Coronavirus

[suttonred]

This is the most mental thing about the UK response, we had a vote 4 years back and possibly for many the key element of which was to take back control of our borders and the people voted in favour of it.

In the last 11 months we have had a situation whereby we could have achieved a great deal if we had closed the borders much as with New Zealand, yet our government (who bang on about taking back control) have done nothing, Christ even the libtard remainers like myself would have nodded along with it, but nothing.

Apples with pears. New zealand is 4 hours flight from the nearest land mass, with only 3 real points of entry. We're slap bang in the middle of everything with 100's of ways in. Not comparable.

[Costanza]

If borders were comprehensively closed in March then I dare say Farage would have kicked and screamed because he wasn't given special dispensation to travel to the USA to see Trump on the Campaign Trail and Laurence Fox screaming for freedom and telling people to 'live your life guys, I'm crossing the Channel in a rubber dinghy to go on holiday abroad.'

[horlock07]

Apples with pears. New zealand is 4 hours flight from the nearest land mass, with only 3 real points of entry. We're slap bang in the middle of everything with 100's of ways in. Not comparable.

Possibly so, but the fact that no attempt at all was made to do anything seems just perverse, even when the quarantine rules were bought in it was clear that they were not remotely being applied with countless stories of people flying in expecting to at the very least complete some sort of paperwork and instead just being waved through.

[horlock07]

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1339107028774563840?s=20

The government seems to be urging us not to do what they passed an actual law to let us do?

[Abrahammer]

Possibly so, but the fact that no attempt at all was made to do anything seems just perverse, even when the quarantine rules were bought in it was clear that they were not remotely being applied with countless stories of people flying in expecting to at the very least complete some sort of paperwork and instead just being waved through.

Looking back now in hindsight, rather than the odd country locking down their borders there should have some broad international arrangements to shut all boarders and just keep people where they are. Certainly could have been done within the EU.

Far easier said than done though, would have also crippled the airline industry even more so than it did

[pauld]

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1339107028774563840?s=20

The government seems to be urging us not to do what they passed an actual law to let us do?

"We've fucked up, but we want to be able to blame you lot when there's another lockdown in January"

[pauld]

Looking back now in hindsight, rather than the odd country locking down their borders there should have some broad international arrangements to shut all boarders and just keep people where they are. Certainly could have been done within the EU.

Far easier said than done though, would have also crippled the airline industry even more so than it did

Possibly not. In the short term, yes, but a total cessation of all travel for (say) 5 weeks might have done less harm than the constant stop/start and trickle of travellers over a period of 9 months and still ongoing. That doesn't mean it would have been easy to organise as you say, but from an economic standpoint if it had been effective probably would have been less harmful

[Panda Paws]

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1339107028774563840?s=20

The government seems to be urging us not to do what they passed an actual law to let us do?

That in itself isn't abnormal. Smoking isn't illegal but its advised you don't do it. Same as being fat, basejumping etc etc. Advising people and making them aware of the risks without criminalising it is fine by me, and it will impact the plans of some people (like us, for example).

[Matchworn Shirts]

Getting the excuses ready and passing the buck if it goes crazy after Christmas. Must be part of their "robust" response
There is a smugness about Jenrick which makes me want to throttle him everytime I see him

[pauld]

That in itself isn't abnormal. Smoking isn't illegal but its advised you don't do it. Same as being fat, basejumping etc etc. Advising people and making them aware of the risks without criminalising it is fine by me, and it will impact the plans of some people (like us, for example).

I think if they'd started out from here and explained it properly, then yes, minded to agree. Certainly not comfortable with criminalising people for wanting to see their families. But it's the constant whiplash U-turns that undermine the credibility of any guidelines that are the problem to my mind

[pauld]

Getting the excuses ready and passing the buck if it goes crazy after Christmas. Must be part of their "robust" response
There is a smugness about Jenrick which makes me want to throttle him everytime I see him

In that case can I strongly recommend that you don't ever watch or listen to Michael Gove?

[theakston2k]

That in itself isn't abnormal. Smoking isn't illegal but its advised you don't do it. Same as being fat, basejumping etc etc. Advising people and making them aware of the risks without criminalising it is fine by me, and it will impact the plans of some people (like us, for example).

Same, I don't see a problem with it. I would be going to see my parents regardless of the rules so if that made me a criminal then so be it, and I would imagine hundreds of thousands will be in the same boat and will make their own risk weighted decisions.

Would have been a complete waste of police time and resources if they had to spend Christmas day knocking on peoples doors handing out fines as that is what would have happened if it wasn't allowed and any remaining sense of obedience and following of the rules would be lost for many.

Also I was rapidly getting fed up of the one dimensional Covid rhetoric from all the experts and thankfully mental health has been discussed and factored into this decision. Christmas and the run up is the worst time of year for mental health, having worked in rail I've seen the stretch of railway between Reading and London Paddington turn into suicide alley at this time of the year. Banning people from seeing their families over this period could have been catastrophic for mental health and suicide numbers. Covid isn't the only game in town and I think the right decision has been made here, advice people against it where possible but let them make that decision!

[pauld]

Would have been a complete waste of police time and resources if they had to spend Christmas day knocking on peoples doors handing out fines as that is what would have happened if it wasn't allowed and any remaining sense of obedience and following of the rules would be lost for many.

No way that would have happened. Any more than during the last "lockdown" the police were going door to door checking on whether people had friends over etc. They broke up the large parties, but the idea that the coppers would have turned up if you had one Auntie Glenys over your household limit is nonsense. The police always have discretion as to how they implement any legislation.

[theakston2k]

No way that would have happened. Any more than during the last "lockdown" the police were going door to door checking on whether people had friends over etc. They broke up the large parties, but the idea that the coppers would have turned up if you had one Auntie Glenys over your household limit is nonsense. The police always have discretion as to how they implement any legislation.

Well then if that would have been the case the government have made the right decision to relax the rules then, if they weren't going to enforce them what would be the point in having them?

[pauld]

Well then if that would have been the case the government have made the right decision to relax the rules then, if they weren't going to enforce them what would be the point in having them?

Erm, they haven't relaxed the rules. The law has remained the same. The advice has tightened. They decided against tightening the law and tightened the guidelines/advice instead.