It's unfortunate but some people are too thick, selfish or arrogant and a good swathe too lacking in empathy, mostly Tory voters of course

Indeed, and some of the thickest, most selfish and most arrogant even brag about it, on RLFANS forums for example, and damn the consequences to the rest of us.

Ignorance and arrogance in equal measure.

Yes please do lecture me on the correct use and efficacy of PPE; the arrogance of the Tory fanboy, who "follows the science" - provided that science is advantageous to whatever position he's taking today. When there is divergence of course, either the science was wrong, or we're sick of experts. All from a position of sitting comfortably at home on furlough, obtaining expert knowledge from Google.

With regards to ineptitude - as I've explained to Sal Paradise at least 4 times; no, the fact that the care sector didn't stockpile PPE was not an indication of ineptitude - because we weren't privy to the findings of Operation Cygnus, which made that recommendation - the Govt were, and *chose* not to. Had they done so, they could have made it available (at market rates, before Sal trots out his other regular attack line about private orgs wanting freebies.) So all of the well publicised struggles of obtaining PPE now - which is entirely understandable when the whole world wants it - could have been mitigated in part by implementing the recommendations of their own exercise.

On that basis, I won't wind my neck in ta - I'll carry on highlighting all the ways that the Govt has failed the care sector - because unlike many of the apologistas, I actually know what I'm talking about; my network consists of MD's and CEO's of all the main players in the sector, and I can confidently assure you that I am not a lone voice - and most of these people are natural Tories. See it's ok to be broadly in support of a party, but be critical of some of their actions when the situation warrants - which this one clearly does.

Having said - Boris nearly died, whilst remaining chipper and in charge at all times - so I wouldn't want to be too hard on them; having one of the worst excess mortality rates is probably just a counting error.

I don't think anyone is suggesting there aren't struggles in the social care sector - with an ageing population this situation only gets worse. Unless we are prepared to pump more money in then there is only one logical outcome - more stress on the system.

We can talk around the houses about PPE - the finding of Cygnus were well know - Bill Gates had published many times in respect of a pandemic being the next big interference to humans. So you can't blame the government for doing exactly what you did is invest the cash where it delivers the maximum returns - in your case better care homes in the government's case more operations.

Has this government made a mess of this - yes in my view it could have done things a lot differently - hindsight is a great thing.

Oh do give it a rest. It's not 'my' science, it's 'the' science. And you've completely ignored it all as usual in favour of another rant and ignored every question as usual. You know for a fact the WHO and the majority of scientists have said all along face masks are almost useless in the general population, but there can be very small benefits to prevent spread if someone is infected. There are countless studies to back this up. Social distancing is felt to be far more effective as a single measure.

However, and as I said, I've always been of the view that a small benefit is worth it alongside social distancing - and I didn't personally agree with the WHO, science and consequently the government's advice. But that advice has shifted slowly over the last few months as again, I'm sure you well know. So, not a fanboy but I understood why the advice stood as it did.

So no-one acted on Operation Cygnus? Did you act on Operation Winter Willow in 2007, which specifically found a surge in demand on face masks (and antivirals/antibiotics) would be an issue? Where's your 13 year-old stockpile? Not so rosy up on that high horse anymore, is it.

That aside, I presume had you seen the findings of Cygnus 4 years ago you would have immediately gone out and procured millions of items and stuck them in a warehouse? Spent millions of pounds on a stockpile of masks, gloves, gowns, goggles and face shields that would all require replenishing over time as items degraded? No you wouldn't, and don't even pretend you would. You probably wouldn't have even been given permission. I have no idea who you work for but I can't think of many CEOs/boards/trustees who would sign that off over more pressing and immediate concerns.

And I'm sure you'd have planned and equipped for this novel coronavirus, and not an H2N2-type flu pandemic as was the scope of Cygnus. You're dead good, you.

Bloody well put sir







It's quite increddible that so many people believe that Boris has suddenly become open and honest

Of course he didn't he just wants to blame anyone but himself - he knows why the government didn't buy all that PPE for the very same reason his company didn't he just doesn't want to admit it - tough when the surface of the River Aire isn't quite so sturdy anymore.

On facemasks they have no taken to suggesting the only really benefit is to someone's personal confidence - you couldn't make it up!!

And here we have it - the true face of the Thursday night clapper, safe from furlough, showing faux appreciation for those on the front line; until actually faced with one of those people, who's first-hand experience doesn't tally with the party line - then he reverts to type - sneering, insulting and cancelling out any dissenting viewpoint.

Pathetic - but not at all surprising.

Meanwhile, the servile media drool about an 'NHS App' that will save us from lockdown; failing to mention that it's not in any way, shape or form an NHS App - it was in fact developed (without a competitive tender) by Dominic Cummings' Vote Leave cronies - a company called Faculty, which since helping Vote Leave to break electoral law, has won 7 government contracts in 18 months. Go figure.

We're being had - and this kind of servile fanboy bootlicking, that brooks no criticism of the ruling party, is the enabling force.

Can't remember where I read this, but it always springs to mind whenever I see Tory apologists in action...

The Conservative Party is the party of the English establishment. It is, at heart, an organisation with Imperial leanings and one that believes absolutely in distinction through class. They (the Conservatives) believe they were born to rule and a lack of intellect or talent is never to be considered a barrier to fulfilling that god given right. They will always play the long game, a concession given today will be clawed back at the earliest opportunity (no matter how long that may be). Many people think they are Conservatives but they are not ... most are merely Conservative enablers. To be a true Conservative ... you will have connections through birth, school, regiment or wealth that automatically makes you one. A true Conservative's only loyalty is to other true Conservatives.

Tired stale cliche, massive chip on shoulder syndrome.

You don't need to self deprecate here



No matter what this government does - have they made mistakes of course they have - you will find a way of twisting the view point to suit your narrow-minded agenda. If we had used the app developed with the help of Google/Apple you would have been moaning about "big business". How long would you like us to wait to go through a government tendering process? we will never get out of lockdown. How would you advocate we develop an app - some non-for-profit group?

Perhaps if you had been quite as smart as you think you are you would still have a lot more customers in your homes than you currently have - hindsight is a wonderful thing?

And here we have it. Avoids questions, facts and science beyond his own little bubble because the answers demolish his agenda. Interesting how you always get personal when you're drowning.



Pathetic - but not at all surprising.

As proof you ignore the inconvenient - I have never disputed your experiences or struggles in procuring PPE. What I did do, was point out that early on in the UK, distribution not supply was the main problem, and also to point out the global situation and the fact most of the main PPE supplying nations had blocked PPE exports, and there had been a massive surge in worldwide demand in the scale of many billions of PPE items, all of which had severely impacted supplies to the majority of countries.
You ignored all of that and resorted to your usual dull '...but Boris...' drivel.

And tell me again how if only the government had published findings of a pandemic exercise (Winter Willow 2007?) you would have stockpiled PPE? Well?

As for fanboy (you found a new word!) - hardly. Yes, I think we should have locked down a little earlier but listening to the social behaviour science behind it and looking outside, I can see why it would have been pointless. I also think the lockdown should be far more strictly enforced rather than the rather cavalier attitude that seems to be allowed (why the feck is B&Q open for example?). I've already given my view on masks - even a tiny benefit is better than none - and in my view they should therefore be required in public - but you ignored that, and the science behind it, as usual. Didn't fit your narrative, did it. Instead we got '...but Boris...' again.

And now you're railing against the new tracing app, because you've heard something about the developers. Here are the facts (which you will probably ignore). The app is being developed by NHSX (NHS digital), Palantir (big data) and Faculty (AI/data). Faculty already had an NHS contract to build an AI lab. One of Faculty's founding team is Dr Mark Warner, who has worked with Cummings (a big fan of AI) and attended a SAGE meeting with him as an observer from a big data perspective. Mark's brother Ben Warner 'reportedly' worked with Dominic Cummings on the Vote Leave modelling programme. What's your point? These people are leaders in their field. Big data is vital right now. You're whining simply because - in their professional capacities - they helped defeat Remain and put Boris in office.
If Remain had won and Corbyn was in office and Labour had worked with Faculty to get there, and continued to work with them, you would have zero issue with it.

You also seem to think this would be a great time for a protracted NHS procurement process, which can take years. The mind boggles.

And then you throw abuse at the millions who pay a little bit of gratitude to the NHS each week. Classy. BTW, you're not front-line, you work in procurement. Spreadsheets, not ventilators.