Can the 'lockdown' work much longer?

[jeff oakley]

As far as I can see Cummings has broken no laws and with an Autistic child did what I would have done, made sure if my wife or I could not cope someone was there he knew to look after him.

What is interesting is how so many in the media and the civil service want him gone, they have never forgiven him for his part in the Brexit vote and the civil service in particular do not like being told what to do.

I have seen lots on Facebook where they haven't read past "stay at home" yet still feel because they think they would not do it then they think he should go, media sound bites is what they listen to.

Now Cheltenham, over the whole event there was over 250,000 attended and around 5000 each day working there. There was not an explosion of cases directly from there or in the Cheltenham area so the decision to allow it to go ahead was correct. And as many of you will know a big section of the crowd come from Ireland for the event and they have had just 1600 deaths and 25000 confirmed cases so overall very small and from what I can find out no one there is claiming Cheleteham as a source.

And this is the problem with figures, predictions of 500000 dead in the UK, was quickly downgraded to 250000 and as we move through this the measurements get more accurate and show a different picture emerging but those with a view which differs will always enter into the "whatabouts" with no evidence to proove their case.

In the main the NHS was not overwhelmed, in a few hotspots it got near but the Nightingale hospitals still remain there but unused. They are trying to restart normal procedures by having a hot hospital, covid cases and a cold one, normal work. For example Solihull will be the cold one and Heartlands or QE will be the hot one as people are dying because they cancelled everything and there is a real need to get back.

And finally the lockdown, I always thought they got it spot on timewise. Unless we got troops on the street a lockdown requires agreement between the public and the authorities and the length would be finite. We can see that the public have not seen the effects of the pandemic predicted and their patience has run thin, It is alright for those of us on full pay with nice gardens to sit in being happy to be off until September but imagine a 1 bed flat with no outdoors being allowed out an hour a day? Prison reformers moan about that.

The weather hasn't helped. With no prospects of a trip abroad and this unusually nice weather it was always going to end this way regardless of what Cummings did.

We need this lock down to end with some form of control not as is happening here with a breaking down free for all. We need the economy back and working and deal with any spikes as they come, which will happen lockdown or not to stop people losing their jobs and homes before it is too late.

I am sure many will disagree with my views but no one will know who is right until a long time after this has finished, if it ever does

[Captain Colonial]

1 hour ago, Arm said:

However I will be quite clear its your right to follow whichever  guideline you wish  and it's my right to exercise what is right and correct in my household.

It’s not a question of rights.  I may have a choice but it’s Hobson’s.  If I step out somewhere and someone infected rounds the corner into my path, it could prove fatal to me.  When the people who ask you to make sacrifices and set guidelines blatantly ignore them by using loopholes and citing “exceptional circumstances” which are nothing like exceptional when many thousands are in the same situation, they are pulling my plonker and currently, not even Lady Colonial is permitted to do that.

[Arm]

Please don't go out then Capt. I'm sorry to hear your situation. The UK will return to some form of  normality in the future. I think my wife would have gone mad if she hadn't been able to get out and away from the nhs same as for many front line workers and we were encouraged to do show. For many it is the best way to stay fit and healthy and fight the virus. For many it's the only immunity they will get. You need to be looking towards a vaccine.

[Steve (sdh2903)]

Ash you stated it was acceptable  to test your fitness to drive, I countered with several examples and asked if you deemed that acceptable. I'm not sure why that isn't a balanced discussion or why your taking it personally? 

 

I'm 99% certain that it will be written down somewhere in your license terms that its the driver's responsibility to determine if fit to drive. And i doubt it will allow a trial run to test on the public highway. A car with a driver who's unfit through drink, drugs, illness or anything else can be just as devastating as a loaded gun. 

 

But we are digressing because we are debating the excuse given.

 

Mr Cummins is clearly and obviously a very clever individual. You don't get to be pulling the strings of the prime minister if your not. But, in my view he's just done exactly what politicians get flamed for, they think they are superior and take the public for idiots. 

 

Do I believe him when he says he went up to Durham for the reasons given? Yes I do. I cant see why else he would have gone.

 

Do I believe he was 'trialling' his driving for 30 miles each way? Not a prayer. Id have accepted if he'd said we went down to the river at Barnard Castle for our daily exercise.

 

But he couldn't have said that as

 

A) that would have broken his own guidelines by not exercising close to home

 

B) And for that he would have been wrong and would have had to apologise. Which from what I saw no matter what was said today he was never going to apologise or admit he was wrong. 

 

And let's not forget for the last couple of days senior government have clearly stated that this second sighting was 'palpably false' now it happens to be true? 

 

Anyway I'm done with the lot of them. Beer is calling 🍺

[Alan France]

I fully support Boris and Dominic and would prefer the media to report the news, rather than try and drive their own agenda. Listened to Alistair Campbell on Sky, what rubbish, given the spin and “untruths” during his period in Number 10.

[Steve (sdh2903)]

13 minutes ago, Alan France said:

would prefer the media to report the news, rather than try and drive their own agenda.

 

Which would be much easier if senior members of the government didn't leave themselves wide open to it.

[Arm]

Ok Steve the killing a child is a massive red rag to me and not a great comparison I toned down my response once before submitting... So let's get back onto a decent and fair conversation.

I didn't like his explanation either for the drive but it was my wife who was balanced and should be at least considered. Do I believe him in that..... I'm not sure but he gave the right answer and clearly was within the legislation. I've read over it a few times trying to catch blatman out !. There isnt much to it . Maybe he drove with a headache like we have all done or dodgy guts like we have all done. Obviously and absolutely should not drive if clearly unfit under influence of drugs or alcohol and we all know that. I've tested people with one arm with poor hearing with disabilities and even people who didn't think they were safe and were some of the best drivers . I was in an accident and paralysed my arm for a long time. I was still permitted after a test to drive as many people with disabilities are so there are all types of acceptable  examples and tests you can do yourself or with others.  And clearly he didn't kill anyone.  But I digress. I understood  the barnard castle trip was clelarified by him but he refuted further return trips to Durham ? Or was I mistaken.  And to be fair the police will know exactly where he is. As they do you and I if they want to !!

Beer is a good idea Steve  well maybe aussie shiraz . I'll save the beer for when you are buying. We all square now ?

[Steve (sdh2903)]

He said it was his eyesight. Which means it was an offence to drive full stop. 

 

9 minutes ago, Arm said:

I'll save the beer for when you are buying. We all square now ?

 

Sounds like a plan 

[wizzer]

Cant ever remember stopping at the side of the road on the way home to let my son out for a wee and thinking I'll just have a walk round this wood😂

Load of💩

 

[Arm]

I picked up on that and I bet he wish he hadn't said it. I would suspect he will tone that one down to tired or sore eyes if questioned further. I'm sure that will definately get analysed and to be fair if he was wrong to drive he should be dropped right in the ****.

Partial to a wainwrights please. 

[Arm]

My summary for  light hearted debate.

 

Durham police released a statement 1 minute after they thought DC had started. Don't know the full ins and outs but seemed very dodgy by them and supported DC claims ? They hoped to bury it somewhere. 

 

DC delayed start to p*** off the press.

 

Most of his story was plausable .

 

Bernard Castle trip I didn't really believe.

 

Additional trips denied and the press dropped that like a red hot rivet.

 

He came across better than I thought he would.

 

I don't mind if this changes anyone's view or not but good fun for a debate ?

 

[Blatman]

1 hour ago, Arm said:

I've read over it a few times trying to catch blatman out !

 

That's gotta hurt...   

[Arm]

Ok catch you out for the 2nd time in a week ! 

 

Ok Son ?

[Blatman]

4 minutes ago, Arm said:

Ok catch you out for the 2nd time in a week ! 

 

Ok Son ?

 

All good here thanks dad. You and Mom OK?

[Arm]

Yes thanks. She has had an early night,  just gone up . Back working in the pharmacy tomorrow. At least that has settled a bit in recent weeks . Was grim at the start of CV outbreak. Not sure if id have managed as well as she did. She doesn't watch the news which I think helps ! I'm sat there ranting at the BBC and Laura.