Starmer calling for lockdown (Edited by GNHQ)

Genuinely don’t think it’s a question of political point scoring for Starmer or others to disagree with plans. Just as on GN if you disagree with the measures taken it does not mean you are of one or other political persuasion as. An be seen when posters say they voted for Boris but don’t think he’s doing a good job, that doesn’t mean they’ve automatically became labour supporters.

I used to like Starmer, I don’t after this. I’m totally opposed to lockdown, not only because of the huge cost to society but also because lockdowns don’t work.

As there is already in-fighting between Government ministers themselves over how this pandemic should be dealt with, I really don't think there's a cat in hell's chance that a cross-party approach is going to be any better.

The Tories have a majority - the opposition alone can not prevent any measures that the current government proposes, could they?
As I see it, any 'political point-scoring' from opposition parties should be of little importance at this time (no general election looming), and certainly not to blame for the Government's failures or successes in its approach to Covid.

EllanVannin

Avoid crowds is all I can say. How can you catch something if you steer clear ? Don't go mooching around shops---enclosed areas. What could be simpler ? Resist and stay put.

I wonder if those plebs in Liverpool would have done what they did if this virus killed the young as Asian flu did ?
Why won't folk do as they're told ?

A few weeks ago, having read an interview with a young man who had covid back in March and was still suffering the long term effects, I started a post on here asking people to warn their children and grandchildren about this.

Several GNers suggested that I was blaming young people for what was then happening. I wasn't. But I do think that more emphasis should have been placed on the after effects and some might have taken notice of the older generation.

Quilty - In absolute agreement with you.
A government of National unity without all the political infighting and petty ‘point scoring comments’ is needed at this time to deal with the critical situation we are facing. A percentage of the population are undisciplined and lacking in sense of responsibility both personal and collective. And furthermore, they have little or no understanding of the effects that their reckless, selfish and defiant attitudes towards the rules/guidelines etc put in force in the fight to protect everyone from this vicious virus. Millions of us continue to follow the rules as best we can and we owe it to ourselves, our families and to our fellow creatures to do so. Perhaps the Government representatives need to reassess the way they have ‘presented’ to the population and the words ‘dithering and arrogance’ do come to mind.

Isn't it time we had a coalition government, devoid of party political overtones, with the purpose of fighting the spread of the virus and minimising the damage to the economy. This in-fighting between parties is very damaging.
It doesn't seem the virus will ever go away, but once it's under control we can have a general election and the squabbling between party policies can resume?

Totally agree with Starmer on this! I live in an area that has a low infection rate but we are now being overwhelmed with people from high infection areas visiting our town. We are being threatend with Tier 3 restrictions but what is the point when people will be driving up the M6 from the less restricted south to visit the Lake District and Scotland. I feel that the North has been victimised and do not believe the data we are shown everyday and a short, sharp lockdown would be the most effective and fairest way to try and stop the spread of COVID19.

Sadly folk just do as they want because they are shown an appalling example - Dominic Cumming, Stanley Johnston, and Margaret What'shername to mention a few. This causes resentment. Let's face it, I am fed up behaving and would love to 'break out'. but I know it could cause a lot of damage to others as well as myself!!

Definitely think we need a short sharp lockdown. Think Boris agrees but others in conservative party are causing him trouble. It will be hard but kids will be off school too if they pick half term which many schools here in South West are suggesting

I do not like the idea of more time spent lost, lonely & alone through another Lockdown. If that is what it takes to keep my Family & others I care about safe from covid then I will take another Lockdown please.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Without an effective test, track, trace and isolate system no amount of 'following the rules' is going to make much difference. Countries which have done best during this pandemic are the ones that have instituted a really efficient system.

A circuit breaker lockdown would have to be accompanied by a revamping of our system to include local authority public health structures, which are proving far more effective than the privatised one.

That'll be the day!!!

Good post Lemongrove.

Let’s give the current measures a chance to work.
I don’t want a government of national unity but including Starmer and the shadow health minister in Covid related cobra meetings would be helpful, not only to pool ideas but to stop the predictable criticism.
Sad to see all the covidiots partying when the vast majority are making sacrifices to stop the spread. Sick of media commentators excusing the idiots with phrases like ‘lockdown fatigue’ or blaming Cummings stupidity for the rest.
I’d like to see the media get behind the government and encourage the following of the rules.

Oh I think we should do what Starmer says. Then he could enjoy some of the flack handed out by the media and the general public when it doesn’t immediately cure the virus and continues to damage the economy.

There should be another lockdown and the penalties for not abiding by the rules applied more severely. Haven't seen any statistics on how many have been fined, charged with breaking laws during first lockdown. Amazing that someone was fined £1000 for riding an electric scooter with no insurance on a pavement in Edinburgh but the pokice are only expected to gave 'a word' with folk potentially spreading this horrible virus. We need to be tougher to make people realise how their actions affect others.

If I'm not mistaken Keir Starmer has offered a few times to assist the PM in areas of lockdown (ie school closures etc) but has not been taken up on the offers. New eyes are needed, not just the old eyes of the past 7 months, which have done nothing to stop the spread (I know that people have to adhere to rules, and lots are not) but new ideas might be what is needed. The main parties should put together a team, put their differences aside and work together for the good of the country. This pandemic is not going to go away swiftly, but we must all be responsible for our own actions, politicians and public together.

Quilty

In these times we are fighting a war against COVID. We should have a government of national unity rather than this political in fighting.

I agree then it would stop all the blame being put on one party when things get back to 'normal' at the end of this. It will be easy to say in retrospect what should have been done but this has never happened before. I had Asian-flu quite badly when I was at school but nobody else in the house caught it even though we lived in a small house with one bathroom. People did not travel as much then and most did not have the money to spend in bars and restaurants.

I can remember having Asian flu aged 14. I was at boarding school and can remember having to be taken out of early morning chapel in a state of near collapse and being violently sick on the path outside!!! The rest of it was a high temperature, the Dr coming and feeling very ill! The odd thing was that it came on suddenly, fine one minute bedridden the next! School closed down for a while as more and more people became ill. As we all recovered it opened again and that was that! or so it appeared!

In these times we are fighting a war against COVID. We should have a government of national unity rather than this political in fighting.

Liverpool should be locked down severely for more than 3 weeks,,maybe bring the army in to control the ignorant selfish idiots and their appalling behaviour, I feel so sorry for the decent people of that city

From what I have read the lock down measures are mainly to do with saving the NHS from being overwhelmed with in cases. Even experts are saying this just suppresses the virus but will not be going away for a long time yet. So when the numbers go down and cases of depression, suicides and loneliness go up not adding cancer deaths that could have been treated and many other illnesses what can we do? We will have to live with it and provide better hygiene practices and space enablement to help the spread. More importantly people need to get their fitness and weight under control with help and support. The media bashing of young and old is not working. In my opinion of course.

PS ASIAN FLU
We were age 8-13 at the time.

I thought Boris's speech and rationale for the action he has taken made a lot of sense. There is a lot in what ellanvannin says. My Grandma died at the age of 64 (younger than I am now) in the Asian Flu epidemic- fine one day gone the next. Balancing our economy and way of life is not easy and whoever tries to do it will be told they are wrong.

My 2 brothers and I had the Asian flu in 1957. We survived. My mother had bronchitis at the time. My father looked after all of us being free of the Asian flu. The doctor called in daily at first. I remember having hallucinations seeing my wallpaper moving. When we were recovering my brothers and I had terrific appetites!