try and work as a team as that is proven to get better results.

  49. Nota#
    December 15, 2021

    Now What? The fight for a proper Democracy goes on, the fight for Freedom goes on, the fight for Personal Responsibility goes on.

    The UK has had many years or rot and erosion on the meaning of Democracy, just as with the so-called WOKE agenda, the Cancel Culture – being a Free People in a Sovereign Country has to be re-established. (Or more correctly established)

    Those that are lent their Power by the electorate now need to bludgeoned daily they are leant their authority by those they serve. It is not as so many now think the other way around.

    The UK can be great, but that will only come from those with over egged egos’ get to realize that is trust in the people that would make it so.

    Bring back the Conservative Party – 99 out of 365 is not the freedoms their constituents voted for

    1. Nota#
      December 15, 2021

      amend, years or rot – ‘years of rot’

  50. Lester_Cynic
    December 15, 2021

    This CANNOT continue 
 I went to Corsham yesterday to visit my opticians and the town is dead with boarded up shops.

    The optician demanded to know my vaccine status and I refused to tell her

    This has taken on a very sinister twist
..

    1. Peter Parsons
      December 15, 2021

      Surely your optician is free to run her business in any legal manner she decides, and you are free to take your custom wherever you decide.

      If you don’t like her choice, then you can simply choose to use a different optician.

      1. Peter2
        December 15, 2021

        And if they all demand to see your vaccine staus?

      2. R.Grange
        December 15, 2021

        So you go to an optician who demands to know, let’s say, which way you vote. You won’t tell her, or you name a party s/he doesn’t like. Then you have to find another optician (even if there’s only one optician in your town).

        That’s OK, is it, Peter? Free market in operation?

        PS Please don’t try and say Covid vaccination is different because it’s about public health: the government has admitted it doesn’t reduce the spread, likewise the manufacturers.

        1. Peter Parsons
          December 16, 2021

          I’m not aware of any documentation the government issues concerning anyone’s voting decision, so, yes, it is different.

          As has been pointed out elsewhere, yes, it is about public health. What is at issue is not whether people get infected or not, but whether those infections lead to increased hospitalisations and the data shows that hospitalisation rates in the unvaccinated are much higher across all age groups. (See the weekly Covid vaccination surveillance reports for proof of this.)

          It’s also interesting to see how many people who claim they are free marketeers/libertarians/conservatives suddenly start calling for law and regulation when that freedom they claim to believe in and espouse is used to make a choice they disagree with.

      3. No Longer Anonymous
        December 15, 2021

        Yes the optician does have the right as does Peter to walk away.

        Alas it is sinister being seen as a vector.

        BTW – The passport is to protect non holders/unvaxxed from ending up in hospitals. We know the vaccines don’t prevent transmission and infections are rocketing despite face masks.

        A handful have ended up in hospital exactly as South Africans told us.

    2. Bryan Harris
      December 15, 2021

      +1

      This is how a society dies, not on it’s feet, but hiding away from life, scared to death

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        December 16, 2021

        People who follow sensible guidelines to avoid mass casualties from this virus are generally no more “scared” than are people, who look both ways before crossing, “scared” of traffic.

        You, predictably, try to defame their moral character and virtue, and smear them wrongly as cowards, however.

    3. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      ‘’show me your papers’’ I am sure I’ve heard that phrase used in central Europe in the 1930s

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        December 16, 2021

        Well, you’ve brought that in big time, for anyone trying to move produce between the UK and the European Union, haven’t you?

    4. JohnE
      December 15, 2021

      Opticians have rights too. There’s no reason she should be compelled to treat you.

    5. The PrangWizard of England
      December 15, 2021

      I have had a similar experience. I opened the door of my optician’s shop to find myself standing in a roped off area of some 2 square metres, I had to move to close the door behind me.

      Two members of staff were behind a screen at the back of the shop about 4/5 metres away. They had to raise their voices to ask what I wanted. I had to raise mine to get them to hear my response. After trying to explain, which they didn’t understand, I said their arrangement was clear that they regarded my visit as unwelcome and I left.

      The staff had no idea what the problem was. The optician wasn’t on the premises. This was in Wantage, Oxfordshire.

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        December 16, 2021

        I expect that they rolled their eyes and thought “Another one of them, eh?”

    6. jerry
      December 15, 2021

      @Lester_Cynic; Your comment says far more about you than anyone else.

      1. Peter2
        December 15, 2021

        Do tell us Jerry what is this mystery “more” thing you keep referring to.
        You post a similar thing on here quite often.
        This needs a proper explanation.

        1. hefner
          December 15, 2021

          Given that an optometrist during an eye test would at times be only 4-5in from my face, I can understand that the person would want to know my vaccination status.

          I would consider ‘more’ in the particular context of jerry’s comment to be referring to an ‘arrogantly selfish’ person. Is that clear enough, P2?

          1. Peter2
            December 15, 2021

            No not really heffy dont think that us clear at all.
            Jerry keeps using this sentence where he says…this says more about you than…
            In particular when he attacks posts which are from people he dislikes because they are right of centre.
            Anyway.
            The rules are, as I understand it, that you need to wear a mask in opticians.
            So demanding you give them evidence of your vaccine record is an extra requirement.
            I and my family have been recently to a well known optician chain and we were never asked this extra requirement.
            Arrogant and selfish to query just why?
            How compliant and supine you have become heffy.

          2. No Longer Anonymous
            December 15, 2021

            Hefner

            You know full well that vaccines don’t stop you getting infected nor infecting others. They just mitigate how ill YOU get.

            So why do you lay it on about arrogant selfishness ?

            My wife is very ill after her booster btw.

          3. hefner
            December 16, 2021

            P2: Compliant and supine: indeed, it has allowed me to go three times abroad in the last eleven months for celebrating an ‘addition to the extended family’, a christening, and then a visit to some friends. I had to wear a mask numerous times going through airports or Eurotunnel and to show NHS pass and TousAntiCovid pass in a number of places.

            Compliant, certainly. Supine, not more than coming to this site and bleating with the rest of the ‘libertarians’.
            I have some other ‘excursions’ out of this country planned for the coming months. If internet there is not too good, I might miss your usual ‘wisdom’ on these pages and I apologise in advance. The comments here (and yours in particular) are so interesting to help me complement a certain vision of a certain England.

          4. Peter2
            December 16, 2021

            Well done heffy.
            I’m pleased you have gone abroad three times recently.
            But how is that relevant?

            This originally was a conversation about an optician demanding to see proof of vaccine status of a customer and a poster saying that he objected.
            It is not a current legal requirement so I felt Jerry’s comment was unfair and somewhat puzzling as the reaction of the poster to refuse was well within his rights.
            Then you joined in, as usual developing several other irrelevant points.
            But I do hope you enjoy your holidays.

        2. jerry
          December 16, 2021

          @Peter2; Inconstant as usual P2, when I include my rational for making a comment you accuse me of posting an “Essay”, when I don’t you accuse me of not posting “a proper explanation”. Yet you claim not to be a troll…

          1. Peter2
            December 16, 2021

            No real answer to my straightforward question Jerry just a cheap shot and your usual label to those who dare to respond to you.

          2. Peter2
            December 16, 2021

            You said to Lester…”your comment says far more about you than anyone else…”
            I just asked what you meant.
            Then you and heffy come over all indignant.

  51. Nota#
    December 15, 2021

    A Socialist Centralist Government ruling the Country via their ‘Ministry of Fear’ – is not Democracy, and not something a Conservative would ever do.

    This Government gives the appearance of being set up as a personal thiefdom, run for the benefit of a new so-called elite and their ‘Chums’. A do as I say dictate not as I do.

    ‘Trust the People’ no hope while this cabal has the reigns

    1. Bill B.
      December 15, 2021

      This government as a ‘thiefdom’ is superb, Nota. You’ve summed them up in one word!

      It amazes me that so many people I talk to agree that Westminster is utterly corrupt, yet promptly fall in with all the nonsensical diktats Westminster comes out with.

      If they think they’re powerless, they certainly will be.

  52. Richard II
    December 15, 2021

    Once again thank you, Sir John, for upholding a proportionate approach to the Covid situation and not voting with your panic-stricken government. They have no answer to the most basic questions: are they really going to react like headless chickens every time another cold virus variant comes along, as it tends to do every winter? Don’t the facts about the actual public health position matter any more, as they obviously don’t seem to, for Raab and Javed?

    They are a disgrace.

    1. LJONES
      December 15, 2021

      I think you do them far too much of a kindness suggesting that they are ”panic stricken”. That implies a certainly amount of empathy and consideration for the plight of our precious country, and that they’re just making knee-jerk mistakes. I would that were true – then there might be a chance they’d see the light when they calmed down.

  53. turboterrier
    December 15, 2021

    Rebuild trust?
    How can the electorate rebuild trust in this leader and Cabinet? It has been slowly accelerating out of the door for months. Nett Zero, energy, dingy invaders, higher taxes, NI, fishing rights the list is endless. This PM has organised and taken control of the implementation of the the implosion of the party

    1. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      Boris will not be the leader at the next general election, once you realise that, you’ll understand the importance of getting a new leader in as soon as possible
its quite easy to realise a government without Boris

  54. beresford
    December 15, 2021

    We know that the ‘passports’ don’t affect spread of the virus and are a device to punish those who won’t do as they’re told. We know because Sajid Javid said so a few weeks ago. I don’t know how he has the brass neck to then stand up in the Commons and advocate them.

    1. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      Spot On

  55. agricola
    December 15, 2021

    The response of the Opposition I see as irrelevant, they have their own games to play. The size of opposition within the conservative party is the important one.

    Government has to make a judgement of relative risk. Should they rely entirely on vaccination, the good sense of the people, and their prior knowledge of Omicron to avoid swamping the NHS and trashing the economy. Alternatively should they introduce measures that look good on paper, but result in trashing the economy further.

    In terms of stopping the spread of infection a vaccine passport is a measure at a point in time in the past, not a measure of your ability to infect or be infected as you enter the event for which the vaccine passport is mandatory. The very best it can suggest is that you or anyone you come into contact with when both parties are fully vaccinated is that you will only suffer a mild version of Omicron that will not hospitalise either of you. A better measure would be a Lateral Flow Test prior to fraternisation, but that is not 100% foolproof. Those looking for absolutes will not find them.

    Those who opposed the government on vaccine passports last night were thinking logically. Government is right in going flat out with the booster jab programme. We are now in a wait and see situation.

    Incidentally for the sake of accuracy in decision making we need to know the vaccine status of anyone ending up in a hospital bed with Omicron and secondly are they only suffering Omicron. Finally if anyone dies we need to know was it solely due to Omicron or were there other underlying factors.

  56. Christine
    December 15, 2021

    A large proportion of the country is gripped in fear as a result of the endless fearmongering from the media and our government. Unfortunately, the damage to the hospitality industry can already be seen. I went out last night to what was once a busy pub restaurant and there was hardly anyone there. If as the experts say Omicron cases will double every day then the whole country will have had it in the next two weeks and the pandemic will be over. Of course, the modellers haven’t even been close to being correct in the past so why would we believe them this time?

    1. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      YEP….cancellations all over it seems….shame all those turkeys were killed. Cheap ones from freezer to be sold off in the New Year?

    2. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      They can’t say omicron test positive, mild or no symptoms
      Oh no
      They have to say omicron case, which may lead to hospitalisation or even death

  57. formula57
    December 15, 2021

    Proceeding with the boldness and confidence of one thrice jabbed, I set up to obtain an NHS Covid pass online. The first pass, obtained on 12th. (last Sunday) expired 48 hours later (yesterday) and the one obtained today expires 48 hours on during Friday morning.

    The face of the pass (called a barcode) tells me “Your 2D barcode expires:
    – a maximum of 30 days from the date of issue, if you’re fully vaccinated or part of a COVID-19 clinical trial
    – 48 hours from the time of a negative test”.

    So I seem to be treated as one being 48 hours on from a negative test (I have not taken a test) rather than as one fully vaccinated. How am I supposed to efficiently and unhindered proceed in my super-spreader activities? Let the Health Secretary answer that if he can!

  58. Christine
    December 15, 2021

    It’s long since been about a virus. This is about controlling the population, clamping down on freedom of speech, removing the right to protest, and ultimately bringing in a digital currency. The Great Reset is going along nicely.

    1. Iago
      December 15, 2021

      Agreed, Christine. Serfdom and worse approaching rapidly.

    2. BOF
      December 15, 2021

      +1 CHRISTINE

    3. Paul Cuthbertson
      December 15, 2021

      Christine – the solution is in the hands of the people. So many have fallen for this deliberate BS.

    4. Everhopeful
      December 15, 2021

      +1

    5. John Hatfield
      December 15, 2021

      Christine we have a digital currency already. Are you talking about the Euro?

      1. Philip P.
        December 15, 2021

        I think Christine means a central bank digital currency (CBDC). HM Treasury and the Bank of England are exploring the potential of a possible CBDC for the UK. A CBDC was set up recently in Nigeria but seems to be encountering avoidance problems as people prefer cryptocurrency transactions.
        The real threat would come from the banks’ interest in promoting CBDC coupled with their keenness to reduce cash transactions. If cash is eliminated, we will have no actual material money, but all transactions will take digital form. Our money assets can then be controlled, added to, or subtracted from, by whoever controls the digital system.

        1. hefner
          December 16, 2021

          For day-to-day transactions, the M-Pesa system (via mobile phones) that I saw used in Kenya already six years ago seemed to be a very convenient way of payment. That’s what the present ApplePay system (and other similar) being developed all around us is all about.
          For bigger payments (salaries, pensions, house buying, car purchase, share investment, dividend payment, and the like) we already are very far down the lane to a cashless society.

          As you point out, the main stumbling block is/will be how much people will trust the banks and the state guaranteeing such a full cashless system. Maybe more a political problem than an economic/financial one.

  59. peter
    December 15, 2021

    I would be interested to know if you (SJR) were contacted by Boris or a chief whip over your voting intentions and if so as they cannot threaten you with much, did they provide any explanation for their proposed actions?

    Reply I told my whip of my intentions as I always do and I had a conversation with the Health Secretary about it during a division on something else to put my points and hear his view again.

    1. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      Thank you Sir John for telling us in what was reasonable to keep a private matter.

  60. Martin Anderson
    December 15, 2021

    Absolutely correct. We need to learn to live with Covid not panic every time there is a new variant.

    1. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      There’s a new flu variant every year which results in a variant vaccination
.all without a fanfare or lockdown or restrictions

  61. Original Richard
    December 15, 2021

    On certain matters, such as Covid restrictions, MPs/Parliament should always hold a “free vote” so all MPs can vote for what they believe is right.

    These Covid restrictions were not a manifesto promise.

    Then MPs are not coerced by party loyalty or whipped and there are no rebels, resignations or crisis of confidence.

    1. Ian Smith
      December 15, 2021

      But an MP should vote for what the majority of the constituency wants – not just the extremist views of the minority.

      1. Micky Taking
        December 15, 2021

        but the wider view of what is best for the country has a strong place in the process.
        I don’t think supporting Johnson is in the best interests of the country.

  62. Kenneth
    December 15, 2021

    These diseases came from abroad. While we have virtually open borders I can see wave after wave of diseases coming into this country for years to come.

    The obvious thing to do is severely restrict inbound traffic across our borders and have proper quarantine arrangements.

    1. Peter Parsons
      December 15, 2021

      Making both business travel and tourism significantly harder is hardly going to be positive for the economy of the UK.

    2. a-tracy
      December 15, 2021

      “AstraZeneca will deliver up to 3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine across the globe by the end of 2021 – which will be just 18 months after the company first partnered with the University of Oxford to develop and manufacture the vaccine.” AZ
      “As part of our commitment to providing broad and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca will also supply the COVAX Facility, led by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which will distribute vaccine to low- and middle-income countries.”

    3. MWB
      December 15, 2021

      Starting with the stream of rubber boats coming ashore in Kent.

    4. turboterrier
      December 15, 2021

      Kenneth
      Absolutely correct. It’s like the re-enactment of the D day landings in reverse.

    5. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      they always have, always will.

  63. glen cullen
    December 15, 2021

    Now What ? Good Question
    The Conservative Party lose the safe seat with twenty thousand majority in a by-election tomorrow – with party MPs rebelling, constituent party members rebelling and barrowed voters rebelling, maybe it’s the shock to the system the party needs to change its direction and leadership

    1. Iago
      December 15, 2021

      The people have not got it in them, glen.

    2. turboterrier
      December 15, 2021

      glen cullen

      It doesn’t need a shock pal, it needs a heart and brain transplant back to real conservative principles.
      Round up the elders who have seen it, wrote the books, wear the tee shirts, made the CDs and videos been there and done it and above all have the values that we expect.

    3. Mark
      December 15, 2021

      Not Gove, nor Javid. I have my doubts about Sunak, who hasn’t grasped that net zero will do enormous damage to the economy and erode the tax base. He might stop some of the profligate spending, but he has no plan to create a vibrant economy – only an over-taxed one.

  64. The other Christine
    December 15, 2021

    Thank you for voting against the Government yesterday, Sir John. Based on your established position to date, I had no doubt that you would. The big problem that the Government now has is loss of trust in the PM and the schills in the Cabinet. For many people the scales are beginning to fall from their eyes and we see that the current edicts are nothing to do with the virus but with the introduction of digital IDs and subsequent total control of the populace. For the PM to mention the need for a conversation about mandatory vaccination was astonishing. I didn’t ever think for a moment that he would go so far but we should know now from our experiences of the last 2 years that there is absolutely nothing that he and the Cabinet won’t do. They are so incredibly dishonest I really don’t know how they sleep at night. Instead of putting the country first they are following the instructions from their globalist overlords. And before this is dismissed as a conspiracy theory, let’s acknowledge that every so called conspiracy theory to date has regrettably proved to be correct.
    The worst thing about Plan B and the cancellation of elective surgery is that I know personally of several people who are suffering from continual pain and disability from conditions that require surgery but they have now been told that they must wait until February 2022 and beyond. It’s devastating for these people. Never mind the estimated 5,000 patients whose cancers won’t be diagnosed because GPs are no longer seeing patients face to face. I only know of two people who have had SARS-CoV-2.
    This whole situation is scandalous, inhumane and criminal.

  65. Iain Gill
    December 15, 2021

    why are we not giving everyone Vitamin C? and zinc?

    we are sloshing about making inconsistent measures, while not doing the blooming obvious

    1. Iain Gill
      December 15, 2021

      vitamin D I meant 🙂

      1. Micky Taking
        December 15, 2021

        I doubt what proportion of the electorate have a clue about the difference!
        School children might remember.

    2. Bill B.
      December 15, 2021

      That’s an easy one, Iain: Because the big pharmaceutical companies don’t have a patent on Vitamin D and zinc.

  66. JoolsB
    December 15, 2021

    The South African Doctor who alerted the world to the new variant has now said it is nothing to panic about and that the U.K. Government are over reacting. This is all a knee jerk reaction by Johnson to distract us from all the other allegations against him and we can see right through him. He is playing politics with peoples’ lives, their health and their livelihoods and destroying the economy of this country for no other reason than one of pure self interest and survival and for that reason he is totally unfit to be Prime Minister. He has to go.

    1. a-tracy
      December 15, 2021

      JoolsB, we’ve got to believe the medical profession, if we stop believing them we are screwed! In fact, if they are blowing this up unnecessarily this is one of my biggest fears because trust is hard to get back.

      Boris got this through with the opposition in full support – hardly the case of something just to save his bacon he’d have been allowed to swing.

      1. Hat man
        December 15, 2021

        The medical profession are not ‘blowing this up unnecessarily’, a-tracy. They are way down the food chain, just taking orders from those who provide the funding for the medico-pharma complex, a.k.a the ‘public health security’ industry.

        But yes, we are screwed.

    2. Bill B.
      December 15, 2021

      I would agree with you, Jools, except who is there to replace him who wouldn’t do the same or worse?

      Or do you think the politicians are making decisions for themselves?

    3. The PrangWizard of England
      December 15, 2021

      ‘Boris’ is intolerable and incompetent. All he could do today at PMQ’s was shout. It is absolutely vital and urgent to get ‘the letter’ in. If that is not done the Tory party will prove itself again to be cowardly with self preservation the only object, the country can in their view thus ‘go to hell’.

    4. J Bush
      December 15, 2021

      Ultimately, Johnson is using this mild virus variant Omicron as the excuse to justify the deaths caused by the ‘booster vaccines’ and he will blame those who are ‘unvaccinated’ and continue to censor those medical professionals who do not agree with his draconian rules. One is reminded of periods in history i.e. Salam witch hunt. The big question is, how far is Johnson prepared to go?

      This comment may not get through the censors, but nonetheless, time will tell if I am right or wrong.

  67. Nottingham Lad Himself
    December 15, 2021

    Governments are meant to govern. That means sometimes taking difficult decisions in the face of what may be uninformed – and it is not always fair to expect otherwise – public opinion.

    The correct thing to do will generally be to take scientific advice – from WHO as well as national sources -and to balance that against the material consequences of implementing it. There is no legal need to involve Parliament under the general law of health emergencies.

    However, the paramount consequence that the Tories fear is not injury to the public nor to commerce, but to their own electoral standing, to the opinion polls.

    So they therefore involve the other parties by a Parliamentary vote, and stage a rebellion in the hope that the public will blame the Opposition for any adverse social, financial, or family impacts of the necessary measures.

    It’s cynical as ever, but the public have rumbled them it seems.

    1. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      That’s another one of your very odd conspiracy theories NHL
      You think the Conservatives engineered that vote?
      Ridiculous.

    2. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      WHO sang ‘ hope I die before I get old’. Not ‘My Generation’ anymore, but the older generation don’t want to die.

  68. a-tracy
    December 15, 2021

    Tell us all clearly what the new rules are, please.

    If people are working on throughout this new regime as they did during lockdowns are they allowed to share a Xmas buffet (ordered in from the local cafe) at work with their fellow workers or not? Are they allowed to do an online quiz or not? Are they allowed to do a Secret Santa or not?

  69. Iago
    December 15, 2021

    What are the numbers of the invaders on the South Coast now?

    1. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      We’re past the numbers, they’ll increase year on year with this government
      The question is – Is it mandatory for illegal immigrants (like the NHS staff) to get the covid vaccination, or can they opt out using the European Convention on Human Rights excuse

  70. BOF
    December 15, 2021

    +1 CHRISTINE

  71. Mark Thomas
    December 15, 2021

    Sir John,
    You tweeted that the BBC has been grilling conservative MPs as if they were running the whips office. The BBC is more than that, they are the Ministry of Truth.

    1. Micky Taking
      December 15, 2021

      Ministry of Truth…….oh dear god!

    2. Mark
      December 15, 2021

      I’m sure you have to show a covid pass to get into that club of people of the night.

  72. Richard
    December 15, 2021

    Thank you Sir John.
    367 MPs voted for illogical medical apartheid, fascism & tyranny.
    124 MPs voted for logic & freedom.
    https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1182#ayes

  73. Lynn
    December 15, 2021

    Regaining the confidence of MP’s is the least of the PMs problems as will be demonstrated shortly by the by-election in one of the safest Tory seats in the country.
    My MP, with a bag-carrying job in Government to defend had no qualms standing in the majority Labour lobby.
    Makes you think 


  74. JohnE
    December 15, 2021

    Clearly Boris has always been unsuited to be PM. I told you that I would never vote Conservative again while he was PM back in 2019.
    He has outlived whatever purpose he served so I guess you are all waiting for him to go without having to be the ones to strike the finishing blows yourselves. You need to turn your minds to who can replace him who might be acceptable to the various factions within your deeply divided party.

  75. Mike Wilson
    December 15, 2021

    The point of the vaccine passport is to prevent people unvaccinated people from attending (for example) night clubs, picking up the virus and – because they are unvaccinated- possibly getting seriously and needing a hospital bed. Surely, that is obvious. The idea is not that it will stop the virus spreading, but that it will help to prevent the virus spreading to unvaccinated people. In as much as the virus is real and a lot of people have died horrible deaths from it, it seems sensible to me.

    I can’t understand the reaction of many on here talking about loss of individual liberty and dictatorship etc. We live in a society and vaccine passports seem like common sense to me.

    1. No Longer Anonymous
      December 16, 2021

      Mike

      My problem with it is that the unvaxxed are being portrayed as killers when the are no more likely to kill than the triple jabbed.

      Vaccines do not stop infection or transmission and the reintroduction of masks (95% wearing) has not slowed the spread going by Sage hysteria.

  76. Stephen Reay
    December 15, 2021

    When will this government realise that covid will not go away until a cure is found. The current course of action will lead to businesses closing ,lost of jobs ,collapse of occupational pensions and much more. This government will be responsible and need to be prepared to compensate for peoples unesscessary losses.

    This is now down to mp’s to stop this madness. All we can do if vote Boris out.

  77. mancunius
    December 15, 2021

    No politician, civil servant, academic, medical ‘advisor’, state employee or local authority worker will ever, ever pay any attention to the needs of business, industry, and individuals trying to make a living in the private sector, because the statist ‘precautionary principle’ has not the slightest repercussions on their own lives, except to give these unsackable individuals more ‘quality time at home’.
    As John Redwood has often lamented, Major’s stubborn EU-worshipping wilfully blighted so many lives on Black Wednesday 1992 that even in 1997 nobody would vote Tory for another 13 years. This time, your Socialist Prime Minister (and his thralldom to the NHS and green insanity)has trashed the Tory Party for ever.

  78. Margaretbj.
    December 15, 2021

    I have worked over 50 years in environment’s which carry viruses and bacteria.It is not so difficult to follow a few simple rules for the protection of all.. There is not a rule which says shops should be boarded up.As a.matter of fact the high street decline started long before covid. Don’t be whimps .do as you are told and teach your children well.

    1. No Longer Anonymous
      December 16, 2021

      Yup. Kids wearing masks from age two, I read.

      They’ll not learn to speak, let alone anything else.

      All sense of proportion lost, Margaret.

      1. hefner
        December 16, 2021

        Apart from children with auditive problems who might need to lip-read, most other children learn to speak by repetition of sounds, words and sentences produced by people surrounding them in their environment.
        All sense of proportion lost, NLA.

  79. Micky Taking
    December 15, 2021

    off topic. BBC website.
    Power cuts caused by Storm Arwen have highlighted a potentially lethal problem in the home phone network’s digital transformation. Traditional landlines are being phased out in favour of broadband-enabled phones reliant on electricity. As hundreds of thousands of households across northern England lost power, people in remote areas without a mobile reception were left unable to call for help.

    Reliant on electricity with the prospect of power cuts in future with growing demand and less available.

    1. Mark
      December 15, 2021

      All phone lines rely on electricity. It’s just that in the POTS every exchange has batteries or other emergency power that lasts at least 48 hours precisely to enable emergency calls. OFCOM were looking at reducing the requirement to just 1 hour. It’s totally inadequate. They should look instead at reducing the power requirement to provide an emergency service which might be helped e.g. by limiting line speeds. Of course, fibres don’t carry electricity, unlike copper phone lines, so that complicates things, requiring backup batteries in roadside cabinets and homes. A router consumes about 5W limited to slower speeds, so a typical laptop sized battery would run it for say 12 hours. Another approch is to require mobile telephone cells be kept powered.

  80. Sakara Gold
    December 15, 2021

    I see that sales of zero-emission new cars are up 89% this year compared with 2020, and in the last three months nearly a quarter of new cars sold had a plug.

    As a result the climate change denier Grant Schwraps’ DoT has announced that grants for new electric cars have been slashed by 40% to “enable taxpayers’ money to go further”. The maximum amount of cash motorists can claim towards the cost of a plug-in car has been cut from ÂŁ2,500 to ÂŁ1,500. For cars to be eligible for the grant they must now cost less than ÂŁ32,000, down from ÂŁ35,000.

    Kwarteng has just given ÂŁ2.7 billions in subsidy to the fossil fuel lobby to waste on their “blue” hydrogen and “carbon capture” scams. Clearly, the nascent EV industry is going to pay for it.

    1. Mark
      December 15, 2021

      It’s all subsidy to net zero. Personally, I see no justification for virtue signalling EV owners to be subsidised by the rest of us. I also see no justification for carbon capture or hydrogen as an energy vector. They’re horrendously expensive wastes of money, so I’m sure we agree on that. Green hydrogen is even more expensive.

    2. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      Percentages give a false picture SG
      Let’s look at overall numbers.
      Still a very small percentage of car sales.
      Though increasing.

      It was always signalled by government to electric vehicle manufacturers that as initial take up and sales grew that support and market subsidy would be reduced.

      Blue hydrogen and carbon capture are still infant industries but if they break through and succeed they will have a big effect on the success of net zero policy that you support.

      So I am a bit confused by your post SG.

    3. alan jutson
      December 16, 2021

      SG

      Emissions perhaps zero at point of use, but not during generation of power.
      Remember fossils fuels, in particular oil is the basis to produce lots of other things, not just vehicle fuel.
      All types of Lubrication, home and space heating, Plastic in all of its forms, many parts of an EV are made of plastic.
      Reduce the volume of fossil fuel and its consumption and you automatically increase the price of the raw material as the volume drops but the search and extraction costs remain the same.

    4. Nottingham Lad Himself
      December 16, 2021

      Re blue hydrogen, I doubt very much whether the private sector can be trusted to store safely and permanently the waste gaseous CO2, nor even perhaps in some cases to bother storing it at all.

      If depleted gas fields were used then I can’t see how leakage – which would seem inevitable – could be assessed, which would be rather handy for them.

      Sewage in rivers is more easily spotted.

  81. Nota#
    December 15, 2021

    On the NHS – todays Guido appears to have rooted out what everyone is suspicious of. It would appear the NHS management has elevated its self into being a Political Service and a Weapon of a Political standpoint, and no longer a paid by the people service to look after our Health

    ‘A damning new report this week from the Civitas think tank has slammed the NHS for “misdirecting resources and talent” and wasting taxpayers’ money with its ‘Workforce Race Equality Standard’ (WRES) scheme – a programme which attempts to “monitor and control diversity and equality” in the Health Service by setting diversity targets and turning it into “an instrument of social justice”. Yes, as opposed to just an instrument for saving lives
’

    ‘The research finds that despite the estimated ÂŁ50-60 million spent on WRES in the last five years, 8 of the scheme’s 9 diversity indicators have shown no significant improvement, all while ramping up the bureaucratic power of overpaid middle managers and ‘BME leads’. The report doesn’t hold back:’

    “WRES is the creation of a cohort of ideologically-minded individuals who benefit from the programme, while the costs are left to patients and the taxpayer. Ultimately, this means money is wasted and not spent on improving health.”

    ‘The paper adds that NHS Chief People Officer Prerana Issar – who’s ultimately responsible for all this – is on ÂŁ230,000 a year, which is more than CEO who hired her. Worth bearing in mind as Rishi whacks a ‘health and social care levy’ on everyone’s payslips
’

    1. alan jutson
      December 15, 2021

      +1

      I have no words.!

  82. acorn
    December 15, 2021

    Parliament’s Devision 149 on face masks, showed a somewhat interesting split in the Conservative right wing vote.

    Thirty eight of the usual suspects voted NO to face masks, but forty six, including JR abstained! Have the latter suddenly accepted what the rest of the world has for over a year; that face masks do actually reduce the airborne spreading of the virus?

    What excuses will they use if caught wearing face masks in public?

    1. Peter2
      December 15, 2021

      They don’t seem to be working very well acorn
      The figures in the UK and Europe aren’t going rapidly downward are they?

  83. X-Tory
    December 15, 2021

    I see from the government’s own official website (https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/) that the number of people who tested positive in the last 7 days has increased by 12.1% – which (not coincidentally!) is almost the same percentage increase as the number of virus tests conducted (+ 12.4%). Conduct more tests and you will find more cases: it doesn’t take a genius to figure that on out! The number that matters – the number of deaths – has actually FALLEN by 6.5%! In the last 7 days, an average of 846 patients were admitted to hospital each day, but for the most recent day that number is down to 793.

    Dig deeper into the figures (this page here: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare?areaType=overview&areaName=United%20Kingdom) and you will see that far from the NHS being overstretched, there are fewer patients in hospital now than a month ago, and fewer in mechanical ventilation beds. Apart from the fact that all the evidence points to Omicron being far less severe than previous variants, given the availability of new approved treatments (which the NHS is only going to start rolling out tomorrow – so much for the sense of urgency!) patients presenting themselves with covid can be medicated and sent home, and the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed is ZERO.

    PS. I’m rather disappointed that you only abstained on the mandatory masks vote rather than voting against. I find these horrible things intolerably uncomfortable and never wear them, and resent the notion that the government can seek to oblige me to do so. If you are extra vulnerable and fearful and want to be protected, wear a PPF3 mask (which gives the wearer 100% protection), and don’t try to make ME responsible for YOUR health.

  84. Paul Cuthbertson
    December 15, 2021

    This vote confirms the toothless bunch of slime balls who the people elected to represent them. Do you really think your government cares about you. Wake up people.

    1. hefner
      December 15, 2021

      Oh yeah, I am woke, and what do you want me to do, oh Great Helmsman?
      The US Capitol is one ocean away, will you direct us?

  85. Sea_Warrior
    December 15, 2021

    I wonder what surprises will be sprung on us as soon as the Commons has broken-up for Christmas?

  86. Pauline Baxter
    December 15, 2021

    Now what, indeed, Sir John.
    It is YOUR Party in power.
    There is nothing the rest of us can do without a G.E..
    Even then, what choice will we have?

  87. X-Tory
    December 15, 2021

    In the finest ‘good day to bury bad news’ tradition I see that while the media have been obsessing about Christmas parties, Boris the cowardly Traitor has been quietly making more and more concessions to France and the EU in general. First he accepted that the EU – through the ECJ – should continue to rule in Northern Ireland. Then he gave France almost all the fishing licences they wanted, and today he has agreed to delay, indefinitely, any checks on imports from Ireland. Boris has betrayed Brexit, Northern Ireland and the UK in general. When will your letter be sent to Graham Brady?

    1. X-Tory
      December 15, 2021

      I see from today’s Telegraph that the government signed some ÂŁ500 million of contracts to manage the border down the Irish Sea, splitting the UK in two – and did not put in any clause to cancel these contracts if article 16 were invoked! This proves that the government has NO intention of scrapping the Protocol, and all their threats or promises to do so are LIES designed to trick gullible Tory MPs and supporters. When will the ERG wake up to this betrayal and do something about it?

  88. Edwardm
    December 15, 2021

    Well put.
    There is no sense in the government and opposition’s position, nor in that of senior health advisers. No consideration of the wider picture – the effects on social life, the economy and non-Covid health issues. Why have further mandatory restrictions and intrusive controls, especially for a mild variant?
    Those who are vaccinated have a level of protection against the worst effects of Covid, and those who aren’t vaccinated that is their choice. Surely people ought to be left to make their own decisions. Those who fear Covid can choose their own precautions to live by.

  89. agricola
    December 15, 2021

    A thought for the NHS going forward. Why not create a Territorial NHS to which anyone could join train and be ready to support the regular NHS. The military do it, why not the NHS.

    1. Nota#
      December 15, 2021

      @agricola – that then means Territorial administrators, managers and even more Diversity Managers

      May be Matrons running Hospitals units and the CEO and Administrators being told what to do by them.

    2. hefner
      December 15, 2021

      St John Ambulance is ‘recruiting’ volunteers.

  90. No Longer Anonymous
    December 15, 2021

    Masks and lockdowns forever.

    I can’t see this ever changing.

  91. BW
    December 15, 2021

    What now. I will not vote Tory that’s what now. For those that ask who would do better I say none of them. Just look at the quality of our parliament. Half filled with those that despise our country our history and looking to cancel our future. Quite accepting the voice of the mob. I will just not vote. I will not justify the existence of such a disreputable group. You vote for SJR and all of a sudden Boris and his following shout “We have a mandate”. Well you don’t. The Conservatives are finished and SJR, if you want my vote you will need to stand as an independent.
    Get Brexit done, Failed
    Secure our borders, Failed
    Secure our fishing ,Failed
    Get out from the ECJ, Failed
    Look after NI, Failed.
    Need I go on. These are the policies that won you a 80 seat majority and the Conservatives have failed in everything.

  92. glen cullen
    December 15, 2021

    Tonight’s covid brief by Boris was nothing else but a shameless attempt to get his face on TV, promoting the Tory government, prior to the by-election tomorrow

  93. XY
    December 15, 2021

    I’m not sure “it worked” (relying on the Opposition). Labour gave the Tory rebels a non-consequences pass, so they were free to “vote their conscience” while establishing large rebellions as something not unheard of – rebellion foments rebellion.

    Labour also gave a free pass to themselves – if they opposed and were found to be wrong they’d carry the can along with the Tory rebels. If they don’t oppose and are wrong then the government will get the blame.

    If they don’t oppoose and they are right then they can claim their share of the glory. Either way, it’s a nothing-to-lose, something to gain situation for all but the government.

    1. glen cullen
      December 15, 2021

      “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”

  94. No Longer Anonymous
    December 15, 2021

    First an impossible booster target and then “Get your jab to save Christmas.”

    See what he did there ? He’s shifted blame for the Christmas lockdown onto you, dear reader. Sage rule the country.

    PS My wife is far sicker today from the booster than the rypical symptoms of Omicron. Very ill indeed. Worried in fact.

  95. David Kingston
    December 15, 2021

    Sir John,

    Having read your blog for years and you kindly replied to me once, having served in HM force s for 44 years, I have had enough. I even encouraged my son to follow my footsteps. However I will now encourage him to leave at the earliest opportunity. Excuse the language, but this country is fcuked. My pride has now disappeared. Considering we work on Nuclear submarines and have spent years following Russians, sitting off Argentinian runways, keeping the sea lanes clear, avenging the death of Nelson etc. Your party has lost the pitiful amount of respect it had. By the way, the march through the Institutions is complete. The Services are more interested in pronouns than protecting our nation.

    1. alan jutson
      December 15, 2021

      DK
      Sadly a lot of people now think the same as you.
      Many politicians talk about pride in our Country, then seemingly do their best to help destroy it.
      Who in their right mind would be cutting our armed forces at the moment, when we cannot even stop rubber dinghy’s landing on our shores, and then being helped by our Navy to boot !.
      Our army now would not even fill Wembly stadium, such is its present size, and Government want to cut it further !
      How many “serviceable” fighter jets do we have now ?
      Look at the “carry on” farce with the EU over Northern Ireland.
      Taxation going through the roof, as is inflation, but the State pension triple lock, introduced to protect its purchasing power, scrapped.
      Energy production policy an absolute farce.
      Social services failing big time after years of decline
      NHS been failing its patients for years.
      GP appointments, do not even go there, security grills across the entrances now.!

  96. Mark
    December 15, 2021

    What next? OFGEM needs some serious attention. Having been roundly criticised in the Lords and by the CAB and elsewhere among the industry they come up with a load of half-cock proposals that are meant to be reform of regulation. They haven’t begun to understand how radical are the reforms needed. I think there is merit in proposals to switch regulation of suppliers to the FCA, who have a far better understanding of what it takes to ride through volatile markets, and how hedging really works. They show no sign of any attempt to act in consumer interests – they are not served by letting prices soar through depending on insecure and intermittent supplies, and then jacking up bills to pay for the high price later – plus the backlog of losses caused by their cap on top.

    Adding insult to injury, I see they are launching tendering for the next round of interconnectors. We have Moyle and E-W on restricted/zero export to the UK to keep power for Ireland, half of IFA1 now out until next autumn and not fully back until next December, IFA2 had a sudden outage yesterday (albeit it was importing to France at the time), and NSL, not content with extending its 700MW export limit until end December in order to protect Norwegian hydro reservoir levels now expects to remain limited to that level until at least mid February because of problems with thyristors at Blyth. The day ahead price is over ÂŁ400/MWh for tomorrow on Nordpool as wind output dips. Do they really think interconnectors are reliable?

  97. Micky Taking
    December 15, 2021

    Stupid parents used to control children by saying ‘the Bogeyman will get you’….soon it will be ‘ Whitty will get you’.

  98. Lindsay McDougall
    December 16, 2021

    It is perfectly possible, if the Omicron variant is mild, that the number of cases will rise while the number of hospitalisations will fall (or be of shorter duration) and the number of deaths will fall. In that case, I forecast that there will widespread contempt for ‘the scientists’, their advice and Government orders.

    Why is it that a vaccine passport is need for entry to a nightclub but not for entry to a crowded tube train nor for attendance at etc ed

    The Government needs to stop being biased against the ordinary working population. Why have no groups of highly paid public sector workers – judges, MPs, lords and ladies, mandarins – been furloughed or suffered any reduction in salary at all? That’s NOT a rhetorical question. The lack of action by our judiciary – except in representing immigrants that we do not want – is scandalous. Many cases that could be tried by a judge have been postponed because judges will not sit without a jury. Crininals roam free and the UK is the scamming capital of the world.

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