General British politics discussion thread

Deleted User wrote: »

By your logic Ireland is also taking the wrong approach, don't forget that this is a fast moving situation and most governments around the world are trying their best to preserve BAU.
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Logic would have been to follow the Chinese model right from the start.

Yep. Exactly the kind of measures that we in the West deem entirely appropriate for controlling the spread of infectious serious diseases in pigs and dogs and cows and horses.

That would have been the logical response, but our governments and our people have become complacent, enjoying the benefits of our wealthy lifestyles with no thought for the downside. This was, literally, a problem waiting to happen, and no-one in government was taking it seriously. So much easier to run "terrorist shooter" drills in primary schools than to train adults to keep themselves at home.

FWIW, I think all EU member states have bungled the control of this epidemic - in France and Ireland as much as in Italy ... but Johnson has been the poster-boy for how to really mess things up.

salonfire wrote: »

Can anyone explain to me how on earth Britain can afford its spending?

Printing money. The ECB and the Fed probably will do the same thing though.


Talking to family back in the UK it sounds like the fall of Rome over there compared to Dublin.

timsey tiger wrote: »

Would it be politically possible for us to close the borders to the UK on a republic/ island basis. Prob. not but if things get really out of control over there, everything changes when people are frightened.

On a republic basis - I don't think it's a step that is needed at the moment, since NI are now operating under roughly the same level of closures and 'rules' we are. If the UK had continued with the herd immunity plan, then it might have been a necessity.

On an island basis - I don't believe it could ever be acceptable to the loyalist people up the north to cut themselves off from GB.
edit : and as Aegir has already said, would cause us a lot of supply problems.

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

On an island basis - I don't believe it could ever be acceptable to the loyalist people up the north to cut themselves off from GB.
edit : and as Aegir has already said, would cause us a lot of supply problems.

I guess, hopefully we won't find out.

How long until France- UK border is closed?

Aegir wrote: »

I doubt Northern Ireland will get hit anywhere as bad as mainland UK.

To be honest, I see no reason why it wouldn't. Not, at any rate, if it implements the same measures as the rest of the UK, and doesn't isolate from the rest of the UK.

Aegir wrote: »

Closing the ferry ports would mean massive shortages here, so probably not a good idea.

Yes. Truth is that NI is too small to completely close its borders for very long; it would be unsustainable for more than a very short time. (The same is true for IRL.)

I think what small areas have to think about, realistically, is not closing their borders but managing and controlling cross-border flows. NI could certainly restrict ferry services to essential supplies and the workers needed to transport them. You'd have to think carefully, obviously, about what counts as "essential supplies", but it could be done. And NI could similarly restrict passenger traffic through air and sea ports to people travelling for an approved reason.

It could if necessary also attempt to do the same along the border with the Republic. Obviously there are political issues with doing that, just as there would be with controlling the sea border with GB. But there comes a point where political considerations have to take second place to public safety. I think the bigger issue is that it would be very difficult in practice to operate controls along the land border. Compared to controlling the sea border, it would be a much bigger, much more expensive, much more disruptive and much less effective operation. But - politics again - it might be necessary to attempt to do this in order to make the operation of sea border controls politically acceptable.

From the Sunday Times (Tim Shipman) this morning

At a private engagement at the end of February, Cummings outlined the government’s strategy. Those present say it was “herd immunity, protect the economy and if that means some pensioners die, too bad”.’

If true surely Cummings can't survive that?

Roanmore wrote: »

From the Sunday Times (Tim Shipman) this morning

At a private engagement at the end of February, Cummings outlined the government’s strategy. Those present say it was “herd immunity, protect the economy and if that means some pensioners die, too bad”.’

If true surely Cummings can't survive that?

Are we surprised? He hired an advisor who was vocally pro lower/upper class eugenics

Finally taking it seriously, this is a relief. When will we get this here and the closing of ports/border to movement of people?

timsey tiger wrote: »

Finally taking it seriously, this is a relief. When will we get this here and the closing of ports/border to movement of people?

We are well past the point where closing of ports and borders would make any difference. The infection is well-established in Ireland, and it's internal measures that will affect how matters progress from here.

Closing of ports and borders might have symbolic significance, in bringhing home to those who still don't get it how serious the situation is. But as an infection control measure, its impact would be negligible.