COVID19

[Banquo]

5. Does the Prime Minister feel that the current public disagreement between cabinet members and key scientific advisors is helping the current crisis?

more public hand washing than before christ was crucified.

6- Why did you send others out to defend yer man Cummings......but more importantly, what have you been doing for the last 'n' weeks, you've been invisible? Are you well enough to continue in your job?

[Puja]

Just one question along the lines of "many of your cabinet colleagues have defended Mr Cummings' illegal trips to Durham on the principal that in doing so, he was just being a 'good parent'. Could Mr Johnson please confirm whether he agrees with his colleagues that other members of the public who decided to abide by travel limitations were doing so because they are 'bad parents'"

Puja

[Banquo]

Reports of a 2nd trip now.

I thought we were up to 3 now? 2 to Durham from London, and one to Barnard Castle, on a day that just so happens - complete coincidence, to be his mother's 71st birthday. I say coincidence, because we "know" that Dom didn't meet his mother whilst staying in her house. Mind, we also "know" that the police both did, and didn't, talk to anyone at the house.

Its also come out that, far from being unable to source food or any form of help in London (because that was always believable), his brother-in-law lives 2 streets away in London, as does his chief aide (I think it was chief aide)

As for questions in parliament, I wouldn't waste more than 1 - conservatives are doing a good job of splitting themselves over this already, no need to risk uniting them by adding his own attack. Just one question along the lines of "many of your cabinet colleagues have defended Mr Cummings' illegal trips to Durham on the principal that in doing so, he was just being a 'good parent'. Could Mr Johnson please confirm whether he agrees with his colleagues that other members of the public who decided to abide by travel limitations were doing so because they are 'bad parents'"

Throw a bomb, and leave it there. It boxes Boris I to either defending Cummings, Gove et al - and calling the electorate 'bad parents', or he sides with the electorate, and dumps on Cummings, and the cabinet cheerleaders.

Leaves 5 questions for other issues (including extending self-employed income support in line with furloughed workers' support, and probably bringing in company directors in there too - though I personally have less sympathy there)

Very like- when did you stop beating your wife.....

[Digby]

Is Boris even going to turn up to PMQs?

[Son of Mathonwy]

How can it be right to leave your house with someone suffering from Covid-19 while you are completely fit and capable of looking after a child (which you must be if you are safe to drive 260 miles)?

Why was it right for Neil Furguson to resign when it isn't right for Cummings?

(It would be worth checking if any of the lockdown rules were adjusted since the end of March in order to restrospectively make Dom's movements "okay".)

Personally I think it's worse for the Tories if Cummings stays. If he goes, he will no doubt continue to advise Boris and will also quietly return before the year is out. If he remains, it will make the hypocrisy and corruption of the government obvious to a lot of their supporters (and make Johnson look weak).

[Puja]

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[Which Tyler]

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[Galfon]

Boz not marking him down - he acted 'responsibly, with integrity..like any parent would.'....ah well.

[Puja]

Just one question along the lines of "many of your cabinet colleagues have defended Mr Cummings' illegal trips to Durham on the principal that in doing so, he was just being a 'good parent'. Could Mr Johnson please confirm whether he agrees with his colleagues that other members of the public who decided to abide by travel limitations were doing so because they are 'bad parents'"

Led by Donkeys already on the case - not quite so begged a question as yours, but still pretty cutting:



Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

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Quality

[morepork]

Does anyone know what they are doing?

[Galfon]

Does anyone know what they are doing?

just following instinct, not rules - that's ok.

[Digby]

Does anyone know what they are doing?

just following instinct, not rules - that's ok.

In bringing Covid to the cold huddles masses of the North he's merely a scorpion hitching a ride on a frog

[fivepointer]

Its demoralising and frightening to be "led" by such an unprincipled charlatan.

I am coming to despise Johnson in the same way that I despise Trump.

[morepork]

He had the pest, but still seems incapable of communicating the risks of unnecessary transmission by doughnuts like his man jollying around the country. One rule for the plebs and another for the pig-fuckers. Mother nature really has exposed these molluscs in charge for what they really are.

[fivepointer]

As one of those involved in SPI-B, the Government advisory group on behavioural science, I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control COVID-19.
Be open and honest, we said. Trashed.
Respect the public, we said. Trashed
Ensure equity, so everyone is treated the same, we said. Trashed.
Be consistent we said. Trashed.
Make clear 'we are all in it together'. Trashed.
It is very hard to provide scientific advice to a government which doesn't want to listen to science. I hope, however, that the public will read our papers (publicly available at https://gov.uk/government/groups/scient ... 9-response) and continue to make up for this bad government with their own good sense.

Stephen Reicher

Bet he's not alone. The medics/scientists must be distraught over the way Johnson has conducted himself.

[cashead]

Its demoralising and frightening to be "led" by such an unprincipled charlatan.

I am coming to despise Johnson in the same way that I despise Trump.

You mean you didn't already?

[morepork]

That fucks up my plans. I was hoping to do a bit of gardening whilst crashing at Mells’s until this blew over. Nude gardening while we gingerly touch the tips of our implements.

[Mellsblue]

Finally. An upside to all this. Luckily, my implement is long enough that we should be able to stick to social distancing rules whilst touching tips - what a hoe.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

As one of those involved in SPI-B, the Government advisory group on behavioural science, I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control COVID-19.
Be open and honest, we said. Trashed.
Respect the public, we said. Trashed
Ensure equity, so everyone is treated the same, we said. Trashed.
Be consistent we said. Trashed.
Make clear 'we are all in it together'. Trashed.
It is very hard to provide scientific advice to a government which doesn't want to listen to science. I hope, however, that the public will read our papers (publicly available at https://gov.uk/government/groups/scient ... 9-response) and continue to make up for this bad government with their own good sense.

Stephen Reicher

Bet he's not alone. The medics/scientists must be distraught over the way Johnson has conducted himself.

Not just the scientists. The CPS and police now have great difficulty in enforcing any of the rules. Personally i wouldn't be charging anyone any more since the only test is whether you trusted your instincts.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

1. Has Mr. Cummings offered to resign? If so, has his resignation been accepted? If not, what consequences can he expect for his behaviour?

2. With the over 33,000+ deaths, does the Prime Minister believe he and the relevant members of his cabinet received adequate advice? Does he stand by the decisions made earlier? If so, why? If not, what would have been done differently?

3. What relief is being, and will be, offered to low-to-middle income earners who have either lost their employment or have been furloughed? Is what is currently being offered adequate? If so, why? If not, what further measures will be provided to support those who have been made even more vulnerable?

4. There have been recent reports of far right groups using the current pandemic as an opportunity to further their agenda, and the United Kingdom has provided more than its share of individuals that have signal boosted such ideologies such as Mrs Louise Mensch, Mr Markus Meecham, Mr Carl Benjamin and Mr Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. What actions will the government take in order to provide protections for individuals and members of marginalised communities, be it women, LGBTQ individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and so on, who are targeted by such individuals for harassment?

Misses the target entirely. Allows responses of verbiage and speechifying without nailing him to a single thing.

[morepork]

Finally. An upside to all this. Luckily, my implement is long enough that we should be able to stick to social distancing rules whilst touching tips - what a hoe.

Pluoughing a new path to novel punland. Nice.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Jesus. He could have said Dom didn't quite do the right thing, but it was understandable etc etc.

But no, Boris has doubled down: Cummings was doing the right thing, his instincts were right, it was legal.

Anything goes now.

[canta_brian]

Finally. An upside to all this. Luckily, my implement is long enough that we should be able to stick to social distancing rules whilst touching tips - what a hoe.

Pluoughing a new path to novel punland. Nice.

Don’t trust him. The man’s a rake.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Reports of a 2nd trip now.

I thought we were up to 3 now? 2 to Durham from London, and one to Barnard Castle, on a day that just so happens - complete coincidence, to be his mother's 71st birthday. I say coincidence, because we "know" that Dom didn't meet his mother whilst staying in her house. Mind, we also "know" that the police both did, and didn't, talk to anyone at the house.

Its also come out that, far from being unable to source food or any form of help in London (because that was always believable), his brother-in-law lives 2 streets away in London, as does his chief aide (I think it was chief aide)

As for questions in parliament, I wouldn't waste more than 1 - conservatives are doing a good job of splitting themselves over this already, no need to risk uniting them by adding his own attack. Just one question along the lines of "many of your cabinet colleagues have defended Mr Cummings' illegal trips to Durham on the principal that in doing so, he was just being a 'good parent'. Could Mr Johnson please confirm whether he agrees with his colleagues that other members of the public who decided to abide by travel limitations were doing so because they are 'bad parents'"

Throw a bomb, and leave it there. It boxes Boris I to either defending Cummings, Gove et al - and calling the electorate 'bad parents', or he sides with the electorate, and dumps on Cummings, and the cabinet cheerleaders.

Leaves 5 questions for other issues (including extending self-employed income support in line with furloughed workers' support, and probably bringing in company directors in there too - though I personally have less sympathy there)

I really like the question but I think if he does the slightest bit of preparation (but it's Johnson so he won't) then the answer is that there are many ways to be a good parent and unlike the opposition this government won't be prescribing one.

My stab:
1. Could the PM confirm that the advice remains that if any person has coronavirus they should isolate in their own home, along with all the members of their household, so that they do not present a risk to others.
2. The members of the household, young and old, are required to isolate because they may be infectious without knowing it, presenting a risk to others.
3. Having one of those person looked after by someone else would be particularly problematic and present a risk to others.
4. No one suffering severe coronavirus symptoms, if they had previously collapsed for example, should drive long distances as it presents a risk to others
5. If people as a whole don't follow the rules that may lead to further infections, deaths or a longer or renewed lockdown.
6. Does the PM say that the general public should follow the rules or trust their instincts?


I'd be tempted to simply ask the last question. Either you are saying fuck off plebs or you're owning the free for all.

The emphasis should be on the importance of the guidelines and the reason for them, whilst highlighting the double standard. Avoid personal attacks. Everyone knows the issue is Cummings. The comment can all be done outside the chamber. The press will report it because he doesn't name Cummings, but everyone knows and it won't be what they are expecting. Johnson will be looking to lash out at a personal attack which never comes. Repetition in the questions highlights the reason why you're asking the questions and why it shouldn't have happened.