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Further Restrictions Announced by Johnson (22/09)

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kristiang85

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I suspect the media would have been aiming for civil unrest and riots and hope to bring the Labour government down so they could get their mates back.

I think the media are actually the main problem here. Any government would have made a mess of it, as they would have just kowtowed to the media line.

You might remember Johnson was actually going down the Swedish route at first, but then the media screamed about the government killing your granny, and then once they got their hands on Ferguson's figures then there was no way they would let the government go down a soft route. Project fear initially came from the media, not the government.

Exactly the same thing would have happened, whichever party was in charge. Labour would have been completely torn apart though, for sure. Given the Daily Mail is now writing negatively against Johnson, imagine what they would have done to Corbyn et al.

I think the media do have far too much influence in our corridors of power right now. I'm not sure how it can be solved, as obviously I'm all for a free press, but it is worrying.
 
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brad465

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I think the media are actually the main problem here. Any government would have made a mess of it, as they would have just kowtowed to the media line.

You might remember Johnson was actually going down the Swedish route at first, but then the media screamed about the government killing your granny, and then once they got their hands on Ferguson's figures then there was no way they would let the government go down a soft route. Project fear initially came from the media, not the government.

Exactly the same thing would have happened, whichever party was in charge. Labour would have been completely torn apart though, for sure. Given the Daily Mail is now writing negatively against Johnson, imagine what they would have done to Corbyn et al.

I think the media do have far too much influence in our corridors of power right now. I'm not sure how it can be solved, as obviously I'm all for a free press, but it is worrying.
There was of course an inquiry by the name of Leveson that was done investigating Media behaviour, where the first phase recommended all outlets report to a single independent body that would be recognised through law. My guess is the reason Cameron declined to implement this is because he would lose Murdoch's support if he did.

I don't think though it's entirely the Media though that we are where we are, but because of our incompetent politicians: a strong leader/Government would have been able to resist such media behaviour and backup their strategy with evidence and clear messaging. We of course do not have anywhere near competent leadership with our PM and a cabinet only in place for loyalty, so the media can influence them more easily because the Government can't think for itself.
 

yorksrob

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From the chatter in my local cafe, people seem to be expecting more or less everything shutting on monday.
 

kristiang85

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There was of course an inquiry by the name of Leveson that was done investigating Media behaviour, where the first phase recommended all outlets report to a single independent body that would be recognised through law. My guess is the reason Cameron declined to implement this is because he would lose Murdoch's support if he did.

I don't think though it's entirely the Media though that we are where we are, but because of our incompetent politicians: a strong leader/Government would have been able to resist such media behaviour and backup their strategy with evidence and clear messaging. We of course do not have anywhere near competent leadership with our PM and a cabinet only in place for loyalty, so the media can influence them more easily because the Government can't think for itself.

Oh yes, sorry, I'm not exonerating the government at all - but I do wonder what decisions they would have taken without outside pressures.
 

SuspectUsual

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From the chatter in my local cafe, people seem to be expecting more or less everything shutting on monday.

I’ve just been in a cafe and had pretty much exactly the same conversation with the owner. She also said our (Tory) MP had been in yesterday and said words to the effect of “I think they’re getting it horribly wrong but of course in public I’ll back Boris 100%”
 

Bantamzen

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I’ve just been in a cafe and had pretty much exactly the same conversation with the owner. She also said our (Tory) MP had been in yesterday and said words to the effect of “I think they’re getting it horribly wrong but of course in public I’ll back Boris 100%”

To which I would have replied that I would be publicly voting against them at the first opportunity. For goodness sake, why can't these idiots grow a pair (metaphorically)?
 

bramling

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I think the media are actually the main problem here. Any government would have made a mess of it, as they would have just kowtowed to the media line.

You might remember Johnson was actually going down the Swedish route at first, but then the media screamed about the government killing your granny, and then once they got their hands on Ferguson's figures then there was no way they would let the government go down a soft route. Project fear initially came from the media, not the government.

Exactly the same thing would have happened, whichever party was in charge. Labour would have been completely torn apart though, for sure. Given the Daily Mail is now writing negatively against Johnson, imagine what they would have done to Corbyn et al.

I think the media do have far too much influence in our corridors of power right now. I'm not sure how it can be solved, as obviously I'm all for a free press, but it is worrying.

There’s definitely truth to this, however this is partly the fault of the people for being too easily influenced by media soundbites. There’s little excuse nowadays with a wealth of sources readily available on the internet (which people can even access on their phones now).
 

Howardh

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From the chatter in my local cafe, people seem to be expecting more or less everything shutting on monday.
Think the announcement is either Monday or Tuesday, so the shutdown won't be on Monday. If they do the same thing as Scotland, 16 days, then both countries will have an overlap! I just hope he gives us an end-date.
 

Yew

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They didn't really go into that much detail tbh.
The media are suggesting local, however I don't know if this is due to speculation, or the Governments appalling operational security.
 

yorksrob

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The media are suggesting local, however I don't know if this is due to speculation, or the Governments appalling operational security.

We're higher than average at the moment, so we might get some local restrictions.
 

Yew

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We're higher than average at the moment, so we might get some local restrictions.
Is Michael Gove involved? He probably wants all areas to have below average levels of infection?
 

island

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I would have thought that workers would be allowed to cross the boundary (after all in lockdown it was permissible - indeed I did numerous times)
If they follow the current Welsh regulations (which of course they won’t, but for the sake of discussion) it would become illegal to leave home for work if it is feasible to work from home, or to leave your county without reasonable excuse. It is explicitly excluded from reasonable excuse to do something out of county that you could have done within it.
 

Bantamzen

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If they follow the current Welsh regulations (which of course they won’t, but for the sake of discussion) it would become illegal to leave home for work if it is feasible to work from home, or to leave your county without reasonable excuse. It is explicitly excluded from reasonable excuse to do something out of county that you could have done within it.

Well the within county travel thing wouldn't be so bad in England's largest county! ;)
 

NorthOxonian

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Well the within county travel thing wouldn't be so bad in England's largest county! ;)

Disappointingly the Welsh county boroughs are more like our districts - with some like Blaenau Gwent being tiny. In terms of size and facilities, some of the restrictions would like being only allowed to stay in Keighley (except for reasonable excuses).
 

trainophile

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It's frustrating having to wait until Monday for the pronouncement, by which time it may be too late to cancel things without incurring costs. If they have a pretty good idea what's on the table why keep us waiting over the weekend?
 

HSTEd

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It's frustrating having to wait until Monday for the pronouncement, by which time it may be too late to cancel things without incurring costs. If they have a pretty good idea what's on the table why keep us waiting over the weekend?

Because this way the public can't evade the commands of the leadership
 

radamfi

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I think the media do have far too much influence in our corridors of power right now. I'm not sure how it can be solved, as obviously I'm all for a free press, but it is worrying.

Print and internet media is unregulated and they can say pretty much what they want. Broadcast media on the other hand is heavily regulated and there are severe penalties for breaking the rules. So sensible people will ignore print media and their offshoot websites. Bizarrely, the BBC and other broadcasters give newspapers free publicity in so called "newspaper reviews", even though newspapers blatantly lie. I can put up a website and say "Covid is fake", print it out and give it to shops around the country to sell. Obviously nobody would or should take any notice of it, so why is it any different for the Daily Mail or Guardian?
 

yorksrob

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Print and internet media is unregulated and they can say pretty much what they want. Broadcast media on the other hand is heavily regulated and there are severe penalties for breaking the rules. So sensible people will ignore print media and their offshoot websites. Bizarrely, the BBC and other broadcasters give newspapers free publicity in so called "newspaper reviews", even though newspapers blatantly lie. I can put up a website and say "Covid is fake", print it out and give it to shops around the country to sell. Obviously nobody would or should take any notice of it, so why is it any different for the Daily Mail or Guardian?

The BEEB used to have a whole programme devoted to the weeks newspapers called "What the Papers Say" which was quite enjoyable.

Had a very catchy theme tune as I remember.
 

Trackman

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The BEEB used to have a whole programme devoted to the weeks newspapers called "What the Papers Say" which was quite enjoyable.

Had a very catchy theme tune as I remember.
The voices used to crack me up!
It's frustrating having to wait until Monday for the pronouncement, by which time it may be too late to cancel things without incurring costs. If they have a pretty good idea what's on the table why keep us waiting over the weekend?
Does it have to be announced in Parliament first?
 

Howardh

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The BEEB used to have a whole programme devoted to the weeks newspapers called "What the Papers Say" which was quite enjoyable.

Had a very catchy theme tune as I remember.
Started by Granada, Bill Grundy and the like. NOW I'm showing my age!!!

Of course BBC news and Sky both have their press review @ around 10.30pm, but it isn't the same as WTPS; someone like Charlie Brooker would be fantastic, but that's another thread.

As for covid - I got to my planned hockey game which had been called off due to a covid outbreak last night, no-one told me - wasted afternoon, wasted petrol. That was in St Helens, but it appears both teams have players isolating.

I expect after the announcement a trip Bolton to St. Helens will be prohibited unless essential, who will patrol the borders?
 

bramling

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From the chatter in my local cafe, people seem to be expecting more or less everything shutting on monday.

That seems to be the rumour floating round London too. I'm not sure where this is coming from, as that doesn't *seem* to be the intention at all, just targetted closures in specific areas. Khan seems to want London included for some reason, which to me feels like madness as London must surely already be suffering from the near complete absence of daily commuters from outside. Central London is still a ghost town in places.
 

Mag_seven

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Khan seems to want London included for some reason, which to me feels like madness as London must surely already be suffering from the near complete absence of daily commuters from outside. Central London is still a ghost town in places.

The cynic in me suspects its all about politics - i.e. he doesn't want to seen to be outdone by his northern mayoral counterparts such as Burnham etc. I hope I'm wrong.
 

yorksrob

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The cynic in me suspects its all about politics - i.e. he doesn't want to seen to be outdone by his northern mayoral counterparts such as Burnham etc. I hope I'm wrong.

Burnham seems to be becoming more the voice of reason these days. Not sure the same can be said of Khan.
 
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