For those who do not dwell on this sceptred isle, I feel I should explain this blogpost before I write it. Throughout the pandemic Britain's Health Secretary has been a cod-faced fellow called Matthew Hancock or "Matt" as he prefers to be addressed. His reign, like his marriage, came to a shuddering halt after he was photographed in a steamy clench with his political aide - Gina Coladangelo.
Then a former Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer - Sajid Javid was asked to take over Hancock's role. He has been in the job for less than two weeks now.
Hancock always said he was "following the Science" as the pandemic progressed but Sajid Javid is following something else - perhaps the Economy or possibly his own unscientific instincts. "The Science" has now been side-lined and asked to shut up as Britain approaches "Freedom Day" on July 19th. What ever happened to caution?
A Tale of Two Health Secretaries
HANCOCK: We're following the Science.
June 2020
HANCOCK: We're following the Science.
October 2020
HANCOCK: We're following the Science.
January 2021
HANCOCK: We're following the Science.
May 2021
HANCOCK: We're following the Science.
July 2021
SAJID JAVID We're not following the Science.
Looks like the health department has more problems than covid!
ReplyDeleteApart from anything else, Hancock was breaking his own social distancing rules.
DeleteOh dear, that's not good at all.
ReplyDeleteWell hopefully Mr. Javid can at least keep his dick in his pants. His predesessor set a very low bar.
Any man who has got "cock" in his surname is liable to neglect his professional duties.
DeleteMy understanding is that July 19 was the targeted "freedom day" long before Javid took the post?
ReplyDeleteWhat does the science say? should you be living under restrictions for months to come?
Our original Freedom Day was to be June 21st but this was postponed because the "Science" was making alarm bells ring. 24,248 new COVID infections were recorded in Britain yesterday as opposed to 23 in Australia. Once again The Science is saying loud and clear - POSTPONE!
DeleteI thought we had over 30 in NSW, I'm losing track. Anyway, we are under stay at home orders for our few cases
DeleteI got the figure of 23 from "Worldometer". That's 23 in one day. PM Johnson and his gang let in the Delta variant by delaying a shutdown on air travel from India. That is why our infection figures shot up.
DeleteSo many politicians have caved to the economy and the pressure of the "but my rights!" crowd and ignored the science. It's affecting all of us and hindering our way out of this mess.
ReplyDeleteYesterday we had a government clown on the TV saying that wearing masks was about to become a matter of "personal choice"! Breathing out infectious droplets could easily lead others to their deaths.
DeleteIt does seem that few governments in this part of the world really know how to handle the financial implications caused by the pandemic. They are all rightly concerned about the economy, as there must be a limit beyond which any country could become bankrupt, especially those relying heavily on tourism.
ReplyDeleteHowever the wearing of masks, and associated precautions, should still be compulsory as Europe is by no means out of the woods yet.
I noticed, in photos of football fans celebrating England's win last week, that no-one was wearing a mask, and that scene has been repeated time and again in crowds. Do they all think they have special immunity!
I noticed that too Carol. Wearing a mask is no big deal. It certainly should not be seen as a symbol of suppression. To me it is surprising that Britain's government have described future mask wearing as a matter of "personal choice".
DeleteYou couldn't make it up. It's like a Monty Python sketch.
ReplyDeleteMonty Python was just entertainment. These clowns are playing with people's lives.
DeleteAs you imply in response above, masks are personal choice, breathing others' infectious droplets isn't. They've never followed the science. As F.R.Leavis might have said:
ReplyDeleteThey are, of course, – no, I can't say that; they aren't. They think of themselves as scientists but as scientists they don't exist; they don't begin to exist. They can't be said to know what science is. The nonentity is apparent in every one of their fictions.
A cool, impartial assessment. Thank you Mr Dunham.
DeleteOut of respect for your Tory readership, I will not write what I originally intended, but instead I will just say that it strikes me as very odd that you have to socially distance from someone you are having a liaison with.
ReplyDeleteHancock even said that dating with strangers was not on during the pandemic. He has three kids and so does Ms Coladangelo. The lives of those six youngsters have been scarred forever.
DeleteCall it the airy-fairy land of politics. I just love it when we put the running of this country into the hands of non-experts, it just makes so much sense! It is the economy of course, and maybe we do have to open the country, the Indian variant came into the country because of stupidity but perhaps we will have to live with the risk.
ReplyDeleteYes Thelma. The country certainly does need to open up and we must live with COVID but is now the right time - with over 24,000 infections a day and rising?
DeleteDefinitely not of course and I think things will change as the discussion goes forward in the country.
DeleteSometimes it seems as if our elected and appointed officials are trying to kill us all.
ReplyDeleteMost of them are bursting with self-importance.
DeleteMy understanding was that the science for delaying freedom day from 21 June to 19 July was to get everyone vaccinated. That is on course so we should be able to ease restrictions by then.
ReplyDelete1 in 3 UK adults have not been double vaccinated. They will not bridge that divide in just two weeks.
DeleteI am told by a trusty source that those coming in to hospital now with severe covid are those who have refused any vaccine. Even one dose has done well to keep people out of hospital.
DeleteThe same thing is happening in some provinces in Canada, notably Alberta which is reversing the requirement for wearing masks just in time for the Calgary Stampede. If that doesn't say "cowboy mentality" I don't know what does. The most irritating part is that when cases explode - as they will - those cowboys will not even admit their lack of masks were the cause. The saddest part is that there will be people die as a result. I am extremely proud of and grateful for our leaders in Nova Scotia who have been using science to guide their recommendations. Even a few more weeks with masks will give a higher percentage of fully vaccinated folks, but no, that won't do when there are cows to rope and horses to race (and to euthanize when they fall and break a leg). Please forgive the rant. I have relatives in Alberta and I'm ashamed of them and angry at them too.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting contribution. The psychology of the pandemic has been revealing.
DeleteIn my experience, calling something interesting means smiling and backing away from the other person while making a mental note of their aberrative behavior ... I didn't mean to frighten you off :)
DeleteWhen I say that something is "interesting" I really mean that it is "interesting".
DeleteI will try to remember that!
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