Lockdown continues in Scotland until 28 may 2020.

[Rab (bombero) Reid]

1 hour ago, CraigHew said:

Boris is PM of UK not England.....

I agree, and therefore, he should take into consideration the issues of each and every country of the UK.

 

The science has shown him that Scotland and Wales (I'm unsure of the R value in NI at the moment so can't include) are still on the increase. Those nations have said that they need to, not want but need to, remain in lockdown. As the PM for the UK, he should lead by example and state that as not all of the UK is behind the curve, then we all remain in lockdown.

 

He's clearly not chosen to support the entire UK, and his message is clearly one of, "well it's up to them"! What a way to demonstrate unity, by abandoning a unified approach..

[Steve (sdh2903)]

3 hours ago, Arm said:

Furlough until October so Boris is still trying to fill the pockets of his mates Don  ?

I don't agree with furlough. I know what the attitude around here is. "Oh good I didn't want to work and what I'm saving by not travelling I'm no worse off"

 

Just hope those still working will be ready to pay for it.

 

I find that a disgusting post.

 

I'm currently working 1 month on 2 months on furlough so that all of us who arent shielding can have a fair crack at working. There's a tiny financial difference between working and furlough as we'd already agreed to reduced contract/working hours.

 

I HATE being furloughed. Its made me feel useless and feel properly guilty for taking a handout. I've worked since I was 13 and full time since 16. Only ever had 2 days off sick in 21 years. I enjoy working and providing for my family. Even though I've paid shed loads of tax over the years, I still feel guilty on effectively taking government money. However the simple fact is its keeping the kids fed and the lights on. As it is for everyone else I know who is furloughed who are also itching to get back to work. 

 

 

[Steve (sdh2903)]

6 hours ago, Robert (bombero) said:

Umm, it's England that's behaving differently from the rest of the UK, mate .. Scotland, Wales and NI are all still in lockdown.

 

I never said they weren't. The fact of the matter is that prior to COVID-19. Mrs sturgeon would go against anything Westminster said just because. Because she's obsessed with independence.

 

I have never liked her or her attitude. However I find myself agreeing with her more in the past couple of weeks. She's being clear and concise and not continuing to waffle like a certain Mr Johnson.

 

And if I was a leader of a devolved government, who were all supposed to be working as a team and finding out changes of policy and slogan in the Sunday papers, I'm not sure id be too impressed either. Whoever is in charge of boris's communications needs to find alternative employment.

[Arm]

Sorry Steve it's not a dig at the genuine and I'm sure there are plenty. I find it disgusting we allegedly want to get people back to work to furnish the riches pockets.

I also know many who are taking advantage and thats annoying me having worked all my life with no time off . I'm losing as my contract work has gone and I don't get furlough. So it's not that fair and I can't change my view.

[jeff oakley]

I think as with all things when something serious happens it brings out the best and the worst in people. I know a few people who are happy now that they can play golf and fish whilst being paid 80% to stay at home. Some are teachers who had already decided to be off until September, others from all walks. I also know many do want to come back to work but they are fearful of all the tales of death when 9% of people get well quickly.

 

Read facebook and see the comments there.

 

As for Scotland I can understand the feeling of people up there, it is the same as those in Cornwall who want to keep people out, it is the fear is actually greater than the disease. 

 

At work what has been said is that employers should make reasonable adjustments to allow work and where possible to enforce social distancing, but the reality is many jobs are impossible to do. construction is a clear example but as they have said PPE being worn is fine to carry on. 

As to who is responsible, first an individual would have to prove they caught it at work and not from the post or shopping etc. We have been working and provided PPE and sanitiser for our staff and none have had the virus even in the London, so there is no reason to suspect anything might change.

 

There has been an element of political point scoring going on, both Sturgeon and Starmer have been fully briefed by number 10 at every stage and it does appear a certain person has deliberately said different after the briefing where the scientific evidence is shown and an outline given.

 

It appears many just want Boris to say on Thursday we will do this, on Friday something else, but what he said was these are what he wants to do if and when the R rate is below 1 consistently and going down. From what I see in Scotland the R rate is below one and if you took out Glasgow and Edinburgh is even lower.

 

People will never agree because sadly there is so much misinformation being touted as fact. The cartoon of the woman on facebook is so true. A guy I know is an expert in epidemiology and works in research, it is funny when he is explaining facts to people who are telling him he hasn't got a clue on Facebook as they heard it was fact that blah blah.

 

We need lockdown to end as soon as possible as the damage being done to cancer patients, mental health, social standing and individuals livelihood has to be taken into account as well and only those with all the facts can make that decisions. It is times like this we need to pull together, too many want to go their own ways which is not helpful. 

 

This virus is going to be with us until a vaccine is found, no country can survive what we are going through forever, we need to find ways to live with it.

 

[Arm]

Good post Jeff. I've just been with my mate a big construction  builder. He has work and in most cases safe work they can progress. The unsafe items they are working out plans but don't work on at the moment. But he is struggling to get the lads back in for even the safe jobs as they are quite happy at home . Its killing him. Its not ideal and it's just another one of the problems we all face.

[Steve (sdh2903)]

22 minutes ago, Arm said:

But he is struggling to get the lads back in for even the safe jobs as they are quite happy at home . Its killing him. Its not ideal and it's just another one of the problems we all face

 

The major issue to getting people back to work is childcare. If your not a key worker you can't access schooling. Theres no childcare available and its not like you can ask the grandparents to stand in.

 

If it is a genuine case of people taking the p*** then I'd hope on hope that employers would clamp down and stop claiming furlough on their behalf. 

[Arm]

Sounds like they are objecting to everything and anything that's suggested for safe working. 

[Blatman]

7 hours ago, Robert (bombero) said:

He's clearly not chosen to support the entire UK, and his message is clearly one of, "well it's up to them"! What a way to demonstrate unity, by abandoning a unified approach..

 

But Scotland doesn't want a unified approach. They want to make their own decisions and as far as I can see that is what is happening. Scotland are not being forced to adopt the new guidelines, despite their choice to remain part of the UK.

 

So the unified approach isn't right for Scotland because they don't want to be run by Westminster but Boris saying "OK it's up to you" is somehow wrong as well. 

 

I'm confused...

 

[XTR2Turbo]

I guess the merits or otherwise of the furlough scheme will partly he seen in the speed of any recovery when it comes if it has kept business going.  I am sceptical. I think it has been a bit too generous at 80% and there should have been more need to show business has been impacted as i understand they have required in Germany. I think from the outset the scheme should have allowed a model of limited working as I believe the scheme has in many cases accelerated businesses closing and is delaying a return to work.  I know this is not the case for some that are forced to close but 7.5m are not employed in retail and hospitality and travel sectors. It does seem skewed compared to what self employed or small company directors are being given. What’s perhaps more scary is the nhs is still costing more to run a month than give or take 80% of the wage bill for 25% of the workforce. That can’t be sustainable either. 

[Arm]

Am I the only one who can accept Cumbria or Cornwall or Scotland or Wales want to maintain travel restrictions ? So what if this remains for a few more weeks in some areas.

[jeff oakley]

There is a problem with giving choice to local officials. Lets take Scarborough and Whitby as an example. The council has posted do not come to those two areas to walk and exercise as there are no cafe's open, no toilets open.

 

Now in the 50 page briefing it says public toilets can and should be open. Councils were not allowed to Furlough staff, rate payers have had no reduction in their rates for services cut, so what have these council workers with nothing to do been doing. And if I had a takeaway or coffee shop who working within rules could open safely why am I being barred from doing so when a garden centre is open for visitors in that town?

 

It is local officials who are pandering to a vocal group who are wanting to keep anyone not from their town out. It is totally irrational to stop people opening legally by sending out such messages. Also the police seem to be getting caught in the cross fire, government says people can travel to exercise and have a picnic, they are being told by local police chiefs, no doubt at the behest of local politicians, to stop people coming here.

[DonPeffers]

22 hours ago, Arm said:

Furlough until October so Boris is still trying to fill the pockets of his mates Don  ?

 

 

I am not sure if I am the Don you refer to but if so can you please clarify and I will try to answer.

 

Cheers.

[Arm]

DonPeffers no not you apols for confusion. 

 

Jeff we have been out walking  in the Staffordshire moorland today. Didn't see any cafes open and no toilets up there anyway.  Have read some of the guidelines but not all. Wonder if the 'can and should' be open is arbitrary? Was it 'must' anywhere ?. We didn't expect to see much open up that quickly. 

[Blatman]

1 hour ago, Arm said:

Wonder if the 'can and should' be open is arbitrary? Was it 'must' anywhere ?.

 

Don't confuse government minister or PM warblings with what they say is allowed to what is really allowed by LAW.

Hospitality must remain closed. That includes cafes/restaurants etc but there's bound to be the occasional snack bar popping up for take-away snacks.

Driving any distance for exercise was always allowed as was driving any distance to go shopping for essentials, despite what the actions of the police seem to say.

 

Retail can look to open from June 1st IF conditions allow following the current back to work experiment. Judging by the crowds photographed on the tube I'm already expecting a spike in infections by this time next week as people ignore social distancing. There's a Darwinism joke to be made here though...

 

As mentioned on page 3 by Jeff, councils and their workers were not furloughed, nor was there a break offered in council tax so council run amenities should be open for business as (the new) normal. Yes customers MUST be subject to social distancing but that hasn't changed since day 1.

So the parks and the bogs should be open, green bins should have always been collected and recycling centres open along with whatever council amenity venue that would be useful.