As the Prime Minister says,, the virus will not know it’s Christmas. He tells us to be jolly careful.
Nonetheless the government proposes a five day period when we are free to make more of our own decisions about social contacts in our homes with family. Some families will decide they do not wish to run any risk of infecting elderly or vulnerable people, and will not use the new freedoms to have a crowded house and table over the festive season. Others will decide that the risk is low for them of catching the disease at all or for getting a bad version of it, and will go ahead and use the freedoms the state permits.
Some elderly people will want the warmth and friendship of a family occasion and will assess their own risks accordingly.
This has itself created a further debate. A few have contacted me to say the relaxation is too generous, as they fear some will make bad judgements. More contact me to say if we can be trusted to make these decisions for five days, why cannot this be extended or why can’t there be a more general relaxation of rules? People after all do not wish to pass on a bad disease to loved ones and can make their own decisions about risk.
Where the government can help and reassure is to see what can be done about train travel. Now the railway is fully under state control for the time being the state has a duty of care to passengers. What actions have been taken or are being taken to ensure safer airflows in carriages? What evidence is there about spread rates for the virus at different levels of seat occupancy?
The railway is examining fare structures to avoid an incentive for more people to want to travel on an off peak train. Over a holiday period and in an era of homeworking off peak is a less clear idea anyway. They also need to renew the guidance about safe use of the railway and tell us what they think the risks are to inform people making those difficult judgements about family reunions over the five days of Christmas allotted.
December 1, 2020
Well, Johnson is clearly wrong! The virus MUST know it is Christmas, otherwise how could the govt. lift restrictions for five days?
After all the PM and his henchmen have destroyed the entire country because the virus is so virulent! So why invite it for Christmas?
All the better to Reset you with, my dear!
December 1, 2020
Everhopeful,
At least Boris can now sound more Churchillian!
” Never in the field of human conflict have so few devastated the lives of so many”
December 1, 2020
Never in the field of human conflict have so few devastated the lives of so many, at huge cost and for no benefit.
December 1, 2020
OT,
Another manifesto promise broken. Reported today 2,500 foreign criminals released onto the streets of Britain over the last year. Manifesto was going to deport them and prevent their return!
December 2, 2020
To keep the crime rates up one assumes.
December 1, 2020
âNow the railway is fully under state control for the time being the state has a duty of care to passengers.â
This is simply not true. The key words are âfully under state controlâ. That is very different to the state simply funding it.
The franchises can simply abandon their section if things donât suit. They will always find excuses not to do things.
Opaque fare structures suit. So does closing the network at weekends or at Easter and Christmas. In fact, closing the network completely and just taking the subsidy
December 1, 2020
…would be ideal for them.
December 1, 2020
Peter, What about the slogan: “Stay at home. Protect British Rail”. It worked for the NHS.
December 2, 2020
There might be a world of difference if the railways were not under the control of a government with a doctrinaire, pathological opposition to publicly-administered services.
The railways seem to work fine in European countries where that is not the case.
December 1, 2020
Everhopeful, I have written to my Tory MP, asking him to show me on the ONS death toll graph the effects of the imposition of the first lockdown, and the lifting of the lockdown. He can’t, because there are no inflexions on the graph to show any effect at the appropriate intervals (roughly 4 weeks after each change).
Ruining the UK economy, destroying the health of the majority, stealing our civil liberties – what on earth does Johnson think he’s doing? Attempting to put 66.9 million people in house arrest because of 100,000 “cases” is idiocy. And of course it hasn’t happened anyway – because the virus respects “key workers”!
December 1, 2020
I recommend fully open train carriages. Like they used to have!
No roofs.
Plenty of fresh air.
No need for masks..which might just avert the rise in bacterial pneumonia these magik face coverings are apparently causing.
December 1, 2020
Wear a Boris Johnson mask and everyone will keep their distance.
December 1, 2020
love it ! But you might get smacked in the mouth?
December 1, 2020
With the resurrected British Rail on the job what could possibly go wrong?
December 1, 2020
You can’t eat curling BR sandwiches through a mask. Oh, riiight . . . the virus has a temporary holiday whilst you’re eating.
December 1, 2020
The railways are the least of our worries. Passenger usage is at an all time low. Christmas numbers will be nothing like previous years.
Meanwhile, there is no departing from the government approved orthodoxy on coronavirus. Some believe it. Many donât.
However, challenging the story leads to suppression across the media and internet. Protest marches are singled out for attack by the police. For other unauthorised protests – which suit – the police are instructed to kneel down in support. Criminal damage is ignored.
December 1, 2020
Strange that the Tory party has embraced the destruction of capitalism.
Obviously Christmas, ( designed by Albert as a capitalist fest) has to go.
But where will Johnson et al get their pocket money from?
Ok they will have requisitioned every asset under the sun but without money…how will it work?
Oh..get rid of us ( including useful idiots who thought they were safe) and use AI to do all the work?
And take holidays on Mars?
December 1, 2020
If we believe Gove- you would be stupid to believe a back stabber- the govt does not have a clue how much this catastrophic decision to keep the nation locked down until next Spring will cost!
How can Fake Tory MPs vote on the Govt. document provided? If they vote for it it will show them to be more stupid than everyone already thinks of them.
December 1, 2020
JR, suggest you read Steerpike in Spectator destroying Goves fals/fake narrative in his newspaper article.
What is going on? Are Sage scaring a stupid govt into unnecessary action or is govt conniving with SAGE to create this mess? One thing is sure SAGE needs disbanding.
December 1, 2020
Gove currently preventing FOI requests to stop the truth getting out showing how incompetent/dishonest the govt has been.
December 1, 2020
Just remember that “get rid of us” is no joke; it is the stated policy of the globalist “elite” to reduce world population dramatically to “save the planet”.
I don’t see any of them or their supporters offering to be the first to participate in that.
December 1, 2020
‘Obviously Christmas, ( designed by Albert as a capitalist fest’
– I think Charles Dickens did more to develop Christmas in the way we celebrate it today (and his contribution was positive i believe – what a GENIUS he was – good old Dickens).
I think the Capitalist element of Christmas today is far more to do with American Culture.
December 1, 2020
Good morning
And
Is it just me, or does anyone else find those two sentences really rather creepy?
As I read today’s post by our kind host, I was downloading a revised time table. Reason being, they were putting on more trains at the weekend. Which is nice – If the government is prepared to allow me to travel ? đ
/sarc
December 1, 2020
As long as you have your shiny new vacpass?
December 1, 2020
Free to make more of our own decisions… What an absolute disgrace that JR could even write such craven rot. He should be forcefully opposing it as a conservative. Suggest he reads Conservative Woman where real conservative views are expressed. None impressed with Govt to date.
December 1, 2020
Back in September-
”COMMON sense is the greatest weapon in the fight against coronavirus,” the Prime Minster has announced;
and without a flicker of embarrassment he proceeded to ignore this fantastic weapon and insist the government knew best and introduced the graded lock-down Tier plan.
Glaring inconsistencies with the Bunter Boris plan – what do you expect?
December 1, 2020
Off topic: I am getting increasingly fed up with –
1) posters who believe they have an inalienable right to have their comments posted on this site virtually instantaneously, regardless of our host’s commitments to his work, the need to edit out possibly libellous or fake statements, and his right to a private life,
2) posters who assert (often offensively) their absolute and expert knowledge about a wide range of matters, without apparently being able to pick up on the simple fact that our host is not ‘Mr Redwood’, or even ‘Sir Redwood’, but ‘Sir John Redwood’.
December 1, 2020
Maybe they are getting increasingly âfed upâ with the government?
Creeping totalitarianism breeds frustration and fear.
They need/want to express themselves.
Understandable.
December 1, 2020
Just wait until we have to show our vacs certificate to get a haircut or buy a newspaper.
Maybe they’ll tattoo a yellow star on our arms. That worked well before.
Just 4 weeks until we get bounced into Brino because Boris will explain that it is to control the virus and save the NHS.
Shysters.
I’m carrying a ER placards in the car so if I get stopped I can say they make you immune.
December 1, 2020
I’m extremely fed up with the UK government, the EU government, the Iranian and Turkish and Libyan and US governments, not to mention the SA government.
Unfortunately our host, although a politician, is not a senior minister in any of the above regimes, so some courtesy and consideration towards him might be in order.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
He is Mr. Redwood as far as I am concerned. I donât know him personally so would not use his Christian name. And I donât buy in to our absurd and anachronistic honours system. This is not an episode of Shrek. Although when you hear about the princes and princesses and sirs and ladies and high sheriffs we have, one could be forgiven for thinking this is a cartoon.
December 1, 2020
‘And I donât buy in to our absurd and anachronistic honours system’
– It’s pretty harmless. Although it reminds me of The Middle Ages when chivalry was far more prevalent than it is today.
When people were far more romantic than they are today (romantic in sense of ‘romance’ for life). With knights, beautiful cathedrals and churches and cities such as Venice, Giotto, Fra Angelico, and so on.
December 1, 2020
@SM,
A baronet should always be addressed in person / letter / directly as ‘Sir John’ not as ‘Sir John Redwood.’
You only address a baronet, ‘Sir John Redwood’ such as on an envelope / formal seating arrangements etc ..
(I’m 99% sure ..)
Reply I am not a baronet. I answer to any polite version of my name
December 1, 2020
@Sir John,
Apologies. You are a Knight I believe (not a Baronet). But the principle still applies. Like Knights going back to the Middle Ages, you should still be addressed as ‘Sir John’ not ‘Sir John Redwood’ (in the comments for example).
To address you correctly as ‘Sir John’ is to give you more respect than ‘Sir John Redwood’ (except on envelopes / formal seating plans / when addressed in public to a gathering) and also to respect the title system in general so that we encourage people to act with honour and dignity in public life.
December 1, 2020
Surely you should be a Duke – were being consistently right an asset in politics.
Alas being consistently wrong and falling in with the current fashoionable “group think” lunacy of the day seems to be the way to advancement.
Hilarious account of the woke lunacy going on at Eton College on the London Calling Podcast (James Delingpole and Toby Young) I just listened to.
December 2, 2020
I think ‘Sir’ is a great title – but should only be given out rarely for something really remarkable like Francis Chichester sailing around the world, Victoria Crosses, creating great music like that of Handel or works of great science or something extraordinary in business – the person who created the mini car or something.
I think the rest of the titles have become a bit anachronistic.
We also need to cut back down on the Royal Family. I am a strong monarchist but we need a monarchy (and new Parliament) that reflects who we are now as opposed to a nation that once had an Empire (I am not knocking the Empire but the ridiculous nostalgia that goes with it).
Eton is a great school but it too needs to get rid its ridiculous uniform – that gives boys a false sense of who they are (and then they end up in politics).
December 2, 2020
@Lifelogic,
I agree about WOKE being ridiculous.
But let’s not get in a debate about it. Rather let’s just speak freely about whatever we think is true and if that causes debate (or not) as a result so be it.
People always admire people who speak the truth (according to their consciences) whether they agree with them or not. This is true COJONES! (I’m working things out as I write ..).
Whether it is WOKE from the left or spin doctors from the right (or from the left wing or middle wing whichever wing), they all lack balls to speak the truth, giving us double-speak and words of honey laced with poison.
December 2, 2020
‘Sir’ – for the pursuit of the truly heroic / noble struggle as part of patriotism – in whatever field of public life.
December 2, 2020
And you should only be ‘Sir’ if you’re based in the UK, pay bulk of taxes here. If not, then the ‘Sir’ should be taken away.
December 2, 2020
How about we have three levels of Knight (and get rid of Baronets – make existing one’s Knights) ‘Sir’:
SIR- Gold Star. For the greats: such as Churchill, Newton, Handel, Slim, those with Victoria Crosses, Brunel, Francis Chichester etc ..
SIR – Silver Star. Not great but achieved something remarkable for our country.
SIR – Bronze Star. Not remarkable but distinguished themselves in some important way for our country.
And we get rid of The House of Lords and Have The House of Knights instead (There is also much more meaning and honour in ‘Knight’ than ‘Lord’ – ‘Knights’ are meant to be chivalrous / brave / honourable – ‘Lord’ is just too nebulous and over-the-top – there are very, very, very few people who deserve ‘Lord’ – Cyrus the Great of Persia for one – but how many Cyrus the Greats of Persia are there ….)
December 1, 2020
‘Sir John Redwoodâ’
– ‘Sir John Redwood’ should NEVER appear in the comments (only ‘Sir John’) except when there might be some confusion over another ‘Sir John’ on some specific subject being addressed in the post. But since this website belongs to Sir John, so the default is ‘Sir John.’
December 1, 2020
Well Said!
Also off topic, I have just read that the PM is today publishing legislation to repeal the FTPA. Not before time! I wonder whether it might be repealing other legislation also.
One lives in hope.
December 1, 2020
Actually itâs âSir Johnâ.
December 1, 2020
“Sir Redwood” was written tongue in cheek. Pedant.
December 1, 2020
SM: “posters who believe they have an inalienable right to have their comments posted on this site virtually instantaneously, regardless of our hostâs commitments to his work, ”
Don’t know what his work is these days. It certainly isn’t representing people that live in his constituency, since the government isn’t supervised from Parliament now. It seems to be dictated to by a clique ( of Communists ) on SAGE.
What a bunch of fools they’ve made of themselves too.
December 1, 2020
‘A few have contacted me to say the relaxation is too generous, as they fear some will make bad judgements’
What is it with politicians? Their capacity for invention and bullshxt is both unlimited, offensive and grotesquely patronising
I despise the way party politicians tiptoe through any debate for fear of diverting away from the party or party leader line even pumping out meaningless rhetoric wrapped up in a sickening cover of contrived balance
Everyone I know in my immediate circle (100 or so people) despises and hates your party, this ….. PM and ……opposition for what you have done and still doing to OUR beautiful country
Reply You May find it inconvenient that some people support the CV19 policies but I represent them as well as the ones who oppose these measures. I report what I find. My emails are heavily against by number overall. I have allowed this post by editing out your description of the Labour opposition but will usually delete your pieces when you use Such language. The choice is yours.
December 1, 2020
Reply to reply
You are representing your constituents. This is fine. Just so long as we’re clear that you are emphasising following the herd rather than utilising criticial thinking to provide leadership. The irony is that this is exactly the same approach the government is taking. You might therefore be better advised to make minor disagreements between yourself and government private and accept that where fine judgements are to be made, it is the role of government to make them and the backbencher’s role to support them. By all means criticise, but in public maintain a united front.
If you desire a fundamentally different approach to that the government has, then recognise that the only way to achieve this is to get out of the Tory party. DOM is quite right to imply that, in the end, you are loyal to your party – and he is surely correct in his assessment of the merits of that party. When you vote against the government today, it will be no better than virtue-signalling. The government’s policy will continue, and you and your ‘rebellious’ colleagues will continue to snipe from the sidelines (with blanks), to absolutely no effect.
Reply And what can someone do who did not get elected to Parliament as they have no vote on this matter? What could one MP do if he or she left the party that elected them? How much influence would they have do you think? What would be their mandate? These matters have to be resolved within the Conservative Parliamentary party which is where the votes are. I got elected last time by promising to usually support the Conservative Manifesto as reflected in my personal statement.
December 1, 2020
reply to reply .. But Sir John that also means you must bear some collective responsibility. When PM proposals become so damaging, irreversible and a massive proportion of voters, and for your party, think we have become State controlled and run by madmen – you must be seen to bring it to a halt – whatever it takes.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 2, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
Thank you for a considered reply. To answer your questions in order;
First and second, they can be working to get themselves and others elected, standing for a party with sensible policies.
Third, fourth and fifth, they could have huge influence, albeit they might need some patience with the next election scheduled four years hence. But one MP can influence another, and they still more others. An individual doesn’t act in a vacuum. And sufficient MPs could bring the next election nearer. Their mandate would materialise in the usual way.
My criticism is of your approach over several decades. I believe you should have realised long before now that reforming the Tory party is impossible, and so, if you really wanted conservative policies, then you needed to be part of something that would deliver them. Would this have meant giving up being an MP, if only temporarily? Yes, more than likely. But you only have to see what Farage was able to achieve outside the mainstream to know what might (and, maybe, still could) be achieved by more coherent leadership. (Farage has obvious qualities, but just as obvious limitations. There was a ceiling on what he could achieve on his own.)
I think you have been guilty of both short-term thinking and wishful thinking for the best part of three decades, and where has it got you? A chance to vote against a policy that will be implemented anyway – and then what? Rinse and repeat, so to speak.
We have reached the point where a radical change of direction is necessary – more radical than Thatcher’s platform. The Brexit vote was indicative of this, even if it couldn’t articulate the nature of the radical change. And simply leaving the EU – not that this is going to happen – was never going to constitute sufficient change, as radical a move as it would be, and even if it was a necessary step towards radical change.
You are obviously critical of elements of party policy, but for as long as you are critical from within, you remain a part of the problem, not a part of the solution. I think this is a shame because, as critical as I am of you, I still think, even at this late stage you could ge an ally of a far better cause.
December 2, 2020
+1
December 3, 2020
Simeon, where does it get people working outside the Tory party? Seriously!
What say does Richard Tice have? He should have stayed in the Tory tent and worked with John and others to achieve his goal, in fact, Boris would do well to bring him into the negotiating team to help Mr Frost so that he can see the full picture and help to achieve his goal as Chairman of the party that gained the majority of the votes in the last European Parliament election.
December 1, 2020
You had loads in your fake Tory party like Subry, Wollaston, Lee etc all walk across the floor without any by election etc. did you not ask them? You had Letwin and Clarke openly saying in parliament they wanted to work with Labour, against the public mandate to leave!
How about your party helping Ed Miliband get elected last year? Your party smeared him, ridiculed his energy policy only to implement and build on it! Did any Tory voter other for this? Shall we now ask why you and chums are still supporting your party when it has systematically broke every main policy issue it got elected on with three PMs!
JR you do yourself a great injustice by posing such stupid questions when you consistently fail to act.
December 1, 2020
Reply to reply: JR said: “You May find it inconvenient that some people support the CV19 policies …”. Well, the polls indicate they do. But the traffic on the roads during this lockdown (compared with the first) says they don’t.
December 1, 2020
DOM: “Everyone I know in my immediate circle (100 or so people) despises and hates your party, this âŠ.. PM and âŠâŠopposition for what you have done and still doing to OUR beautiful country”
(100 or so people) + 1
December 1, 2020
Clinical trial regulators have been very cautious using viruses as delivery mechanisms (aka viral vectors) because there is a rare risk of strong immune responses – but MORE importantly there is a strong risk that the patient will become immune to the viral vector.
The problem then is the patientâs immune system will reject the viral vector thus rendering repeated doses useless. So if people who take the new vaccine then become immune to the viral vector they may not be able to use that viral vector to deliver a vaccine or cancer treatment when their life is actually at risk.
MPs need clinical evidence to confirm this will not happen from the clinical regulators.
December 1, 2020
There is indeed a great deal to consider before injecting the population with these hastily produced and largely untested vaccines. Especially as for most people it is not a serious disease and it is largely on the way out anyway due to existing herd immunity or near herd immunity levels.
Will injecting perhaps as many as 20,000 people (for each Covid death saved) cause more harm than good? Rather likely that it will in my view.
December 1, 2020
I’m not sure either if some people understand that this isn’t a one-off vaccination, such as you might have if you are going on holiday. With two shots a time required and duration of protection unknown, you could be headed off to the clinic six times a year. And then there are the other things they will want to vaccinate you against. Best get a dartboard tattooed on your arm.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
LL, you seem awfully certain that your view is beyond doubt.
Whilst we in the UK may well eradicate the virus next year, who’s to say that in less developed and poorer countries it may hang around for years and come back to us in a modified form for which our immunity may not be sufficient for everyone.
December 1, 2020
I shall not be vaccinated until absolutely sure it is genuine and effective, especially as some alleged experts dismissed existing tried and tested drugs. Lancet had to retract its false groupthink views as did a US publication.
The govt has consistently provided false fake figures since January and still deliberately to provide accurate figures. The behaviour scientists are deliberately engaged in scaring the public with govt connivance. Think about that. Two days ago Hancock and Powis still failed to provide factually accurate figures and graphs. They also failed to answer a direct question how many were hospitalized from a Chinese virus not found with it when attending for something else. Pretty basic. They did not answer the question. Why?
I am supporting the article in Con Woman calling on everyone to oust the govt it is causing more harm than the virus.
Today it deliberately failed to provide a proper factually accurate impact assessment. Why?
I will not be forced. Thalidomide??
December 2, 2020
Indeed and Thalidomide for being used for colds and morning sickness. Hardly very serious conditions.
December 1, 2020
@ Javelin
Yes – there are many questions to be asked about these vaccines that have been rushed into production with far from adequate testing.
I want the full details of clinical trials published so that we can see what side effects the healthy being given the vaccine suffered – as well as everything that goes into the formula.
December 1, 2020
Bryan
Thatâs why so many people are reluctant to accept an untried vaccine that could cause harm, especially on older people who are more likely to have an adverse reaction.
But the rumour of those with the vaccine having access to more venues is so dangerous. Coercion is not a great look, but will also create a two tier population.
As with everything the government does at the moment…it sets a dangerous precedent.
December 1, 2020
I just want to see every Tory MP lined up getting the vaccine – before I consider it safe
December 1, 2020
You what?
December 1, 2020
Javelin, Very good point. There are extensive immune and auto-immune diseases in the UK population, so the new vaccines triggering some sort of immune reaction is a serious problem.
December 1, 2020
Frankly, I donât care what âthe state permits.â Like the vast majority of the electorate I did not vote for this useless government. A government elected by a minority can only govern with the consent of a majority. And this bunch of clowns doesnât have that consent.
So the incompetent blonde oaf can pronounce what he likes. And I will do what I like. He canât enforce it anyway so, frankly, who cares?
I see though, today, that the Tory cheats want to repeal the Fixed Term Parliament Act. A law to effectively prevent electoral cheating. After all it is easy to win an election when you set the rules for it. If the majority canât remove this useless minority at the ballot box then we will get rid of them in other ways. Simple as that.
Reply The CV19 policy is supported by Labour and the SNP
December 1, 2020
So you support breaking the law ? So why were you moaning about the government “breaking international law” ?
The Fixed Term Parliament act hasn’t actually worked has it – no government has run to the end of the fixed term as far as I know.
December 1, 2020
JR, why is SNP allowed to vote on English only matters? Your govt dishonestly failed to address the Lothian question with a very poor fudge. What have you done about it? Some utterly pointless consensus chit chat?
December 1, 2020
To the bareacdes comrades says Andy.
Hilarious.
December 1, 2020
The limitations of the FTPA were clearly on display at the end of last year. Should it now be repealed? On balance, yes. But the Queen – our chairwoman of the board – should have had the power to order a general election last year whether our useless political class wanted one or not. And I would have cheered if she had stormed the Lords and told them so!
December 1, 2020
Iâm afraid HM even refused to refuse common EU citizenship. Quite possibly the last Monarch, given Charlieâs support for the Great Reset. Camilla and Kate both look as sick as Boris, each has aged 30 years in the last month or two. Private polling?
December 1, 2020
The Government’s actions are only supported on the basis that something is better than nothing.
The opposition parties have major and very well-grounded criticisms of the appalling mess that the Government has allowed to arise and to persist.
December 1, 2020
Martin, The Opposition parties criticise the results whilst endorsing the policies. How crazy is that? The only real opposition to the government’s covid19 policies (which you support!) comes from scientists, doctors, and Leave supporters (because we don’t like authoritarian technocracy, by definition).
December 1, 2020
The fixed term parliament act should certainly be repealed it was a total disaster (Cameron yet again to blame). We saw this in spades before the last election. Repealing the climate change act lunacy and about 95% of all the other laws passed in the last 50 years or so would also be a good plan. It would release millions for essentially parasitic jobs in regulation etc so they could get real and productive ones.
Almost anything supported by Labour and even worse the The National Socialist Party of Scotland is bound to be damaging and misguided. Usually in the interest of the state sector and against the interests of the 80%+ in the private sector.
December 1, 2020
+10
December 1, 2020
You werenât complaining when the Blair- Brown govt crashed the economy, sold off the gold, started the Iraq war, stoked up Scottish separatism and signed 3 federalising EU treaties with a far smaller share of the vote than Boris has.
So stop whining now.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
I have objected to the electoral system since I was a teenager – when Thatcher was in power. I took to the streets to protest against the Iraq War. I was right on that too. I have only ever voted for Labour once in my life – 1997. So I am not sure how you reach your conclusion that I support an electoral system I have never supported.
Perhaps you could explain why you think your vote should count for more than everyone elseâs? I donât demand my vote should count for more than yours. I think they should all count equally. Though, to be fair, you have done such a lousy job picking this government there is an argument you should all be banned from voting for making such poor decisions.
December 1, 2020
If PR was the system you would still have a Conservative majority government.
December 1, 2020
Andy: You may not be aware, but since the FTPA was introduced no government has lasted the full 5 years, anyway, so in effect it’s already redundant. Both the Labour and Tory manifestos committed to repealing the Act, the Tories simply have the power to do it.
December 1, 2020
You are going to âget rid of them in other waysâ?!
Thatâs fighting talk from your keyboard. Youâd better hope weâre not the sort of police state that some people on here think they live in – in case you get the old knock on the door at 4 oâclock in the morning.
December 1, 2020
Andy, if you don’t like the law here then try your beloved EU, France and Italy in particular who had stricter lockdowns than we did and sometimes force was used to ensure compliance. You really are very silly at times. Whilst I may not like what is happening there is no way I want to blantanly disobey the law but then I am an elderly person and we don’t think there is one law for us and another for everyone else like you do.
December 1, 2020
You took away our right to live in the EU when you ended our free movement. A right stolen from your kids and grandkids when, actually, the problem is xenophobia among your generation.
December 1, 2020
Usual nonsense from you andy.
How did people manage to live a work in European nations before the EU existed?
Look up how many non EU nation citizens live and work in Europe today.
December 1, 2020
It absolutely is.
Do you think for one moment that they would have voted Leave if the Continent were peopled by Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and white South Africans?
Of course not – your point is proven by that Thought Experiment.
December 2, 2020
In your mind it absolutely probably is because that’s where your purile mind games play out.
But in the real world euphilics did chose to abandon our friends and families in NZ, Australia, Canada, India, Kenya and the rest of the Commonwealth, in actuality not in in your mind.
Euphilcs chose to that because they preferred their new BFFs in the EU.
So keep your xenophobia to yourself.
December 1, 2020
Son and grandsons tried Australia for 5 years…happy to return. They are much travelled around EU – nowhere interests them so far. Doesn’t seem like a big loss to them!
December 1, 2020
Don’t be ridiculous. Plenty of my friends live in the EU.
December 1, 2020
Do tell us where you live and what your movements are likely to be over the next few months. With my health condition, this virus would almost certainly kill me – in a very unpleasant way. So I have no wish to bump into the likes of you until the pandemic is over (or at any other time for that matter).
December 1, 2020
Apparently the virus know that a Christmas tree has been put in a care home.
He will be lurking on a bauble.
December 1, 2020
Christmas trees already put up will be dead by Christmas – here’s hoping so will this Government.
December 1, 2020
Most are fake trees – another line through this Government?
Letâs hope Starmer sits on his hands today and the rational Tories take control of the Party.
December 1, 2020
One of the constant mantras of the Lockdown Lovers is that Britain “went into Lockdown too late”.
The official deaths per million in Italy is now higher than Britain’s , which clearly blows the Britain “went into Lockdown too late” argument straight out of the Grand Canal in Venice.
December 1, 2020
I am far from a âlockdown loverâ and the second lockdown is clearly doing more harm than good. Infections were falling anyway before it even started. The first lockdown was however done too late.
The NHS did not cope, we had nearly 3 times the deaths of Germany per infection and much higher infection rates too. Nearly half died at home or in care homes with little or no medical care that would surely have saved many of them.
Perhaps one good to come out of this will be if the public finally realise just how very dire the UKâs state monopoly, healthcare rationing system actually is and it is changed so it works and serves the public properly.
December 1, 2020
Dame Sally Davies has suggested that we had high rates of death because we are fat.
With my limited knowledge I am inclined to agree this is a likely cause.
December 1, 2020
What a perfect example of the footballification, that is, the cretinisation, of so much of life.
So, out of hundreds of countries, the UK is not quite top of the Deaths-Per-Million-League.
So that’s just fine, isn’t it?
Italy begged the UK not to make the same mistakes as they did, for weeks, whilst the Government here sat on their hands.
December 1, 2020
they got problems from ignorance and the mafia, we got problems from incompetence and – – well you know the rest.
December 1, 2020
footballification – if you don’t support my team you are against me.
I would say that applies to your politics and your views more than life in general Marty.
December 1, 2020
Martin in Cardiff: “Italy begged the UK not to make the same mistakes as they did, for weeks, whilst the Government here sat on their hands.”
The mistake Italy made was joining the Chinese ‘belt and road’ initiative, which involved tens of thousands of migrant Chinese working in Northern Italy, bringing with them COVID-19.
December 1, 2020
Your logic simply does not follow. Italy locked down too late too. The UK had far less excuse though. This as they had seen the Italian health service hugely overloaded and unable to cope weeks earlier.
December 1, 2020
According to a BBC news report of 29 Nov 20, the virus is ‘badly affecting Calabria, one of Western Europe’s poorest regions, because of decades of political mismanagement and plunder by ‘Ndrangheta (the local mafia); 18 public hospitals had to be closed, with savage cuts to beds and staff elsewhere, because of financial corruption’.
December 1, 2020
I understand 1/3 of NHS staff are at any one time âself-isolatingâ, so in the round 1/3 of the NHS has closed down but has accepted an additional ÂŁ34billion, making the total NHS âincomeâ ÂŁ170 billion pa. SA GDP is ÂŁ225 billion for an idea of just how much money that is. Financial corruption? đthe Mafia are children compared to the NHS!
December 1, 2020
NHS staff get paid in full whether in work or not – and they’re all getting an extra 500 in scotland
December 1, 2020
Indeed. The main thing that will prevent the spread is keeping people with any symptoms isolated from others.
Doubtless the train and bus services will be second rate, expensive and inflexible as usual. One chap on the radio was trying to do a 60 mile journey by public transport from Barrow to see his relatives for Christmas and could not do it at all within the dates needed so limited and restrictive were the services.
Perhaps he should hire an electric bike 4 hours at 15 mph each way.
December 1, 2020
Plus charging time x 3
Try seven hours
December 1, 2020
You can get ones with bigger batteries that claim at to do that range on one charge or take a second battery on the back. Best if you but small light Christmas gifts perhaps!
December 1, 2020
Should have a good appetite on arrival.
December 1, 2020
I cannot recommend the piece by Dr Mike Yeadon on lockdownsceptics.org enough. He is surely right. Sage have made many obvious, hugely damaging and unforgivable errors.
What SAGE Has Got Wrong
by Mike Yeadon
So have the government done a serious assessment of the damage done to health and the economy by this second lockdown or not? If so where is it? If not surely this is gross negligence?
It is surely doing far more damage than good. Let us hope MP can do something today, but it seems unlikely given Starmer & LABOURâs position.
December 1, 2020
Doubtless, you are medically qualified, an experienced epidemiologist with experience of modelling pandemics and you carefully check the provenance of any websites/data/information/etc before your fingers hit the keyboard.
Do you ever engage your brain before searching for a conspiracy website who’s views you wish to believe?
December 1, 2020
Have you checked it yourself? Dr Yeadon as as qualified and experienced in this field as anyone on SAGE, having been head of R&D at one of the world’s largest pharma cos (+ a former colleague of Sir P Vallance).
December 1, 2020
He is not alone; Judy Mikovit and many others speak out. Attempts are being made to silence such counter government policy posts.
Try “conspiracy fact” instead Sakara.
December 1, 2020
I read Maths and Physics at Cambridge and later some electronic engineering and have worked in engineering, property and r&d most of my life.
I think I can usually spot the difference between sensible and duff arguments and sensible and duff (or bought/partisan/group think perhaps) scientists, spin doctors and politicians.
December 1, 2020
So you’ve not read it then?
December 1, 2020
Is Boris â medically qualified, an experienced epidemiologist with experience of modelling pandemicsâ or has he repeatedly swallowed hook line and sinker the proven failed remedies of those he chooses to consult?
Engage your brain and you will see the point.
December 1, 2020
ah. but is that Boris wants convincing or is it Carrie?
December 1, 2020
An idiotic report on the Today programme (via some daft BBC employed PPE graduate I believe) only this morning a good example of guff.
Global temperature rise now be held to 2.1 degrees centigrade in 80 years time (now that their computer models have taken account of a Biden victory and the USA coming back into the Paris Accord lunacy). Have they taken account of the new Spanish flu in say 2080 or the development of cheap fusion energy in 2031 not to mention the massive volcano in 2098? Or that Biden might fall ill next months and be replaced by a rational climate realist or by someone even more alarmist on this issue? How can they?
They are not even be able to tell us the average temperature for next Wednesday in a few English Towns – let alone the Worldâs average temp. in 80 years time! The BBC clearly think their listeners are complete idiots.
December 1, 2020
What an incredibly ignorant comment. First read the article (which you clearly haven’t, in view of your comment that it represents a ‘conspiracy website’). Then, let’s have your measured complaints about where Dr Yeadon has got his facts wrong. I warn you, you’ll struggle. He is far more qualified to comment on this than any single member of SAGE.
Oh and by the way all his data comes only from official government sources.
December 1, 2020
His latest article in Lockdown Sceptics is even more damning. The moonshot is a another shambles as shown in detail by witnesses in the labs. He also shows how the discrepancy between overall average cases remaining only slightly above average and the apparent surge in covid deaths and cases is explained by the false positives increasing with the number of tests and fall in quality caused by cross infection.
The government is ignoring and silencing the criticism instead of acting on it. Admitting that the NHS and polticians have made such a huge mistake after the epidemic was over would lead to resignations. They would rather sacrifice businesses and claim that it was the lockdown that prevented the apparent second wave.
December 1, 2020
That seems to be the government position. They also seem determined to ram the vaccine into peopleâs arms regardless of the risk benefit calculations – which is very far from clear. The government have bought the doses already – so I suppose they do not want to have to be seen to have to destroy them as we nearly have herd immunity already anyway.
December 1, 2020
The âexpertsâ fixing the vaccine priority list seem similarly incompetent too in not adjusting for gender, blood groups and other known higher risk indicators.
Though is is far from clear yet that the vaccine is safe and effective enough (particularly in the very elderly) to do more good than harm.
December 1, 2020
Male and Bald too at much higher risk it seems – take note Nadhim Zahawi.
The lead author of the key study behind the association with baldness, Professor Carlos Wambier of Brown University, told The Telegraph: “We really think that baldness is a perfect predictor of severity.”
December 1, 2020
I have just read that corns on feet also have a 83% correlation with Covid-19 ARDS requiring CPAP treatment.
December 1, 2020
The entire NHS and other âkey-workersâ like the entire Government – including Carrie – should be first in line.
December 1, 2020
If Labour wishes to demonstrate that it is ready to govern ….. I would expect its MPs to use their votes one way or the other.
December 1, 2020
I would expect them to sit on their hands. If they vote for the tiers they will never recover the North.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
I’ll be keeping my socialising at a steady state across December and January. I’ll avoid doing anything like a peak at Christmas because that’s where I’ll slip up and accidentally infect my, mainly elderly, loved ones. Hospitality venues will, I hope, be sensible enough to offer their Christmas specials across a wider range of dates than just Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. They need to flatten the demand curve.
I have no fears about using trains and will look to get into London. I have no need of any financial incentives to make me journey; I just need something worthwhile open at the end of the line. There are a great many people striggling financially at the moment but there is, probably, a greater number who aren’t – and lack opportunities to spend their money. My holiday expenditure, for example, is some 80% down from what it was last year. And that means less tax for Sunak. The government needs to resist the urge to make us into pressed Puritans. It should always be looking for ways that business can continue safely and COVID-securely.
P.S. Who’d want to be a Turkey farmer right now?
December 1, 2020
Hush! The next thing we will have is Sunak’s Spare Cash Tax.
December 1, 2020
Eminently sensible – especially the bit about incentives at the end of the line.
December 1, 2020
Whilst appreciating it is a typo, I do like the expression âstriggling financiallyâ.
At you struggling financially? Well, itâs more of a striggle than a struggle.
December 1, 2020
Darn, thought I had gotten aweigh with it!
P.S. No, I’m not striggling.
December 1, 2020
too many calls of ‘Splice the mainbrace’. ?
December 1, 2020
There always seems to be people with the eletist view that they personally are capable of making informed sensible decisions about their own conduct but they believe there are a large number of the great unwashed who do not share their own dazzling intellect and will be irresponsible and so draconian measures to control them are needed. It is a modified form of the “all Brexit voters are thick” view. I can take you to an area of my part of London where the majority have ignored many of the restrictions relating to shops and resturants right from the start and are still doing so. That’s their decision, and it’s my decision not to go there, so we all get along fine.
December 1, 2020
Personally I think the decision to âallow â families to meet at Christmas was made to save face. Too many families were going to meet whether they were âallowedâ to or not.
It has been pointed out that even the dates have been ill thought out as most people work until Christmas Eve, and the bank holiday on the 28th hasnât been mentioned – are families âallowedâ to meet up then? Those that have chosen to meet up, may well meet then too. Each and every family group will be different.
As an aside, somebody pointed out that Sage have said if people must stand around drinking, to do it in the garden by their fire pit, to encourage the use of two tables to eat at and for each person to put their own plate into the dishwasher…does this not show the extent to which they are out of touch?
Government cannot and should not interfere in peopleâs daily lives. Consequences of bad decisions in life sadly have to be lived with.
December 1, 2020
Sharon. Tut,tut. Using the fire pit or patio heater will be bad for the climate.
December 1, 2020
I canât think of a quicker route to pneunomia, sitting about at Christmas 55 degrees or more north, in the freezing cold huddled around a fire without even a few furs – hell even Stone Age man knew a cave was the answer.
December 1, 2020
Among us EU rejoiners – a large and growing movement – there is much amusement at the outrage in the Brexit media at the impact of Brexit.
According to The Mail people are âfuriousâ that theyâll only be able to spend 90 days in the EU every six months from January. This is particularly upsetting for Britons who want to retire to Portugal, for example. Or for young Britons who wonât be able to spend a year or two
abroad before or after college or university. Most of them didnât even get a vote in 2016. Though plenty of people who are now dead did get a vote. Anyway.
Ending free movement is nothing to do with the referendum. In 2016 the Leavers told you things would not change for you. They lied. But at the general election the Tory Pensioners – elected by a minority – said they would end free movement. But they didnât tell you they would end your free movement. They said they would end other peopleâs free movement. Foreign people. They didnât, of course. Every other European retains free movement. They can still still all travel at will around 30 other countries. They lose the right to come to the UK – but that is one country missing for them. It is 30 countries missing for us. Minor loss for them. Major loss of us.
So the Brexiteers are furious about this inevitably of Brexit. Imagine how much more furious they will be when they figure out that asylum seekers, Syrians and the dinghy people have nothing to do with free movement anyway.
December 1, 2020
“the freedoms the state permits.”
What a phrase to read on a British political blog.
December 1, 2020
Quite and worse still it is this political blog. The brain washing has reached levels we didn’t expect.
December 1, 2020
Eric Blair would be proud of it, used in one of his books.
December 1, 2020
Very Germanic, isn’t it? I don’t mind restrictions in a pandemic but I demand that they make sense.
December 1, 2020
+1. !!!!
December 1, 2020
+1 incredible!
December 1, 2020
+1 says it all!
December 1, 2020
translated from the Chinese just perfectly.
December 1, 2020
Don’t you understand Mr Redwood? We don’t want more government. We don’t more fascism. We don’t more Marxism
We want our voice back, our place, we want attacks on our identity to stop. we are exhausted with progressive fascist propaganda
We want a police force that doesn’t act like a paramilitary extension of Labour’s fascist client state
Stop immersing us all in racial images. It is sinister and DISTURBING and we are pissed off with it
We want our country back from the political class that stole it in 1997
December 1, 2020
It is Sir John. Also who are the âWeâ. With all your negativity and ranting in every post about politics in general and not about the actual post you are certainly no including me in that âWeâ Give it a rest
December 1, 2020
+ an awful lot!
Well said!
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
1997???đđ Way before that!
December 1, 2020
4 May 1979 đ
December 1, 2020
Well said! Hear, hear!
December 1, 2020
+1 Right now!
December 1, 2020
DOM – you and Andy are really two sides of the same strident coin, aren’t you?
I’ll always listen to a careful and rational argument, even if it doesn’t coincide with my views – who knows, I might very well learn something new or at least look at matters from a different perspective – but your incessant and mounting hysteria simply undermines everything you write.
December 1, 2020
+1 gets my vote
December 1, 2020
The save Christmas mantra seems to be a nonsense to me. Either we need these restrictions, in which case they should be kept in place until they have done the job, or we donât, in which case we should get rid of them. I would happily trade the Christmas easing up for a proper rigorous analysis of the lockdown policy in which dissenting scientists and other experts are given a proper hearing and not denigrated. A red team blue team exercise.
December 1, 2020
+ 1
December 1, 2020
Given a choice there is no way I would want to travel by rail over the Christmas break or any other time for that matter. Sitting on a cold platform and then sitting in an overcrowded train for 4 hours does not appeal to me. I would rather be in my own bubble in my warm and comfortable car knowing I can go directly to my venue.
I was hospitalised 3 years ago in November with an infected hip replacement and the staff had difficulty finding a bed for me. They had to open another ward up due to the high numbers of influzena and the usual sickness bug that always appears at that time of year and yet I don’t remember our economy being shut down or pictures of the hospitals on our TV screens. Just what is going on?
December 1, 2020
— ‘Just what is going on?’
Control and subjugation…simple as that…under his thumb, or should it be hers.
December 1, 2020
The relaxation of these rules for five days is to avoid non-compliance and therefore the loss of the small amount of credibility that measures have with businesses (who can be hit with punitive fines). I assume the expectation of non-compliance was informed by VE day, Summer beaches, EID and Diwali.
Hospitality venues are much better controlled environments than homes, open them up once more or publish convincing data that there is significant spread in these venue.
I love my family but would rather see the cinema blockbusters that have been postponed due to Government interference rather than share a table for a day or so.
This Christmas release is a false dichotomy and we will be shut down again shortly
December 1, 2020
Keep calm and carry on … exactly as you did last Christmas
December 1, 2020
The government and other authorities have concentrated on Christmas and said nothing about the New Year holiday which will be a comparable (or even bigger) risk taking into account the various celebrations.
December 1, 2020
Dear Sir John–You love and repeat the stuff about people taking their own risk. I disagree strongly. Lots of people (not me) take the view that the rules are not sensible so they will feel free to ignore anything the Government says now. Others are just not cerebral enough to weigh it all up. Others are selfish–altruism simply not being on their radar screen at all. MP’s acting in response to pressure from constituents because of the joys of representative democracy is pure bunk. There is only one best answer and the man in the street is the last person to know what that answer is.
December 1, 2020
I think your attempt to encourage Sir John to show some leadership rather than simply ‘represent’ is welcome. I disagree with the suggestion that some people ought to be taken in hand by the government. I also disagree that in this matter there is one best answer. If we were talking about the bubonic plague you’d be right, but instances of there being one best answer are few and far between. Different people live different kinds of lives and have different needs. These many variables combine in a variety of complex ways, such that one individual case can seem similar to another, yet, on further inspection prove quite different. And of course most individual cases are very clearly different. Attempting to plot a course that serves all these varied interests is a fool’s errand. People must be free to make their own judgements. If they ignore wise counsel, then that is a shame – but far preferable to everyone being railroaded into actions by others that are largely unwise.
December 1, 2020
Ah – the man in Downing Street knows the answer does he? Or is he the man you were referring to?
December 1, 2020
For those with the mental strength I recommend reading HM Govt’s (47 pages),
‘Analysis of the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19 and the approach to tiering’
which appeared yesterday. (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/939876/Analysis_of_the_health_economic_and_social_effects_of_COVID-19_and_the_approach_to_tiering_FINAL__SofS_.pdf)
It is not analysis as claimed in the title, at best it evidences the problem of writing in a post-justifying biased mindset, with no serious consideration of alternative strategies and under debateable axiomatic assumptions. If this is the level of ‘analysis’ that HM Govt provides, I have great sympathy for any rational and ethical backbench MPs who are meant to take a position based upon such notes. For me, the level of thee notes was even more eye-opening.
December 1, 2020
I suspect that the relaxation of social contact restrictions at Christmas is a recognition that, if the restrictions are maintained, there will be greater than usual disregard of them by an increasing number of people and that police enforcement of the restrictions will be impracticable and damaging for the authorities. Better to offer what may be viewed as a generous concession (not that freedom should be a concession) than for the law to be seen to fail.
December 1, 2020
‘Safe use of the railway’? Sure, if that means not walking along the tracks!
If train windows have to be open for better ‘airflow’, you’ll end up with more people with coughs and colds, no doubt all to be blamed on a virus that’s been and gone.
The pandemic is over, Sir John, and what you’re looking at is an epidemic of false positive test results, plus the usual winter-season respiratory illness among the very elderly and infirm. It’s time to listen to experts who aren’t on the government’s payroll.
December 1, 2020
Pathetic that Starmer and Labour, having brayed for more lockdown throughout, seek to score petty party political points now by abstaining. Irrelevant but revealing.
December 1, 2020
Thank God. The sentient Tories might well take control. Itâs our and their only hope. I just wish many who resigned thinking the job was over had remained in Parliament. We need every vote we can get.
Thank you JR. You will judge the evidence and vote accordingly without allowing yourself to be bullied by either side. I salute you. Many donât appreciate what an achievement that is.
December 1, 2020
Some of the suggestions for a ‘safe’ Christmas from SAGE are bordering on stupidity, like making sure Granny eats her Christmas Lunch on a separate table next to an open window. If they want to make restrictions they should be sensible ones. Most have now lost faith in your government. As for the trains, I have used them quite a lot during this summer and consider them a very safe environment. The issue at Christmas is mandatory seat reservations with very few seats actually available due to ‘social distancing’ together with engineering works which in my view should NOT be postponed.
December 1, 2020
Out here in the Fens the railways are at least 5 miles away. And they are terribly expensive. Buses are rare too – one an hour. The supermarket is a couple of miles away as are the main shops. The school is one mile away. The doctor’s is 5 miles.
Cycling is out of the question on narrow lanes with lorries full of produce going to the factories. People do walk, but that is getting a bit scary as the roads fill up.
We have to use the car as more and more houses are crammed in to allow for people to join a bursting suburb of Londoners and the lanes get more and more dangerous.
I do not think London people understand this.
December 1, 2020
Good morning Sir John
Best of luck, supporting your constituents and the people generally in the UK – a feel you may need it. But, support your efforts
It is not about whether the ‘rules’ are to tough or to lack’s. It is more why are they there to start with. If the Government drops this desire to control and rule then provided proper quantifiable guidance we could all make the proper decisions and move forward.
Like everything in this modern world its not one size fits all in all situations. The people want to control their own life’s. Yes there are idiots out there(probably just 5%), these rules and laws will never apply to them and this WOKE Government will never try to get them too. The greater, I would say massive majority could turn this situation around with just a little bit of quantifiable honesty in the messages.
This thing called SAGE is an outfit prescribing how to protect just its own sector of society, seemingly without scrutiny or challenge being permitted. It doesn’t reflect on what is needed over the whole of society, they are not part of it and don’t interact with it. This Government is wishing to introduce all the bad elements of EU Government into the UK – i.e. total control by the few, and has forgotten the motivation of a free people to take back control
Take back control, is simply the people being the ones in control, they lend governments their sovereignty, their power. The Governments continued abuse of this privalaged will be their un-doing
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
Pleased many University students are now being tested before they go home.
We will give the usual meeting up for Christmas a miss this year, too many vulnerable people involved to take a risk when it’s not necessary.
Plan to have a family get together either at easter or in the summer
Likewise holidays, nothing booked until late next year.
Still carrying on with all of the planned projects at home, so still spending and using contractors at a good social distance.
Also still trying to fulfil as many non contact charity fundraising events as possible, so we can continue to help support local people in need.
December 1, 2020
What a chilling phrase.
December 1, 2020
The govenment treating us like children isn’t a policy its an attitude
Who is this government to give us five days
December 1, 2020
Elsewhere – the UK to accept ‘European human rights rules’
Big mistake. Human Rights are required by states that remove them from their citizens in the first place. Nothing is legal in the EU unless their rulers say it is. All the Worlds despots work on that basis
Getting back to traditional UK law, everything is legal unless the people through their representatives (MP’s) make it illegal. The people can through the same mechanism, can alter or repeal any such laws. This process ensures there is never a need for the perverted interpretation of what is a ‘human right’
Its the subtle difference between being ruled and being governed by consent.
Follow that train of thought through, all the actions of this government, Covid, WOKEness, Brexit and it comes over as they want to be a mini-me of the EU, not a full blown thrusting democracy working with its people to achieve.
They are not Conservatives in any way, shape or form.
December 1, 2020
In a democracy no laws, rules or conditions should be place on its people inside its own sovereign bondries unless the people have consented. This consent, extends to the amendment and repeal of any such impositions.
That is the only reason we have a HoC, with MP’s. No external pressure can be brought on the UK without the same attachments. So ‘human rights’ defined by others is an insult to self determination, independents, sovereignty and democracy, it is just an attempt by others to remove democracy and to rule by decree.
December 1, 2020
Ian@Barkham
Who are others and who is trying?
December 1, 2020
The EU loves to create ‘human rights’ so if they make our laws they are the others. The UK citizen would have no say or redress on how a foreign country defined what is a human right.
Our parliament is there to define our laws and rules, if we don’t like what they do, we get rid of them.
The EU according to the MsM today has now made the UK’s acceptance of their rule via their Human Rights Laws a condition of trade.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
What utter tripe.
December 1, 2020
Ian@barkham
“Nothing is legal in the EU, unless the rulers say it is”
Having been brought up in an EU country (DK) before I moved to teh UK and became a Brisiths citizen that was never the case nor is it the case now.
Why, do you write so much nonsense?
December 1, 2020
đđ because itâs true! Thatâs the difference between Roman Dutch law and English law. Why did you leave your homeland and come to England Bull. You hate us so.
December 1, 2020
Human Rights Laws only has a place in a society that is not governed by its people.
Making a law against something that was never taken away from a citizen in the first place – demonstrates the point. The point of democracy is that the people trough their representatives, get to create, amend and repeal laws. That way there is an ever changing and modifying view of what it right – we get to live with the times. Those that get it wrong in HoC get to be replaced.
The perversion that is EU Human Rights Laws in an insult to its people.
December 1, 2020
That the PM is allowing us a Christmas does not bring out the jolly in me – I find this ‘scrap’ insulting and offensive, as he continues on his path to ruin us and keep us otherwise locked up.
A relative was planning to come visit for an extended Christmas from the far north of the country, but with trains and rules uncertain, that will not happen.
My concerns about where this government is taking us grow by the day – I have little trust that he is going to do anything but destroy us from the inside — He has become our Trojan horse.
December 1, 2020
As someone who is ECV, and has been, in effect, shielding since March, I am concerned that family and friends will put immense pressure on my wife and I to be sociable over the Christmas period.
I fear that other vulnerable people will find similar pressure put on them to gather with family and that we will see a spike in infections and hospitalizations after Christmas as a result.
December 1, 2020
For the past six months or so Iâve been referring to this government as ânew labourâ due to there social engineering, marxist economic and green policies â I apologise theyâre more akin to the church of Scientology
December 1, 2020
gave me a good laugh with my better half in the care of NHS. At least it seems to be ‘in the care’ – superb people once you get to them.
December 1, 2020
I have just received notification that our Tier 3 Leisure Centre is to re-open tomorrow, but they are banned from doing group exercise classes. So I can sit on an exercise bike in the gym six feet from somebody else but I can’t do the same thing in a group class. Another example of one-size-fits-all stupidity.
December 1, 2020
What the full story about your gov giving in on ECHR to the EU.
December 1, 2020
Can we have a Christmas break from the weasel words spoken by this government please?
Every day we open our laptops to find meaningless figures and words which have been chewed over like a piece of old gum by Hancock and Co. before being spat out at us. Government scientists presenting figures and graphs which most scientists would be ashamed of.
Even for a few days, it would be such a nice present to unwrap some truthful words and facts backed up with evidence. Some promises which were going to be fulfilled. No further classical rhetoric without concrete foundations. If you’re not going to do that, stay out of our lives, even for a few days. Please.
December 1, 2020
SJS
Fret not……government words can simply be ignored anyway since they’re all lies and treason.
Besides, Johnson is just the mouth piece for persons whom we did not elect and therefore have no legal or constitutional mandate.
December 1, 2020
Today in addressing the rest of the EU – UK must play by EU rules! Von der Leyen sends Boris last-minute Brexit warning.
Who is to make the rule, and does that mean the EU will adhere to UK rules.
Then it begs the question if the UK is ruled from elsewhere, what is the point in the HoC and MP’s – they have no purpose!
December 1, 2020
Time to walk.
December 1, 2020
Ian @ Barkham
“Then it begs the question if the UK is ruled from elsewhere, what is the point in the HoC and MPâs â they have no purpose!”
============
Which has been the case since John Major’s treason at Maastricht.
December 1, 2020
always look on the bright side?
December 1, 2020
Extension to Brexit is now the most likely outcome.
December 1, 2020
Ian
“Extension to Brexit is now the most likely outcome.”
==============
Not unless Boris wants a riot…..a very big one. He does not dare.
December 2, 2020
What happened to Farage’s March Of The Hundred Thousand, Steve?
Are you sure?
December 2, 2020
MiC
Farage is not the Messiah, everyone knows this. Look what he did at the last election…..packed in and ran away. The little man’s all mouth.
December 1, 2020
The government has been taking advice from one committee of scientists throughout the epidemic.
It is way past time they sought a second opinion!
December 1, 2020
Sage have failed spectacularly – almost everything they have said has proved to be totally wrong and over alarmist (as Michael Yeadon and others have correctly pointed out.)
They must go and be replaced by sensible ones. The people who arranged the pandemic planning so appalingly and run the dire NHS (about 1/3 as good as Germanies) should go too.
As should the “experts” pushing the Carbon Neutral, electric cars and “Renewables” con trick. Plus the people running the BBC propaganda outfit. Also the people fixing the vaccination priority list.
December 1, 2020
Scientology have ab opinion and its better than SAGE
December 1, 2020
Preparation for Brexit has not been made by companies that export to the EU, that means that they know what is going on and have known for a long time also that why there is only one view on the virus from gov, they are not interested in others.
December 1, 2020
off topic.
With worsening relations between Australia , NZ and China now is the time to accelerate trading possibilities between UK and the historical antipodean friends.
December 1, 2020
I don’t think so- trading with countries so far away in the way you want is not going to happen- for a start it would be against all of the best intentions to reduce carbon waste to the atmosphere- there was a time before but not now. There world instead is turning more to regionalism meaning they are trading most of all with countries geographically nearer to themselves.
December 1, 2020
what way did I want? – I must have missed that -since you can read my mind what was I thinking?
December 1, 2020
Trains.
I thought this was all going to be over by Summer. So retrofitting modern sealed trains with opening windows will be a bit of a waste of money. (Hundreds of millions at that.)
Or are we not even half way through this crisis ?
If T&T is anything to go by the administration of the vaccine will be a disaster. There isn’t one that’s been passed fit for use yet, let alone ready for roll out.
December 1, 2020
70 million people to be vaccinated up to 4x each.
We’re looking well into 2022 at this rate.
It would be cheaper to issue every passenger with an n95 mask included in their ticket price.
December 1, 2020
The trouble is…the sane have to think of ways to swerve around the Marxist madness that only seeks to bring us to our economic knees.
Looks like the unions are winning though. Post in chaos and many kids off school …no doubt due to testing and the resultant casedemics!
December 1, 2020
It will just be “squirt this up your own nose”, et voila “jobs done you’re vaccinated”.
December 1, 2020
Business is making a few decisions of is own. As we are isolated this year, I booked Christmas lunch at a lovely local hotel and paid the deposit. This morning they contacted me to return the deposit because they canât trust the Government to be consistent and canât take the risk of buying in a load of food, employing staff etc only to have the plug pulled at the last minute. So they have opted no forego a possible profit for a definite avoidance of a loss.
Incidentally during the conversation it was noted that the wind farms hereabout are all still. We decided to propose to Boris that electric motors be fitted to each windmill so that they can be kept turning when there is no wind, to avoid the population losing faith in âthe breezes turning us into the Saudi Arabia of windâ.
December 1, 2020
No, no!
Coal fired, steam driven please!
December 1, 2020
Lynn they can operate turbines independently with no wind now. If you see them moving while it’s still windless they are being operated from a control station sometimes in another country. They use power from the grid to do this and they do it to stop ice forming on the blades which can be hazardous when they start them up again. Very large ice particles have been known to fly off and do damage to property. Just avoid them on icy mornings!
December 1, 2020
They already have electric motors to stop the bearings crunching when they stop.
December 1, 2020
In reality there was no call to turn Christmas into a Granny killing festival .. lovely hug in December ,lovely corpse in January , lovely empty seat for the rest of your lives.
Christmas death is just Brexit desperation under the cover of holly and mistletoe and spreading a vicious disease is not a, âmatter of discretionâ.
Even if this awful government were not the moral vacuum it is, their stories don`t even work in their own terms. Sweden has failed. It has killed many more of its people than its comparable neighbours, and the Swedish economy has not benefitted one jot .
Why you might ask ? It s because people keep dying , tends to dent confidence a bit.
SIMPLES.
Just ignore them – we are nearly there
December 1, 2020
BDR – is it curable? You poor fellow
There are lots of reasons Sweden is different from neighbouring countries. Japan had an even lighter approach than Sweden and has very low death rates.
December 1, 2020
Japan are a very clean nation.
December 1, 2020
And your solution is what exactly?
Permanent lock down?
December 1, 2020
The old girl next door is 93. She’s told me to keep visiting as this will be her last year anyway and does not want to spend it in isolation. My Mum has said similar – so too millions of old people up and down the country which is why Boris had to save Christmas.
Treat Granny as an adult. Let her make her own choices on the risk.
We are NOT nearly there. 2022 at least. 70m people to be given at least two shots – possibly four and not one vaccine ready to be administered yet
December 1, 2020
Sweden are having the quietest year on record for respiratory diseases.
December 2, 2020
And you don’t know why that just might be?
December 1, 2020
Vaccine minister Zahawi talking about health passes to stop anyone who isn’t vaccinated going to bars and sports events. And he is a member of a conservative party or a Chinese communist party? It’s vaccine fascism.
December 1, 2020
What about tax-free bonuses for all workers Nicola not just NHS workers, there are many delivery drivers; supermarket staff; bakery employees; meat factory packers and on and on that have worked full time since March for only 20% more pay than everyone else. How about a tax-free bonus rebate for every single one of them that didn’t claim furlough. You see where does it stop you stirring horrible woman.
December 1, 2020
An amusing aside on Social Media across the pond.
Guess who is open to do your hair, nails and eyebrows?
The funeral home!
If you want an appointment, KEEP RUNNING AROUND
December 1, 2020
All businesses are using COVID Asan excuse to downgrade customer services.
Canât get through to any online store or bank or credit card call centres.
In future I go out and pay with cash.
No more of this.
Or I will go without.
Is that what the govt wants?
December 1, 2020
This little item on Conservative Woman sums up the respect this Government is accruing
“This insane and destructive government must be sacked” https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/this-insane-and-destructive-government-must-be-sacked/
It also repeats the question what and who is government for – they have lost the plot.
All MP’s and the point of the HoC is going to get tarred with the same brush if the power isn’t returned to the people at every level
December 1, 2020
The State of Victoria, Australia; now free of virus cases for 28 days, after a three month hard lockdown. Must be nice to have a state government that knew what it was doing (while its federal Prime Minister was throwing bricks at China) and was trusted by its citizens, such that they followed instruction in their own interest and that of their State.
December 1, 2020
Wait until they resume normal life.
December 1, 2020
Tell me where it is next week.
December 1, 2020
This is a myth, it has been scientifically proven lockdowns did absolutely nothing.
December 2, 2020
So just run us through the algorithm of that “proof” then?
Thanks.
December 1, 2020
JR: “As the Prime Minister says,, the virus will not know itâs Christmas. He tells us to be jolly careful. ”
That’s just not correct. The COVID-19 virus has extremely good time keeping abilities, else what’s the point of the 10pm curfew?
December 2, 2020
jolly !! – what an unfortunate word.
Are the retail staff awaiting their P45 feeling JOLLY?
December 4, 2020
It gets better, CDC tested Red Cross blood donations given in December 2019 and finds COVID-19 antibodies in nearly all the samples.
It didn’t break out in February. I was already on the loose in December, by some estimates, COVID-19 was in Italy in September.
So the profile of the disease is almost identical to seasonal flue, yet the government has shut down the economy and destroyed the UK governments balance sheet.
For nothing!
December 1, 2020
It seems to me that the relaxations for Christmas are not a good idea, unless they were compensated in some way by other precautions (which I don’t see at present). Many families won’t be able to calculate and manage their own risks. Nobody wants to see a spike of new cases result from this, but that is what one might expect.
December 1, 2020
Sir John
I have now received a reply about the COVID vote from my own MP. I really regret to have to say this, but her reply merely underlines that there is something seriously wrong with how Conservative candidates are selected. I would give a C if this was an essay from a 15 year old.
I genuinely worry that your party has not picked up the vibes correctly. Getting some decisions on COVID not totally right is perfectly understandable, particularly back in March when everything was new. To get ALL of the COVID decisions wrong since June, to have absolutely massacred the Brexit process so that there is still no clean way out visible after four and half years and finally to have introduced a ban on petrol and diesel engines by 2030 is catastrophic. One of these would cause me to refuse to vote Conservative at the next election. All three I’m afraid makes your brand totally toxic so far as I’m concerned, for the foreseeable future.
Why is it that you and your colleagues can’t pick this up? I’m not hearing a single positive thing about this government from lifetime Conservative voters. Be under no illusion, a dreadful reckoning is coming at the next election
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
Sir John, I hope you are keeping a beady eye on the EU negotiations. Barnier claims that Boris Johnson has agreed to bind the UK by treaty to the ECHR and all its future legislation. This would be a terrible, fatal mistake: the ECHR is the EU’s Trojan horse – it would enable the EU tie the UK to its apron strings, perpetuate and worsen situations such as we see at present – a government incapable of deporting criminals or deterring illegal immigrants, and a parliament prevented from making sensible, balanced human rights legislation. This has nothing to do with trade, and everything to do with the EU’s attempt to constrain the UK. It must not stand: you need to warn the PM that if he tries to get this through the HoC with Opposition help, he will be challenged and if necessary unseated by
his colleagues.
We need to cut off negotiations with the EU now, and prepare for a full exit from this absuive organization.
December 1, 2020
Lynn Atkinson.
Exactly, this is the real world you are writing about and not some tinsel wrapped christmas present well said you.
What is I find really frightening is all the politicians, world leaders, green zealots total news media and all the science professors and their computer programmes in the exception of a few of these groups that are slagged off at every available opportunity, ever want to discuss let alone investigate the black side of going and being green.
Never hardly a mention on the disposal of turbine blades and solar panels, child labour involved in the mining of raw earth materials used in their construction, like for like comparison on equal footing of power generation. As said here on this site many times it is now a full blown religion and hell and damnation to those who wish to argue or question the facts or apply true relative measurement of efficiencies, longevity and the real cost to taxpayers. Where is the responsibility and accountability? We are condemned and damned by politicians incompetence, ignorance and arrogance. We the users of this site should and in most cases really appreciate that we have a man the calibre of Sir John who is prepared to push boundaries ,ask the difficult questions and gives the chance to be heard.
December 1, 2020
Off topic, but it seems the appeaser and coward Boris is to sell us out on important principles of Brexit, just as many confidently predicted. I dare say Sir John will find the words to say it’s not a serious problem. The Tory party must be protected above everything else after all.
December 1, 2020
You are wrong, JR has been an u wavering defender of British peopleâs sovereignty. You should be grateful.
December 1, 2020
The Prime Minister’s patronising language at such a time is wholly inappropriate. It makes him look smug, self-satisfied, arrogant, and completely ignorant of all the suffering in which he has been complicit.
Perhaps he is.
December 1, 2020
in a nutshell – Bullshitter.
December 1, 2020
For sure – restrictions will be put in place for those that do not trust the vaccines, and do not take it voluntarily…. AS GOVE SAID TODAY:
“No plans for ‘vaccine passport’ “
PREDICTION: It will be encouraged for venues to impose their own restrictions – then we will see universal health passports rolled out.
GOVE CONTINUED: “But, also, I think you’ll probably find that restaurants and bars and cinemas and other venues, sports venues, will probably also use that system – as they have done with the (test and trace) app.”
“I think that in many ways, the pressure will come from both ways, from service providers who’ll say, ‘Look, demonstrate to us that you have been vaccinated’.”
December 1, 2020
“the freedoms the state permits” what is this? are we now living in East Germany or Belaruis?
December 1, 2020
JR
âthe freedoms the state permits.â
===============
If you will graciously allow me to explain how this works, Sir redwood ;
The job of the state is to protect our freedoms, as they are enshrined rights of the English. It is not the job of the state to decide what freedoms we may have.
We have earned the right to our freedoms through war, suffering, blood, sweat and tears, and struggle against oppression.
I assume you to have made a gaff, since I am absolutely sure a highly qualified person such as yourself will be familiar with the Tolpuddle Martyrs, for example.
But for the record I do not recommend anyone in politics should think they have authority to choose our freedoms, because especially at the moment in this country the subject of freedoms is a powder keg just waiting for that spark.
December 1, 2020
The majority of Tory MPs said in the debate today that they where going to support the government covid position because there are no other options, no alternatives â what a disgrace
December 1, 2020
CCHQ must have decided this bloke/woman has no brain – select them and they will support us for anything.
December 1, 2020
+1
They should have forced an alternative.
December 1, 2020
If you tell every MP that theyâd lose their job, before the covid tier vote, bet theyâd vote differently â today 30,000 in retail lost their jobs, thatâs 30,000 families with probably another 20,000 in the supply chain – thanks
December 1, 2020
The Tory-Labour disease will eventually destroy our nation.
Both of these rancid, poisonous, sinister parties that purport to be the parties of old are intent on creating an impenetrable political construct beyond democratic accountability and beyond reform from a party of truth, morality and libertarianism
Slime doesn’t even begin to describe those who support Johnson and Starmer’s attack on our nation’s freedoms
Tory and Labour are working together to target our freedoms to promote their own power
December 1, 2020
Dom,
I believe you are correct, “slime” is an appropriate term for general use.
I live within close proximity to several of the impoverished areas that have been hard hit by covid. The irony of the Govt’s evil is that these people were more vulnerable due to their initial economic state, e.g. picking up a few hours in retail, hospitality cleaning etc. and the Govt, unopposed by Labour, has set out to impoverish them further, to make them even more vulnerable. The Govt’s prescription of increased loneliness for the elderly and further poverty for the already poor is unpleasant.
December 1, 2020
DOM
+ 1
December 1, 2020
The President of the EU Commission today said any deal with the U.K. must mean Britain remains bound by level EU single market legislation in perpetuity. This means either no deal or the U.K. has caved to this demand, and I donât hear the British government saying talks have ended because of this ultimatum. Why is the government still talking when the EU insist we follow their laws for the rest of time as if we are a member state with no ability to leave? Talks have to end now.
December 1, 2020
It is exactly as Farage was warned by Clegg in the very first TV “debate” that life outside the European Union – as we now are – would be.
Not the end of negotiations and disputes, but the beginning, of endless years of them.
December 2, 2020
we always had years of ‘negotiations’ as a member, but precious little progress forward. Years of subjugation and short steps to totalitarian state. What you want it always seems.
December 1, 2020
+1
December 1, 2020
I hear that the only thing left to negotiate is fisheries – therefore level playing field and ECJ have been settled ???
And the the deal will be complete on Thursday – fait accompli
December 2, 2020
did you really mean ‘deal’ or was that a mistake? I know surrender is longer to type, but!
December 2, 2020
”the surrender deal”
December 2, 2020
Do Norway & Switzerland have their hands tied in this way?
Certainly Canada doesn’t
December 1, 2020
âthe freedoms the state permitsâ ? Is this a wind-up? I was in Gdansk in 88.
December 1, 2020
John,
Thanks for voting the way you did.
Cheers
December 1, 2020
Why don’t the Conservatives who vote against the Govt just leave the party? The Govt needs to fall.
December 1, 2020
Now you know- we were horribly lied to –
December 1, 2020
Well done Sir John for voting against.
All rebels here: – Guido Fawkes (https://order-order.com)
December 1, 2020
Thank you for voting against the Government on Covid Tiers.
December 1, 2020
We can’t get to speak to anyone in the DWP. For the second year they have only given my husband ÂŁ100 of his winter fuel allowance. They say he lives with someone who also qualifies which is wrong. Last year we managed to speak to someone using the telephone number given on the rear of the letter. Even though we informed them the money was never paid. This year nobody answers the phone. It hangs up automatically. We sent a recorded delivery letter to the address given but that hasn’t been answered after over 3 weeks and you cannot use the contact page on the website. I give up. I presume this mistake will be made again until I reach pensionable age. It’s not good noughts. I suspect half the office is languishing at home on full pay while those around them are losing their jobs.
December 1, 2020
This comment was in reply to Everhopeful
December 1, 2020
Listening to various MPs when challenged on the stats there seems to be a complete denial of the truth as to what is actually happening, and what they are doing to the people of this country. It’s almost a religious like following of the government’s narrative, as to admit any other train of thought is heresy. They will have to accept they are responsible for trashing the economy and many peoples lives, for which they are as much responsible if they did not vote against any of this over the top legislation. The question is how can we bring some sanity to the situation, if you write to your MP you get the usual party line cut and paste fob off. Thank you, Sir John for voting against the lunacy I only wish I could say the same for my MP.
December 1, 2020
Some more good analysis from Ivor Cummings, Viral Impact in England The Empirical Truth Part 1
December 1, 2020
Why did the DUP vote on an EVEL Vote?
December 1, 2020
So glad that I have seen you name on the list of those voting against.
So dismayed at the number of ‘conservatives’ who were not aligned with you.
Those wonderful days when Margaret Thatcher and her splendid team of industrious, inventive, and principled colleagues changed our country seem so far gone in mists of time. John Redwood is still here, for which we can be most grateful.
December 1, 2020
Thanks for your vote John.
December 2, 2020
I think there is a risk that, after keeping it going for so long, when and if the government says “OK It’s all over”, nobody will believe them.