General Chat

Ann! :-D

That's the impression I get.

maybe Professor gloom and Doctor Doom (titles can be reversed) wanted to appear on their own without the PM there to put his oar in.

Wrong fork in the track indeed.

We can't be doing with coercion in times like these. We need clear instructions, ie legislation, not advice.

It makes no sense, either, to blame citizens, the majority of whom seem to be taking heed of the advice given. In particular, I believe he is going to need the young (school-leavers to age 30-ish) to kick start the economy again so why alienate them even though we may not agree with their every action?

Not a word from the terrible twins that in large part we are in this mess because of the multiple failures in Test, track isolate. Choice of (failing) France and Spain for comparison rather than Germany which is doing far better.

Johnson stayed away because his government is riven on what to do next.
Eventually raising the CV-19 threat level to 4 and leave Hancock with the ensuing tick box actions has got Johnson off the hook for now. Or maybe not the DM is far from happy.

The government seems to be moving towards coercion and blaming the populace. Wrong fork in the track.

no.1 1970 Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fD-CstUnfw

I never saw anything other than Dan Walker question Grant S on the morning news, Belle.

It will be good to get some clarity though.

I wish they'd bring back Van Tam who told it like it was which has resulted in his 'non-appearance' ever since.

Surely, a PM being present should have increased the emphasis of the seriousness of the situation?
He could have said, at the end, something like: 'Now you have heard from the scientific experts, the situation we are in, the Government are (at last) going to follow the advice of the experts. I shall personally be attending a Cobra meeting tomorrow and will update the nation on the next step'.
It would have shown a little interest, if nothing else.

My impression was that the news conference was purposely just held by the 'men of science', without any politician involved, to emphasise the seriousness of the situation that the country now finds itself in. With them telling the public that if we do not stem this situation what the awful outcome could be.

My understanding is that Boris will be heading a Cobra meeting today based on the information provided yesterday by the 'men is science' and addressing the Nation later.

Belle, no dates mentioned by the BBC when they asked Grant S about it so it could have been any time when it would have been frowned upon.

A few dates this month have been bandied about but my impression at the time was that it was earlier - else why question him?

Well, it does seem a little inconsiderate to not bother appearing with the health experts employed by the Government, when they were outlining new Covid restrictions etc., especially as it now appears he was in Downing Street all the time, and the alleged trip was all a misunderstanding!

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/21/from-scandal-to-pr-cock-up-how-the-boris-johnson-perugia-mystery-unravelled

I think I must be missing the point here :-0. If there were no travel restrictions or quarantine required for travellers to/from Italy during the period in question, does it really matter if Boris went to Italy :-S :-)

The dates I have seen were 11th to 14th September evening on the 11th and early morning the 14th.

I saw that, Pat, but when I watched it the BBC mentioned no dates when they spoke with Grant S about it. There have been at least three dates 'thrown about' by other people, so who knows?

Whether it be true or not, I feel that someone at the BBC has the bit between his teeth - much as they did with the Dom C debacle which, as Maggie pointed out, was categorically denied until it became it impossible to refute it.

As the saying goes, we are living through interesting times (and dangerous ones too) ..... but not, I feel, a time where we should throw out the need for transparency and accountability. I don't think it is too much to expect of any government, not just a Conservative one.

It is just the anti Boris crew s**t stirring again. :-D

Westminster Cathedral is where Boris's son was baptised and it has been confirmed he was in UK at his son baptism when he was supposed to be in Italy.

Mischief making as always, probably by the Brexit remainers who won't let go

Kath, it was on BBC news this morning when the question was put to Grant S who hedged a bit (no outright denial but no confirmation either) so no one was any the wiser.

I got the impression that the inference was that the trip had been earlier so I have no idea whether it was taken during travel restrictions.

It was the first I had heard of it but I thought it was not right if such a trip had taken place during travel restrictions to Italy and bad form if it was true even though travel to Italy is allowed at the moment - not a good example to set to citizens under present circumstances and conditions.

Mischief-making or whistle-blowing! Who knows?

Also, since you mention DC, Maggie, last night the news showed him leaving No, 10, the camera following him a little way along the street. I wondered why as no questions were put to him. Now, I feel it could have been a lead-up, reminding viewers of his jaunt during lockdown - fresh in our minds when 'the Italian Job' was broken this morning. :-D

The mind works in mysterious ways. :-D

Is Italy currently on the list of quarantine countries :-S

He was alleged to have gone on 11 September, and returned on 14th - so a week before the Service.

Didn't No.10 initially deny Cummings went to Barnard Castle?

The story doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere on the BBC so I think it may possibly have no foundation.

Kath. x

I am not sure but he was at the service (It said in the DM) for battle of Britain and was in parliament on Friday. Think there was a virtual link up (zoom maybe on Saturday but he could have been anywhere doing that. However it could be just somebody in Italy trying to cause trouble who knows.