Any hope that Johnson has had a Damascene conversion and will surround himself with decent, honourable ministers? I didn't think so either. I hope you have some good news soon @floralies. We're all thinking of you.
I don't think making this political is very helpful. The world is in crisis and no nation has adequate PPE, or other equipment. We are certainly doing a lot better than the USA, if you compare films from both countries.
PS I am no supporter of Boris, being a life long Labour supporter, but can you imagine things being any better under Labour?
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
PPE issue, there may have been a world wide shortage for two simple reasons
1) The primary producer was China
2) They had an epidemic to deal with, they may have had a use for any stocks they had
I was moderate left all my life, actually voted for Boris. Best man for the job right now because deep down, he actually cares about this country and the people in it. Something we have not seen from a political leader in my lifetime. Hope he is fully fit soon and back as the public face.
Despite the early confusions that can all be directed at the WHO giving dodgy advice, it is really hard for me to sit and just fault the government at the moment. Their response has been monumental.
Of course we all have our individual battles and hardships (I won't lumber people with my own situation), but things really could be worse, much worse and I for one am glad to be in the UK during this time.
There that's my bit, been avoiding this thread for ages now.
It will be a lesson well learned if those in charge of whatever colour) realise that the cheapest option isn’t always the best (or most reliable), and that we really shouldn’t underestimate the value of having our own manufacturing industry and paying a decent rate for the job, rather than sourcing so many of our necessities from sweatshops abroad.
Also, while it’s ok to run a car factory on the ‘just in time’ principle, it’s no way to run a hospital.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
No Government of any country is going to get this right. It is unprecedented,there is no handbook to tell you what to do. In hindsight maybe we could all have done things differently,but we do not have that benefit right now,we have to adapt as we go.Hard decisions have to be made at the top.Can you imagine what it must be like to be in charge right now,with everyone giving a different opinion as to what to do? Can you imagine the outcry if we had spent money on equipment 6 months ago when Coronavirus had not even been heard of? A lockdown 2 months ago when we had a handful of cases and no deaths? This Government is doing its best in an awful situation. Would a Labour Government do any better?
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
I agree ... it’s a poisoned chalice for whoever was holding it when the virus arrived.
I’m just hoping that there will be some silver linings ... and less use of the ‘just in time’ method of supply will be better for the NHS and us, and for the planet too ... cheap manufactured goods being transported around the globe isn’t cheap in the long run.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I agree ... it’s a poisoned chalice for whoever was holding it when the virus arrived.
I’m just hoping that there will be some silver linings ... and less use of the ‘just in time’ method of supply will be better for the NHS and us, and for the planet too ... cheap manufactured goods being transported around the globe isn’t cheap in the long run.
Dove, could we dare to imagine a return to small market gardening enterprise, the taste of home grown on the doorstep, no transporting food that is not even ripe hundreds of miles? Food having a 'season'. Now that would be a silver lining and huge benefit to the health of our nation after this dreadful situation.
Friends and I have commented to each other that it could have been so much worse with Corbyn as PM. His organisational skills, from his days as councillor in Haringey, were notably absent, and it would probably have made a bad situation much worse. That said - there will be many heads that ought to roll after all this is over (or ameliorated, at least) though I doubt that they will. With regard to PPE equipment - Patel's response was pitiful - but in many ways understandable when there is a huge increase in global demand for finite or severely limited resources. I did read, however, though have not been able to validate it, that the Chinese ordered and stockpiled huge quantities of PPE, ventilators etc back in January, some of which are being sold to countries who desperately need it.
Posts
I totally share your anger.
I didn't think so either.
I hope you have some good news soon @floralies. We're all thinking of you.
The world is in crisis and no nation has adequate PPE, or other equipment.
We are certainly doing a lot better than the USA, if you compare films from both countries.
PS I am no supporter of Boris, being a life long Labour supporter, but can you imagine things being any better under Labour?
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
1) The primary producer was China
2) They had an epidemic to deal with, they may have had a use for any stocks they had
I was moderate left all my life, actually voted for Boris. Best man for the job right now because deep down, he actually cares about this country and the people in it. Something we have not seen from a political leader in my lifetime. Hope he is fully fit soon and back as the public face.
Despite the early confusions that can all be directed at the WHO giving dodgy advice, it is really hard for me to sit and just fault the government at the moment. Their response has been monumental.
Of course we all have our individual battles and hardships (I won't lumber people with my own situation), but things really could be worse, much worse and I for one am glad to be in the UK during this time.
There that's my bit, been avoiding this thread for ages now.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It is unprecedented,there is no handbook to tell you what to do.
In hindsight maybe we could all have done things differently,but we do not have that benefit right now,we have to adapt as we go.Hard decisions have to be made at the top.Can you imagine what it must be like to be in charge right now,with everyone giving a different opinion as to what to do?
Can you imagine the outcry if we had spent money on equipment 6 months ago when Coronavirus had not even been heard of? A lockdown 2 months ago when we had a handful of cases and no deaths?
This Government is doing its best in an awful situation.
Would a Labour Government do any better?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That said - there will be many heads that ought to roll after all this is over (or ameliorated, at least) though I doubt that they will.
With regard to PPE equipment - Patel's response was pitiful - but in many ways understandable when there is a huge increase in global demand for finite or severely limited resources. I did read, however, though have not been able to validate it, that the Chinese ordered and stockpiled huge quantities of PPE, ventilators etc back in January, some of which are being sold to countries who desperately need it.