I'm not at all sure what to make of it all. Holby City is donating ventilators to the NHS. The police in Cambridgeshire were checking Tesco's non-essential food aisles. There's not enough PPE for the NHS but it's their fault for using too much. Kids in front rooms are making PPE. A government minister gets caught driving miles to visit his parents and there's no questions asked. The Home Secretary refuses six times to appear at a Select Committee and gets away with it. MP's get an extra £10,000 for working at home, 'but they might give some to staff'. Parliament is on holiday and nobody is sure when they will return. Stanley Johnson phones in from his holiday home, but gets no questions as to how he managed that? And the Prime Minister is clearly going to be out of action for some time. This from yesterday amplifies a few points:-
Telegraph raises an interesting point (well, it seems to until the paywall shuts it down):
"When Dominic Raab faced questions this week about his authority to order a “change of direction” in Government, he was able to hide behind the fact that the issue was, at that point, largely hypothetical. Not any more. Robert Jenrick’s decision to drive 150 miles to his second home during the lockdown - and make an 80-mile round trip to his parents’ home - means someone must decide whether he should be fired as Housing Secretary.
Only on Sunday, Scotland’s chief medical officer resigned over an almost identical lapse of judgement after it became clear her position was untenable. Yet acting prime minister Mr Raab cannot sack the Housing Secretary: he lacks the formal powers vested in the Prime Minister, such as the ability to appoint and sack ministers..."
The Mirror says:
"No10 today said travelling hundreds of miles from work in London to return to the family home - even if one has a home in London too - is "essential travel". The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I think the Secretary of State has set out in two different statements the reasons for the journeys which he made. We are confident he complied with the social distancing rules." Asked to confirm No10 did not believe Mr Jenrick did anything wrong, the spokesman replied: "Correct. As I say, he set out the reasons for the journeys which he made and we are confident he complied with the rules."
Note: the words of "the Prime Minister's official spokesman", NOT Raab. So how was Raab or the Cabinet protected from having to answer questions about Jenrick? And why is Jenrick being so carefully protected?
1. Raab wasn't there.
2. The staged media hour requires questions to be submitted in advance, which are then chosen by No.10
3. The videolink allows the chairing minister to cut off whoever he/she chooses.
4. Presumably Jenrick is part of the chumocracy.
Also, did anyone else note the familiar tone creeping in to today's briefing as Hancock began introducing the notion of blaming NHS staff for being profligate with their PPE, for not following "new government guidance"? Remember the NPS guidance which hung probation staff out to dry by saying breaches of social distancing were individual officers' responsibilities.
The Govt's PPE supply chain isn't working - it's never been there in sufficient quantity - but now they're looking to blame NHS staff. Apportioning blame to anyone else they can, especially to easy targets, is a red flag Tory trait when things are getting tight. And who noticed Hancock *totally ignore* the question about palliative care patients being denied oxygen in order to keep the supply 'live' for covid-19 patients? They're looking ropier than ropey...
There are rules; and there are rules.
ReplyDeleteEqually divisive, there's Tory rule and Tory rules.
When the pigs take control they move into the farmhouse and sleep in beds:
"You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see [Corbyn] back?"
There is no excuse for the lack of PPE being made available to NHS staff... Or the rest of us for that matter!
ReplyDeleteGas Masks
Gas masks were issued to all British civilians at the start of World War Two. There was a very real fear in Britain that Nazi German bombers would drop poison gas bombs. Therefore, all civilians were issued with gas masks. The bombing of Guernica in the Spanish Civil War had shown what could happen when bombers got through. The government had planned for tens of thousands of deaths in London alone. An advisor to the government – Liddell Hart – told the government to expect 250,000 deaths in the first week of the war alone.
At the start of the war some citizens had not been issued with a gas mask. In a government document “If war should come” (issued to people in July 1939), the explanation for this was that district leaders might have decided to keep gas masks in storage until they decided that an emergency situation had developed. However, the public was told to tell their local Air Raid Warden if they had not been issued with a gas mask and neighbours had. It was the responsibility of air raid wardens to ensure that everybody had been issued with a gas mask.
Babies had special gas masks made for them which would only be issued if an emergency situation arose – see above photo. Children were issued with what became known as “Mickey Mouse” gas masks – the nickname was an attempt by the government to make the gas masks seem less scary.
The Ministry of Home Safety issued advice on how to put on a gas mask :
Hold your breath
Hold mask in front of face with thumbs inside straps
Thrust chin well forward into mask, pull straps over head as far as they will go
Run finger round face piece taking care head straps are not twisted.
If out of doors people were advised to turn up their jacket collar to stop gas drifting down their necks and to put on gloves or put hands in pockets to stop open skin being hit by gas.
After the Blitz had ended, carrying around a gas mask became less and less important in the mind of the public.
A useful reminder that one of the first duties of any government is the protection of its citizens and it's quite likely history (and enquiry) will record that our government was wanting and failed in that duty during the current emergency.
DeleteOne small correction - it was the Ministry of Home Security 1939-1945
Johnson will know that as a war follower of Churchill. Although bonson is no Churchill despite his mockery of the real war leader instead bonson has already cost this country thousands of lives in his delay to shut schools stop the gold cup and rugger. He failed to protect us before his Tories money bags gang. He debunked to hospital with the virus and we hope he has learned yet I doubt it. Already protecting the housing minister cheat. Bonson won't learn and this country has yet to understand the Tories will see the poorer off dead than share the wealth create decent homes with gardens and protect all our people. Money first .
Delete... and probation workers still being forced to meet with offenders in probation offices and on their doorsteps, are still being advised to simply ‘wash their hands’ !
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with this one; although they’ll probably be no delivery slots and in any case I’m convinced first world governments collectively want to kill off 30% of the world’s population !
“Anonymous11 April 2020 at 09:41
There is no excuse for the lack of PPE being made available to NHS staff... Or the rest of us for that matter!
Gas Masks
Gas masks were issued to all British civilians at the start of World War Two. “
"To prepare for this crisis, the British government decided that every man, woman and child must have their own respirator - or gas mask - for protection against such an attack. The manufacture of these masks was no easy task – excluding the masks required for the armed services and those required for civilian services like the ARP and Fire Service, the government still needed to produce close to 38 million masks. The contract was given to a factory in Lancashire, and production started in earnest in 1938."
DeleteDid Napo share this with members? Or take it into consideration when negotiating that staff can go to work?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-prisons-and-other-prescribed-places-of-detention-guidance/covid-19-prisons-and-other-prescribed-places-of-detention-guidance
Guidance
COVID-19: prisons and other prescribed places of detention (PPDs) guidance
Updated 26 March 2020
"Custodial or healthcare staff in close contact with confirmed or suspected cases:
Staff should minimise any non-essential contact with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. For activities requiring close contact with a possible case, for example, interviewing people at less than 2 metres distance, or arrest and restrain, PHE advises that the minimum level of PPE that custodial and escort staff should wear is:
disposable gloves
fluid repellent surgical face mask
if available, a disposable plastic apron and disposable eye protection (such as face visor or goggles) should also be worn"
"Frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your standard cleaning products. Bleach-based disinfectant products (such as Titan-Chlor tablets) are recommended in PPDs for disinfection."
Govt state explicitly:
Delete"1.57Whilst it is our top priority to ensure that those working in health and care settings are supplied with the PPE they need, we clearly recognise the need to ensure supplies to organisations and sectors with a critical role to play in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak. For example, we have provided emergency supplies of PPE to prison services and to the court service in line with the guidance."
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879117/Coronavirus__COVID-19__-_personal_protective_equipment__PPE__plan.pdf
Napo’s advice is merely;
DeleteArrangements for seeing clients in contact centres [and between colleagues in the workplace] must include social distancing and hand hygiene.
Napo advice serves to indicate a no objection on behalf of its membership. Napo are tools of management nos to facilitate not broker agreements . It is a balancing act a facade of having authority members interests when actually they have no collective bargaining power recognition or authority. Napo is a puppet now having lost it way with the current myopic and disasterous leader.
DeleteSo for clarity, Government Guidance is:
Delete"For activities requiring close contact with a possible case, for example, interviewing people at less than 2 metres distance, Public Health England advises that THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF PPE that staff should wear is:
* disposable gloves
* fluid repellent surgical face mask
* if available, a disposable plastic apron and disposable eye protection (such as face visor or goggles) should also be worn"
Are NPS & CRC employers adhering to PHE Guidance?
Is NAPO (& associated unions) holding employers to account?
How long before someone sues a probation provider for exposing them to infection?
And who would be surprised when that responsibility was passed on & laid at the door of the member of staff who saw them?
Who has their own public liability insurance?
Does Napo provide this cover as part of membership?
Imagine becoming infected with COVID-19, sharing it with your family, then being faced with a lawsuit blaming you for infecting a case you supervised without PPE, while your employer holds their hands up & your union shrugs their shoulders.
NPS spokesperson two weeks ago with get-out-clause number 1:
Delete"Probation officers will be expected to maintain the two metre "social distance" as they conduct their interviews to assess the progress of the offenders' probation."
I still want to know what was in the 'lovely email' - it must have been particularly especially luvverly if its such a closely guarded secret and you're all so happy to go to work without PPE.
DeleteMaybe they've promised to pay you even more money but sworn you to secrecy as it will upset the CRC staff? Or perhaps they've just agreed to give you the pay you have been entitled to & they've been illegally withholding, but having been so cowed for so long you simply think that's 'lovely'.
It probably won't cover the damages & costs of a law suit.
I've had something on my mind for awhile now, and I wonder if someone could clarify it for me, and it's this.
DeleteProbation was brought under the banner of HMPPS in April 2017. Did that amalgamation see probation being governed by the same rules for taking industrial action as prison officers?
'Getafix
The restriction on striking only applies to prison officers, as set out in section 127 of Public Order Act(1994).
DeleteThe public are being advised to keep distance of at least 6ft 6in from each other.
ReplyDeleteBut study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is too small.
The gap needs to be four times bigger, at around 26 feet.
The highly contagious coronavirus is spread via droplets in the air.
Here they go, they gently paved the way for it yesterday, but Tory shitheads, having been caught out & unable to keep a lid on it, are on the offensive now:
ReplyDelete"Do not overuse PPE, says UK health secretary -
There have been cases where medical workers have used more personal protective equipment (PPE) than necessary, the UK health secretary has said, after a doctor's union warned that many doctors were not getting the equipment they need.
"I don't want to impugn blame on people who have used more PPE than the guidelines suggest because I understand the difficulties in the circumstances," he said."
Next will be naming & shaming of nurses who used more than one pair of gloves...
"There's a possibility" that COVID-19 primarily spreads via fluid particles less than 0.0002 inches (5 microns) in diameter, known as aerosols, which can be emitted when people SPEAK, said William Ristenpart, a professor of chemical engineering at University of California, Davis. "We just don't know," he said.
ReplyDeleteBoris Johnson is now out of intensive care and seems likely to make a full recovery.
ReplyDeleteYet I remember the PM visiting hospitals, shaking hand with doctors, nurses and even Covid19 patients.
He obviously had little fear of contagion and becoming infected himself.
I then look at the behaviour of some other politicians. Jennick and Patel mentioned in today's post. They seem to be promoting the notion that if you're part of the class that makes the rules, then you don't belong to the class that have to abide by the rules. They make the rules for us not themselves.
I then think back to Johnsons apparant lack of fear whilst visiting hospitals and shaking hands and I wonder.
Did he feel protected because of his good health, regular exercise and having no underlying health conditions?
Or perhaps his sense of personal safety came from a sense of omnipotence, born from some belief that his polital status and the power that he holds was enough to protect him all harm?
I think many of our politicians have developed and omnipotent attitude in today's world. Romans in the Senate, do as I say, not as I do, I'll take £10,000 if I want to, and how dare you question the powerful.
Whatever the political landcape looks like post pandamic, our politicians need to be reminded that they're elected to represent us, not to rule us. Their Parliamentry seat is not their personal Throne. Their obligations are to the public, not themselves or their own.
'Getafix
A further 917 coronavirus-related hospital deaths have been reported in the UK.
ReplyDeleteIt brings the total number of deaths to 9,875, as of 17:00 BST on Friday.
Finally further support offered for DA victims during this period!
ReplyDeleteYes nice PR stunt for the Tories.
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52255092
"What is needed now, more than ever, is to ensure every woman experiencing domestic abuse is aware of the confidential support available."
... because only women suffer domestic abuse !
*rollseyes*
Agree, there is a need for inclusion. Men continue to be excluded.
DeleteAt least Patel acknowledged there needs to be an apology:
ReplyDeleteHer answer: that she was “sorry if people feel there have been failings”.
Same old passive/aggressive shit from the Tory bullies.
Not "sorry there have been failings"
Not "sorry we got it wrong"
But:
Sorry **YOU** think its wrong; we're not wrong, but I am sorry that you think that way.
Usual Tory Bullshit.
Just the perfect template HMPPS/NPS & privateer CRCs needed to model their management techniques on.
And this back-covering is exactly what our justice ministers and HMPPS directors will do when probation workers die from the virus because they refused to provide full PPE or shut all buildings. So think again before you put your life on the line so that your directors can keep their “business as usual” train on the track to oblivion.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52252470
“ On Friday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was enough kit for everyone and unveiled a plan to address shortages.
He said the government was looking into how NHS staff who had died with the virus had been infected - adding that some may have caught it outside of work.”
Meantime Jenrick is "cleared of any wrong-doing" and police will not pursue any action DESPITE his utterly fantastical bullshit, which even caused disquiet in Tory faithfuls The S** & Daily Fail:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8209225/Robert-Jenrick-faces-fresh-claims-broke-lockdown-rules-Herefordshire-home-holiday-home.html
A Government source confirmed Mr Jenrick had 'moved his family to his second home'.
"Mr Jenrick is understood to have claimed his family moved to Herefordshire on March 20, before lockdown rules were announced.
The 38-year-old faced controversy when he ran for his Newark seat in a 2014 by-election... He presented himself as a 'father, local man, son of a secretary and small businessman and state primary school-educated' candidate.
His party CV omitted to say he went to a £13,000-a-year private secondary school. At the time, he promised to move his family to Newark, saying he was 'almost sure' he would sell the Herefordshire house... declining to mention his and his City lawyer wife's £6million property portfolio, which includes a £2.3million flat in Marylebone, central London.
Despite also having a rented property in his constituency, which he bills taxpayers £2,000 a month for, locals have told the Mail they do not see him as much as they would like. Last night Mr Jenrick declined requests for further comment.
On Thursday he told the Mail: 'My house in Herefordshire is the place I, my wife and my young children consider to be our family home and my family were there before any restrictions on travel were announced.
'I have been working in London... putting in place the system to shield the group most vulnerable to coronavirus.
'Once I was able to work from home it was right I went home to do so and be with my wife and help care for my three young children.
'I will be staying at my family home until Government advice changes or if I am needed in person in Westminster before the parliamentary session resumes after the Easter recess.'
Neighbours at the £1.1million Herefordshire residence insisted they rarely saw him. One said: 'We might see him on the odd weekend but the family are not even here every weekend, let alone full time. The children are at school in London for one thing, and both parents have demanding jobs that they could not do from here ordinarily, one would think.
'I suppose you could say this house is more like their holiday home.'
Another source close to the family in the capital said they lived at their Westminster address during the week.
These are the pampered douche-bags who run this country, excused from prosecution or blame:
Delete"Chief Constable Anthony Bangham of West Mercia Police, which covers Herefordshire said: “I am aware of the article in the media this morning regarding Robert Jenrick Secretary of State from the ministry of housing, communities and local Government. From the information I have, I do not believe this requires police involvement and West Mercia Police will not be taking any action at this time."
https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/18374199.housing-secretary-robert-jenrick-face-no-police-action/
Here's a brief piece about Jenrick:
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/03/why-robert-jenrick-worst-cabinet-minister-you-haven-t-heard
"Nottinghamshire Police is considering evidence relating to accusations of overspending by the Conservative Party during the 2014 Newark by-election.
The move follows claims by Channel 4 News that some bills were not included in local spending returns during the poll and two other by-elections.
Labour's defeated candidate in the Newark poll, which the Conservatives won, has called for an investigation.
The Conservatives say all spending was recorded in accordance with the law.
Earlier this week, Channel 4 News said it had obtained hotel bills which suggested the party broke electoral rules in the Newark, Clacton and Rochester & Strood by-elections, the first of which the Conservatives won and the other two it lost to UKIP.
Conservative MP Robert Jenrick, who won the Newark contest, told BBC News he was "very confident" his election expenses were compiled "in complete compliance with the law".
"The allegations that were on Channel 4 News are, as far as I can see, completely unfounded," he added."
In the interest of balance, here's another view of Jenrick:
https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-robert-jenrick-tory-housing-secretary
Mail (again!) in 2014 reported:
"Tory Newark by-election candidate Robert Jenrick rejects claims that he has covered up his and his wife’s £5 million property portfolio and £500,000-a-year joint earnings to try to win the Newark seat.
Mr Jenrick presents himself as a ‘father, local man, son of a secretary and small businessman and state primary school-educated’ candidate.
In fact, he and American wife Michal own not one, but two, £2 million homes in London and a £1 million country pile built by an 18th Century slave-trader.
Their Newark ‘home’ is a rented house obtained when he was picked as a candidate six months ago.
And his Party CV omits to say he went to a £13,000-a-year private secondary school.
Together with his director’s job at Christie’s auction house, it is just the type of posh Tory boy image Cameron and co can’t shrug off.
Mr Jenrick, who looks even younger than his 32 years, sticks rigidly to his Tory HQ autocue when asked about national issues.
During our interview at a cafeteria in Tuxford, near Newark, he is finally stirred when I ask whether, in his keenness to come across as a regular guy, he has misled voters.
To win the candidacy, he promised he would move his family lock, stock and barrel to Newark."
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2645084/Newark-election-Tory-candidate-Robert-Jenrick-says-just-three-homes-doesnt-mean-I-dont-know-life-breadline.html
_________________________________________
*** Six years later that relocation still hasn't happened - as if it was ever likely!! ***
When the pigs take control they move into the farmhouse and sleep in beds:
"You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see [Corbyn] back?"
Seems local media weren't overly impressed with Jenrick back in 2014
Deletehttps://politicalscrapbook.net/2014/09/carpetbagging-tory-robert-jenrick-mp-roasted-on-local-radio/
"The BBC even quizzed him on why he originally wanted to do the interview from Shropshire, offering the explanation that he was visiting his parents."
Seems his parents are a useful distraction for many of his dubious acts of deceit.
I think comment moderation would be best for now.
ReplyDeleteA conspiracy theory about Microsoft founder Bill Gates and a potential vaccine for the novel coronavirus has been circulating for weeks on social media platforms, getting high engagement numbers, and has since been pushed by both Fox News host Laura Ingraham and a Newsmax correspondent.
ReplyDeleteAs the coronavirus pandemic has spread throughout the United States, Gates, who runs an organization that focuses on public health worldwide and has warned of the threat of epidemics for years, has been leading efforts to and spoken out about finding a vaccine. That has included spending billions of dollars to find a cure via his foundation and doing interviews on shows including Fox News Sunday and The Daily Show about the need for a vaccine.
Gates on March 18 also participated in a Reddit “AMA” (“Ask me anything”) Q&A, where he encouraged a “national tracking system” for the coronavirus and “some digital certificates to show who has recovered or been tested recently or when we have a vaccine who has received it.” Scientific American reported in December that Gates had been funding efforts to create an invisible ink that could go into people’s skin to see who has been vaccinated. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology bioengineer said the ink could provide data that is useful in fighting disease around the world, noting, “If we don’t have good data, it’s really difficult to eradicate disease” (though the outlet also quoted a bioengineering professor admitting it could raise privacy concerns).
During this time, conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, white nationalists, and supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory have spread a baseless conspiracy theory on multiple social media platforms, far-right sites, and message boards claiming that Gates’ effort to help develop a vaccine is some kind of nefarious attempt to control, follow, or even depopulate the world’s population via a “microchip” of some sort (the “depopulation” claim is based on a major misreading of Gates’ past remarks).
A review by Media Matters found that the conspiracy theory first seemed to gain traction around March 17, when a YouTube video about the virus mischaracterized Gates’ work to develop trackable vaccine data as “implanting everybody with a global ID” and compared it to tattoos on Holocaust victims. The video received more than 120,000 views. On that same day, conspiracy theory outlet Infowars published a piece and video of an Infowars host suggesting Gates was using the situation to “reduce the world’s population,” citing the invisible ink, and tied it to claiming the government would give out a “color-coded wristband that will be used for traveling Americans during an impending COVID-19 lockdown.” The Infowars article subsequently spread in Facebook groups and showed up as a meme on Instagram.
https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/bill-gates-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory-spread-social-media-and-then-fox-news