Stop voting for fucking Tories

[tabascoboy]

I'm actually starting to wonder if Starmer/Labour almost prefer having the buffoon as PM because they keep pinging off gentle barbs without showing any resolve to try and finish him off. In some ways they have a target whose flaws, shortcomings and diminishing stock in his own party means they have ample opportunity to keep putting the boot in, as opposed to someone new in the position without a track record they can yet exploit - and whom the Tory party and voters will have much more sympathy with.

Also doubt that North Shropshire will have enough of a swing away from the Tories in spite of everything with the anti Tory vote split among parties who chose not to form an electoral pact - had Labour not stood a candidate ( as they have no realistic chance there) the chances for the Lib Dems of toppling the Tories would be much higher. A by election defeat in such a Tory walk-in would only increase pressure on the shambletwat from within.

They seem bent on a low risk strategy for now.

[GogLais]

I'm actually starting to wonder if Starmer/Labour almost prefer having the buffoon as PM because they keep pinging off gentle barbs without showing any resolve to try and finish him off. In some ways they have a target whose flaws, shortcomings and diminishing stock in his own party means they have ample opportunity to keep putting the boot in, as opposed to someone new in the position without a track record they can yet exploit - and whom the Tory party and voters will have much more sympathy with.

Also doubt that North Shropshire will have enough of a swing away from the Tories in spite of everything with the anti Tory vote split among parties who chose not to form an electoral pact - had Labour not stood a candidate ( as they have no realistic chance there) the chances for the Lib Dems of toppling the Tories would be much higher. A by election defeat in such a Tory walk-in would only increase pressure on the shambletwat from within.

They seem bent on a low risk strategy for now.

At least some of the bookies had the LDs as odds-on favourites a couple of days ago. Reading between the lines it sounds as though Labour are pretty well giving the LDs a clear run.

[JM2K6]

No, they wouldn't have, as the Tories have a majority of 80. They could vote it through without Labour.

Everyone was well aware there'd be huge Tory rebellion.

Exactly. That's what gave Starmer an opportunity to try and improve the situation for many people's whose lives have been made extremely difficult and no recourse for it.

Don't really understand why (a) improving to even European average sick pay or (b) supporting restaurants/bars/cafes who have just had their month completely tanked is a bad thing for a Labour party to be interested in.

No. The Tories could not vote it through without Labour. That's the point. And on balance, voting for it was the right thing to do.

[I like neeps]

Everyone was well aware there'd be huge Tory rebellion.

Exactly. That's what gave Starmer an opportunity to try and improve the situation for many people's whose lives have been made extremely difficult and no recourse for it.

Don't really understand why (a) improving to even European average sick pay or (b) supporting restaurants/bars/cafes who have just had their month completely tanked is a bad thing for a Labour party to be interested in.

No. The Tories could not vote it through without Labour. That's the point. And on balance, voting for it was the right thing to do.

Or Johnson was sufficiently spooked to actually help the people who are totally ducked and Labour help them.

[JM2K6]

Exactly. That's what gave Starmer an opportunity to try and improve the situation for many people's whose lives have been made extremely difficult and no recourse for it.

Don't really understand why (a) improving to even European average sick pay or (b) supporting restaurants/bars/cafes who have just had their month completely tanked is a bad thing for a Labour party to be interested in.

No. The Tories could not vote it through without Labour. That's the point. And on balance, voting for it was the right thing to do.

Or Johnson was sufficiently spooked to actually help the people who are totally ducked and Labour help them.

In what form would this help take? Note that the rebellion wasn't about a lack of financial support, it's the FREEDOM!!!! wankers who are opposed to any restrictions.

Labour had a choice: vote for something good for public health, or oppose it. The fact that it's imperfect isn't the problem.

[I like neeps]

No. The Tories could not vote it through without Labour. That's the point. And on balance, voting for it was the right thing to do.

Or Johnson was sufficiently spooked to actually help the people who are totally ducked and Labour help them.

In what form would this help take? Note that the rebellion wasn't about a lack of financial support, it's the FREEDOM!!!! wankers who are opposed to any restrictions.

Labour had a choice: vote for something good for public health, or oppose it. The fact that it's imperfect isn't the problem.

Increased sick pay is obviously helpful and support for restaurants (and we're being advised not go to restaurants) is obviously helpful.

Hospitality will be helped anyway as places will presumably go to the wall with very few customers over Christmas. Just imagine Labour had brought this issue up eh.

[JM2K6]

Or Johnson was sufficiently spooked to actually help the people who are totally ducked and Labour help them.

In what form would this help take? Note that the rebellion wasn't about a lack of financial support, it's the FREEDOM!!!! wankers who are opposed to any restrictions.

Labour had a choice: vote for something good for public health, or oppose it. The fact that it's imperfect isn't the problem.

Increased sick pay is obviously helpful and support for restaurants (and we're being advised not go to restaurants) is obviously helpful.

Hospitality will be helped anyway as places will presumably go to the wall with very few customers over Christmas. Just imagine Labour had brought this issue up eh.

My point is, that wasn't up for a vote. Labour had a binary choice here. Not voting for it would've meant no restrictions - a public health disaster. With omicron doubling every 2 days, that's a huge risk. (And a huge own goal by Labour, obviously)

[I like neeps]

In what form would this help take? Note that the rebellion wasn't about a lack of financial support, it's the FREEDOM!!!! wankers who are opposed to any restrictions.

Labour had a choice: vote for something good for public health, or oppose it. The fact that it's imperfect isn't the problem.

Increased sick pay is obviously helpful and support for restaurants (and we're being advised not go to restaurants) is obviously helpful.

Hospitality will be helped anyway as places will presumably go to the wall with very few customers over Christmas. Just imagine Labour had brought this issue up eh.

My point is, that wasn't up for a vote. Labour had a binary choice here. Not voting for it would've meant no restrictions - a public health disaster. With omicron doubling every 2 days, that's a huge risk. (And a huge own goal by Labour, obviously)

It's up to the vote if you say we'll whip our MPs to support this if financial support is available to our constituents.

The press conference now they're telling people to can do plans. Financially this is going to be as bad as it's been for many restaurants. Like March 2020 when places closed and people were fired. There's obviously going to have to be support given. Imagine Labour had been proactive.

[JM2K6]

Increased sick pay is obviously helpful and support for restaurants (and we're being advised not go to restaurants) is obviously helpful.

Hospitality will be helped anyway as places will presumably go to the wall with very few customers over Christmas. Just imagine Labour had brought this issue up eh.

My point is, that wasn't up for a vote. Labour had a binary choice here. Not voting for it would've meant no restrictions - a public health disaster. With omicron doubling every 2 days, that's a huge risk. (And a huge own goal by Labour, obviously)

It's up to the vote if you say we'll whip our MPs to support this if financial support is available to our constituents.

The press conference now they're telling people to can do plans. Financially this is going to be as bad as it's been for many restaurants. Like March 2020 when places closed and people were fired. There's obviously going to have to be support given. Imagine Labour had been proactive.

Telling them to can them without having the bollocks to tell them to can them - as you say, exactly like the start of the pandemic.

If Labour had refused to vote for the binary yes/no on the Covid Plan B, and the Government had been defeated, can you imagine the chaos? It would literally cause deaths.

[Sandstorm]

Gutless again, Boris. You cunt.

[I like neeps]

My point is, that wasn't up for a vote. Labour had a binary choice here. Not voting for it would've meant no restrictions - a public health disaster. With omicron doubling every 2 days, that's a huge risk. (And a huge own goal by Labour, obviously)

It's up to the vote if you say we'll whip our MPs to support this if financial support is available to our constituents.

The press conference now they're telling people to can do plans. Financially this is going to be as bad as it's been for many restaurants. Like March 2020 when places closed and people were fired. There's obviously going to have to be support given. Imagine Labour had been proactive.

Telling them to can them without having the bollocks to tell them to can them - as you say, exactly like the start of the pandemic.

If Labour had refused to vote for the binary yes/no on the Covid Plan B, and the Government had been defeated, can you imagine the chaos? It would literally cause deaths.

Which wouldn't be Labours fault, it would either be the fault of the Tory fruitloops or the Tory government for not providing financial support for their backdoor lockdown.

On Instagram tonight 4 of the cafes/restaurants I follow freaking out with massive stock sales and pleading almost for people to come for takeaway or sit outside. One saying not sure they'll survive. Labour and Starmer could have finally made a bit of a difference. Oh well, I'm sure he looked very prime ministerial.

(I also think globally if vaccines aren't perfect we need a discussion on people will die of covid and we have to accept that).

[Margin__Walker]

Pretty open and shut for me. Labour voting against the Government on this would have been batshit. The lack of support for business is on the Government, not them.

[Happyhooker]

It's up to the vote if you say we'll whip our MPs to support this if financial support is available to our constituents.

The press conference now they're telling people to can do plans. Financially this is going to be as bad as it's been for many restaurants. Like March 2020 when places closed and people were fired. There's obviously going to have to be support given. Imagine Labour had been proactive.

Telling them to can them without having the bollocks to tell them to can them - as you say, exactly like the start of the pandemic.

If Labour had refused to vote for the binary yes/no on the Covid Plan B, and the Government had been defeated, can you imagine the chaos? It would literally cause deaths.

Which wouldn't be Labours fault, it would either be the fault of the Tory fruitloops or the Tory government for not providing financial support for their backdoor lockdown.

On Instagram tonight 4 of the cafes/restaurants I follow freaking out with massive stock sales and pleading almost for people to come for takeaway or sit outside. One saying not sure they'll survive. Labour and Starmer could have finally made a bit of a difference. Oh well, I'm sure he looked very prime ministerial.

(I also think globally if vaccines aren't perfect we need a discussion on people will die of covid and we have to accept that).

Nah mate, you've got the wrong end of the stick here. Yes, support should be put in place, but the treasury will not countenance it right now. If labour had played politics with this, boris would be beating them over the head with it forever. He's claiming that anyway, even about internal tory issues. Leaving aside the virulent left of the labour party.

There was no win here

[JM2K6]

It's up to the vote if you say we'll whip our MPs to support this if financial support is available to our constituents.

The press conference now they're telling people to can do plans. Financially this is going to be as bad as it's been for many restaurants. Like March 2020 when places closed and people were fired. There's obviously going to have to be support given. Imagine Labour had been proactive.

Telling them to can them without having the bollocks to tell them to can them - as you say, exactly like the start of the pandemic.

If Labour had refused to vote for the binary yes/no on the Covid Plan B, and the Government had been defeated, can you imagine the chaos? It would literally cause deaths.

Which wouldn't be Labours fault, it would either be the fault of the Tory fruitloops or the Tory government for not providing financial support for their backdoor lockdown.

On Instagram tonight 4 of the cafes/restaurants I follow freaking out with massive stock sales and pleading almost for people to come for takeaway or sit outside. One saying not sure they'll survive. Labour and Starmer could have finally made a bit of a difference. Oh well, I'm sure he looked very prime ministerial.

(I also think globally if vaccines aren't perfect we need a discussion on people will die of covid and we have to accept that).

Not sure how we go from "people will lose their businesses and that's awful" alongside "people will die of covid and we have to accept that" tbh.

It doesn't matter whether it's Labour's fault or not, it would be spun that way *and* they would have made a voting decision that they knew would lead to more deaths. Utterly unconscionable.

[Paddington Bear]

Gutless again, Boris. You cunt.

I forget some people want lockdowns sometimes

[sturginho]

Gutless again, Boris. You cunt.

I forget some people want lockdowns sometimes

not everyone is a tory

[JM2K6]

Plus I'm pretty sure everyone understands what it means when a press conference has the science guy basically telling everyone not to go out, not to go to parties, no to risk getting a hugely infectious disease, without actually saying don't go out and with no restrictions in place.

It means hospitality will still get fucked by cancellations but the government doesn't have to do shit to help them.

[I like neeps]

Plus I'm pretty sure everyone understands what it means when a press conference has the science guy basically telling everyone not to go out, not to go to parties, no to risk getting a hugely infectious disease, without actually saying don't go out and with no restrictions in place.

It means hospitality will still get fucked by cancellations but the government doesn't have to do shit to help them.

If only there was some form of opposition to force the issue maybe using votes and parliamentary or television speeches!

[I like neeps]

Telling them to can them without having the bollocks to tell them to can them - as you say, exactly like the start of the pandemic.

If Labour had refused to vote for the binary yes/no on the Covid Plan B, and the Government had been defeated, can you imagine the chaos? It would literally cause deaths.

Which wouldn't be Labours fault, it would either be the fault of the Tory fruitloops or the Tory government for not providing financial support for their backdoor lockdown.

On Instagram tonight 4 of the cafes/restaurants I follow freaking out with massive stock sales and pleading almost for people to come for takeaway or sit outside. One saying not sure they'll survive. Labour and Starmer could have finally made a bit of a difference. Oh well, I'm sure he looked very prime ministerial.

(I also think globally if vaccines aren't perfect we need a discussion on people will die of covid and we have to accept that).

Not sure how we go from "people will lose their businesses and that's awful" alongside "people will die of covid and we have to accept that" tbh.

It doesn't matter whether it's Labour's fault or not, it would be spun that way *and* they would have made a voting decision that they knew would lead to more deaths. Utterly unconscionable.

Because people will die of covid and as most people are double jabbed and boosted we do have to accept that. We can't lock down every winter.

I think they'd be fine regarding spin. The most hostile papers: Sun, Mail and Telegraph are vehemently anti lockdown and vaccine passports. Today the stories of hospitality are starting to cut through. Johnson can't spin a massive rebellion in any real way either. It's a missed opportunity because as said they're going to have to support hospitality businesses anyway. Captain hindsight could've got on the front foot.

[Paddington Bear]

Gutless again, Boris. You cunt.

I forget some people want lockdowns sometimes

not everyone is a tory

Not really about politics so much as the desperate attempt not to lose my mind

[Happyhooker]

I forget some people want lockdowns sometimes

not everyone is a tory

Not really about politics so much as the desperate attempt not to lose my mind

After over a decade on PR, that ship has sailed

[JM2K6]

Plus I'm pretty sure everyone understands what it means when a press conference has the science guy basically telling everyone not to go out, not to go to parties, no to risk getting a hugely infectious disease, without actually saying don't go out and with no restrictions in place.

It means hospitality will still get fucked by cancellations but the government doesn't have to do shit to help them.

If only there was some form of opposition to force the issue maybe using votes and parliamentary or television speeches!

You're so desperate to win that point that you've completely misread the post, dude.

[JM2K6]

Which wouldn't be Labours fault, it would either be the fault of the Tory fruitloops or the Tory government for not providing financial support for their backdoor lockdown.

On Instagram tonight 4 of the cafes/restaurants I follow freaking out with massive stock sales and pleading almost for people to come for takeaway or sit outside. One saying not sure they'll survive. Labour and Starmer could have finally made a bit of a difference. Oh well, I'm sure he looked very prime ministerial.

(I also think globally if vaccines aren't perfect we need a discussion on people will die of covid and we have to accept that).

Not sure how we go from "people will lose their businesses and that's awful" alongside "people will die of covid and we have to accept that" tbh.

It doesn't matter whether it's Labour's fault or not, it would be spun that way *and* they would have made a voting decision that they knew would lead to more deaths. Utterly unconscionable.

Because people will die of covid and as most people are double jabbed and boosted we do have to accept that. We can't lock down every winter.

I think they'd be fine regarding spin. The most hostile papers: Sun, Mail and Telegraph are vehemently anti lockdown and vaccine passports. Today the stories of hospitality are starting to cut through. Johnson can't spin a massive rebellion in any real way either. It's a missed opportunity because as said they're going to have to support hospitality businesses anyway. Captain hindsight could've got on the front foot.

We should lock down every winter if every winter there's a new variant that has the potential to destroy the NHS. It'd be remarkably unlucky if that were the case, but it's insane to go "well, we did it last year so we can't do it this year, and businesses are more important than lives".

The Tories are doing everything they can to avoid having to support hospitality businesses. Blaming Labour for voting for the only moral thing to do is mad.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Plus I'm pretty sure everyone understands what it means when a press conference has the science guy basically telling everyone not to go out, not to go to parties, no to risk getting a hugely infectious disease, without actually saying don't go out and with no restrictions in place.

It means hospitality will still get fucked by cancellations but the government doesn't have to do shit to help them.

If only there was some form of opposition to force the issue maybe using votes and parliamentary or television speeches!

The opposition doesn't get to force the issue, they lost. And it's in the nature of losing you instead get to follow the Government's agenda. It should worry you actually, the idea that an opposition despite gaining no democratic mandate to act in such fashion could set the agenda. And yet...

The various opposition parties are lobbying on issues such as problems faced by hospitality, though it's not obvious what the solutions should be, partly we don't know where the pandemic is leading, partly how should any support be provided and somewhat crucially funded.

[tabascoboy]

Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey!

[Biffer]

Which wouldn't be Labours fault, it would either be the fault of the Tory fruitloops or the Tory government for not providing financial support for their backdoor lockdown.

On Instagram tonight 4 of the cafes/restaurants I follow freaking out with massive stock sales and pleading almost for people to come for takeaway or sit outside. One saying not sure they'll survive. Labour and Starmer could have finally made a bit of a difference. Oh well, I'm sure he looked very prime ministerial.

(I also think globally if vaccines aren't perfect we need a discussion on people will die of covid and we have to accept that).

Not sure how we go from "people will lose their businesses and that's awful" alongside "people will die of covid and we have to accept that" tbh.

It doesn't matter whether it's Labour's fault or not, it would be spun that way *and* they would have made a voting decision that they knew would lead to more deaths. Utterly unconscionable.

Because people will die of covid and as most people are double jabbed and boosted we do have to accept that. We can't lock down every winter.

I think they'd be fine regarding spin. The most hostile papers: Sun, Mail and Telegraph are vehemently anti lockdown and vaccine passports. Today the stories of hospitality are starting to cut through. Johnson can't spin a massive rebellion in any real way either. It's a missed opportunity because as said they're going to have to support hospitality businesses anyway. Captain hindsight could've got on the front foot.

I wish I lived in that simplistic world of yours.

[Paddington Bear]

not everyone is a tory

Not really about politics so much as the desperate attempt not to lose my mind

After over a decade on PR, that ship has sailed

Exceptionally valid point

[dpedin]

So the omicron tsunami has started and at the moment it feels like we are all just standing on the beach watching the wave get bigger. 78,600 cases in UK yesterday is a pretty scary number and from what Whitty was saying yesterday it is going to get a lot, lot worse. Scientists are still working on it but reckon it is anything between 2 to 4 times more infectious than delta. Still no definitive data on how deadly it is and scientists seem split on whether it is likely to cause same or less rate of hospitalisations or deaths. It also seems to have the ability to reinfect, particularly those depending on a previous case of covid for their immunity. However evidence is there to suggest it can evade our current vaccinations although the booster does seem to make a big difference. It would appear that vaccination reduces chances of hospitalisation and death.

Bottom line is, despite the heroic efforts of NHS, the booster programme is behind the curve and many will likely get covid before their booster or before it is fully effective. We also still have c6m eligible but unvaccinated and c9.5m who are ineligible for the vaccine, mostly kids. This 15m is a huge pool for omicron to circulate in and from there infect others. Our best chance would be to try and slow down omicron as much as possible - masks, WFH, social distancing, reducing crowded large scale events, reduce household mixing, better ventilations, etc - whilst we get as many vaccinations and boosters done as possible. We are literally talking weeks to make a huge difference and save many folk from dying or contracting long covid.We should also be vaccinating kids from 5+ and really driving home the education and delivery of vaccines into the hard to reach groups of folk still to be vaccinated.

The Blonde Bumblecunt is now as much use as a chocolate fireguard. He can't impose greater PH protections because his ERG mates will not vote for him and he will have to rely on Starmer propping him up which he will find a political anathema. He can't do nothing because the scientists are telling him he has to given the PH risks the country is facing, if he does nothing he will be held accountable for the many subsequent deaths. His hands are also tied by the Treasury who are loath to spend more to prop up the leisure industry as they want to save money for the promised tax cuts in the run up to the next election plus covering up Brexit damage in January plus Sunak is playing hardball and they have already spaffed loads of dosh on failed TT&T and got their fingers burned on the ridiculous 'Eat Out ...' fiasco last summer. Throw in a by-election, partygate, forthcoming Brexit fiasco at the borders on the 1st January and he is well and truly fucked! He is paralysed by fear and will not provide the leadership we require.

The impact of omicron is already baked in, modelling suggests it will peak in mid January, and there is not much we can do to avoid it - the NHS will struggle to cope over the next 6-8 weeks and expect to see horror stories of folk not getting care they urgently require and dying due to lack of staff. if we thought the last pingdemic was bad and decimated the NHS workforce then we ain't seen nothing yet. We already have 10% vacancies in nursing in NHS, add in another 5% regular absence and it is already struggling - if we lose another 10-20% due to omicron (infections, isolating, caring for kids/elderly parents) then that means the NHS will have to cope with just 65-75% of its nursing workforce available ... impossible.

Best thing to do guys is take every PH precaution you can and don't get injured or ill ... oh and Merry Christmas!

[Tichtheid]

.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey!

I suppose the original purpose of the police was to protect the property and entitlements of the elite. So what some might describe as corruption at the heart of the Met is to others a return to traditional values

[Dogbert]

So the omicron tsunami has started and at the moment it feels like we are all just standing on the beach watching the wave get bigger. 78,600 cases in UK yesterday is a pretty scary number and from what Whitty was saying yesterday it is going to get a lot, lot worse. Scientists are still working on it but reckon it is anything between 2 to 4 times more infectious than delta. Still no definitive data on how deadly it is and scientists seem split on whether it is likely to cause same or less rate of hospitalisations or deaths. It also seems to have the ability to reinfect, particularly those depending on a previous case of covid for their immunity. However evidence is there to suggest it can evade our current vaccinations although the booster does seem to make a big difference. It would appear that vaccination reduces chances of hospitalisation and death.

Bottom line is, despite the heroic efforts of NHS, the booster programme is behind the curve and many will likely get covid before their booster or before it is fully effective. We also still have c6m eligible but unvaccinated and c9.5m who are ineligible for the vaccine, mostly kids. This 15m is a huge pool for omicron to circulate in and from there infect others. Our best chance would be to try and slow down omicron as much as possible - masks, WFH, social distancing, reducing crowded large scale events, reduce household mixing, better ventilations, etc - whilst we get as many vaccinations and boosters done as possible. We are literally talking weeks to make a huge difference and save many folk from dying or contracting long covid.We should also be vaccinating kids from 5+ and really driving home the education and delivery of vaccines into the hard to reach groups of folk still to be vaccinated.

The Blonde Bumblecunt is now as much use as a chocolate fireguard. He can't impose greater PH protections because his ERG mates will not vote for him and he will have to rely on Starmer propping him up which he will find a political anathema. He can't do nothing because the scientists are telling him he has to given the PH risks the country is facing, if he does nothing he will be held accountable for the many subsequent deaths. His hands are also tied by the Treasury who are loath to spend more to prop up the leisure industry as they want to save money for the promised tax cuts in the run up to the next election plus covering up Brexit damage in January plus Sunak is playing hardball and they have already spaffed loads of dosh on failed TT&T and got their fingers burned on the ridiculous 'Eat Out ...' fiasco last summer. Throw in a by-election, partygate, forthcoming Brexit fiasco at the borders on the 1st January and he is well and truly fucked! He is paralysed by fear and will not provide the leadership we require.

The impact of omicron is already baked in, modelling suggests it will peak in mid January, and there is not much we can do to avoid it - the NHS will struggle to cope over the next 6-8 weeks and expect to see horror stories of folk not getting care they urgently require and dying due to lack of staff. if we thought the last pingdemic was bad and decimated the NHS workforce then we ain't seen nothing yet. We already have 10% vacancies in nursing in NHS, add in another 5% regular absence and it is already struggling - if we lose another 10-20% due to omicron (infections, isolating, caring for kids/elderly parents) then that means the NHS will have to cope with just 65-75% of its nursing workforce available ... impossible.

Best thing to do guys is take every PH precaution you can and don't get injured or ill ... oh and Merry Christmas!

FFS - Dpedin , you can't use words like Tsunami - your going to panic the country

Can I suggest 'Mild ripple' or 'Gentle Increase'

[petej]

Not really about politics so much as the desperate attempt not to lose my mind

After over a decade on PR, that ship has sailed

:lol: :lol:

Exceptionally valid point

I think the constant messaging by threats and fear is both counter productive and bad for people's health. It is disappointing that all areas of the political spectrum seem to have caught this. There is also a desperate want to show total control over a virus.

I'm actually cautiously optimistic on omicron. The data from SA is actually looking very positive (outside of case numbers) as is the message coming from SA hospitals and medical officials.

I've had it, I know loads of people who have had it. The fear in messaging is unnecessary and you can tell a lot of the public has tuned out. Be honest, for the vast majority of the population (>99%) this isn't a threat (particularly post vaccination) and you are going catch it multiple times in your lifetime. The only reason for restrictions currently is to manage demands on the health service. It isn't like march 2020 or December 2020.

[JM2K6]

I fucking knew you were going to be one of those "COVID isn't that bad, it's just fearmongering" types.

[robmatic]

I fucking knew you were going to be one of those "COVID isn't that bad, it's just fearmongering" types.

The risk when catching the disease is dramatically different compared to what it was 12 months ago though. Surely that's worth acknowledging?

[Calculon]

I forget some people want lockdowns sometimes

not everyone is a tory

Not really about politics so much as the desperate attempt not to lose my mind

I’m not surprised you feel like you're losing your mind, most of your media and politicians are hysterical about Omicron. So much for “keep calm and carry on”.

[JM2K6]

I fucking knew you were going to be one of those "COVID isn't that bad, it's just fearmongering" types.

The risk when catching the disease is dramatically different compared to what it was 12 months ago though. Surely that's worth acknowledging?

We don't actually know that right now. There's a reason why Whitty cautioned against making statements based on SA's experience. The risk of catching the disease is far higher, though - that's without question.

"COVID isn't a problem for 99% of people who get it" is the same insane shit people were coming out with at the start of the pandemic.

[sturginho]

[Margin__Walker]

Thick as mince

[petej]

I fucking knew you were going to be one of those "COVID isn't that bad, it's just fearmongering" types.

The risk when catching the disease is dramatically different compared to what it was 12 months ago though. Surely that's worth acknowledging?

We don't actually know that right now. There's a reason why Whitty cautioned against making statements based on SA's experience. The risk of catching the disease is far higher, though - that's without question.

"COVID isn't a problem for 99% of people who get it" is the same insane shit people were coming out with at the start of the pandemic.

I had a zero/minimal COVID position till around this April/post vaccination drive. We do actually know the risk is substantially reduced when catching it thanks to prior infection and/or vaccination. The lifting of restrictions was going to be messy and you could tell this as the symptoms shifted to more general cold symptoms (Zoe tracker info) and variants it was going be harder to manage. I also realised as a parent of a young child in nursery 3 days a week he was going to get it and I was likely to as well.

The only reason to bring in restrictions is to control the flow of people needing treatment. Another concern is that too many nhs staff will be off at the same time.

[sturginho]

Thick as mince

That's very unfair to the mince