Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

precious time would be wasted as that power is realigned. It is not something we need right now

Good point

John Oliver called him a "moral windsock" I suppose that sums up his ethical backbone ;)

The Civil Service is many things but it looks to government to set its priorities.

What legitimacy would a 'caretaker' PM have? Very little to none. Unless we have some kind of election or parliamentary vote to see who is the most 'popular' but then you are back where we are now, except you've wasted a whole bunch of political will and time to do that whilst the world looks on in bewilderment. And what Pandora's boxes would you open on the way.

And if you think Black Wednesday was bad you wouldn't have seen anything yet.

Precisely. The feckless buffoon thing is a well constructed character that people have fallen for for years. Weird that his siblings seem like decent people, so I think deep down he probably is, it's just that his thirst for power has turned him into the Johnson we see today. I know someone who worked for him a few years ago, during the Cameron years, and he described him as terrifying.
He's undoubtedly a twat, but I wouldn't wish ill on anyone (except maybe Trump).

The most important time was wasted before now. We had a few weeks to be proactive in tracing and eliminating spread. A lot of time is now being used covering for that decision.

If you are PAYE you and on good terms with you current employer, you could get them to furlough you. It's totally legal apparently, have a search for Martin Lewis (money saving expert) who talks about it a lot.

I've had this done, was meant to be leaving on April 8th but have been furloughed it as long as it's allowed as I don't currently have a new job to start due to that shop being closed.

I don't think we will know if a good / bad / unacceptable job was done on this until the inevitable inquest and that's much further down the line.

But sure, if you want agony on agony just hope that Boris is out of the picture for months or dies. My opinion is that in this unprecedented crisis, someone with some brains and a smattering of political legitimacy at the controls is probably better than the alternatives. Yes, that's going to be unpopular here. I can take it. Hnnnngggg.

I did appreciate the "many people of all faiths, and of none" though.

I put off changing jobs for ages to try and reduce the negative affect on current employer, but due to other factors decided that the April was best all round, then corona comes along and fucks that all up.

Ah, perfect. thanks for that!

I agree we will have a better picture after the event. It also seems fairly clear that the actions in the previous months have led us to where we are currently. A lot of energy spent now is because of those earlier decisions.

Not a fan of Boris, but @Howard is right that now is not the time for more political instability. Best case for all is that he swiftly recovers. Anyone who thinks he doesn't merit priority medical care is underestimating the importance of the prime minister in our system of government.

Fuck.

Woke up this morning and found the gate to my paddock of high horses has been left open, they've all fucking escaped!

If you see or hear one please do the decent thing and push it over before it can hurt anybody.

Sorry, what's that? I can't hear you from up here!

"We will meet again..."

Oi! That's my fucking horse-get down you thieving bastard or I'll trip it up and grog Corona on you!

SRS. Anyone wishing Boris well needs their fucking head looked at.

The guy literally doesn't care if you live or die, and has marked himself as the most dangerous, cynical opportunist in a party and cabinet defined by it more than any other in living memory.

The NHS staff caring for him must be fucking revolted having to minister to his needs then go see the chaos being reaped by their colleagues and by the plebs down the hall, I certainly would be.

The commonwealth thing was good too.

Can she throw her speech writer in the Tower for oversights? ;)

The man's an awful cunt, but understanding why he gets preferential treatment as PM is not endorsing him deserving it as a human being.

In the NHS you cannot get your like/dislike get in the way, so in that sense we have the luxury to vent our views from a huge distance, rather than have to treat somebody with covid and lack of protective kit...

...no doubt in photo ops everyone will be kitted out nicely...

Aneurin Bevan ?

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This is exactly the 'Rally round the flag' shit that is seeing Trump at his highest ever approval rating, regardless of his completely incompetent and farcical performance during this crisis.

Exactly the same could be said of Boris and his government during this crisis. Not a single correct decision taken at the right time and communicated well to the public. Yet, we should 'support the PM'. Bollocks.

no doubt in photo ops everyone will be kitted out nicely

I doubt the government will be using this for photo ops.

If bojo pegs it raab comes in as caretaker PM and immediately shits his pants and defers to the public health experts. Any political instability would come after the crisis which is fine by me as it could mean we avoid a hard brexit.

Sorry for his unborn kid and legion of legitimate/illegitimate kids but to put it mildly, he ain’t a good guy.