The Mirror's Vendetta

The BBC may slap down its own journalists for reporting the truth, but we don't.

If you've got a tip or information which will help us keep holding Boris, Cummings & this government to account, email investigations@sundaymirror.co.uk#RT to your followers and let's keep going!

— Aaron Sharp (@AaronSharp) May 28, 2020

This will backfire, as the Mirror will now be inundated with demented conspiracy theories, false trails and other nonsense that will cost it time and money to trawl through.

Banquo Is Back!

The Maitlis Monologue

BBC statement on last night's Newsnight pic.twitter.com/JFm4Nt5YMv

— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) May 27, 2020

This week has been the week for apologies, first Dominic Cummings apologised for being late for the Rose garden briefing then the BBC offers a half hearted "apology" for the Maitlis Monologue.

Despite the fact the "apology" doesn't really apologise, the BBC were clearly rattled by the number of complaints (they are still flooding in) as they set up a special page for those who wished to complain about the monologue.

The odd thing is, how the monologue got through editorial control in the first place given that Maitlis was reading from an auto-cue?

Banquo Won't Be Vanquished!

Banquo who crafted the plans that drove the Brexit campaign, and played a major role in the victory of the king in the December battle for the soul of Albion is under seige.

Many in the royal court, and the lickspittles in the media that feed on the royal court's plots and intrigues, are jealous and angry with Banquo; they burn with hatred for his sleights and his success, and have been waiting for a slip.

Such a slip came when, fearing plague would rob him of his son, Banquo made an ill fated and ill judged journey to Durham and then to a Northern castle during Eostremonat.

It should be noted that Banquo's journey was first publicly Tweeted on 1 April to the high priestess of the BBC News Laura Keunssberg, and also SMS'd to those who think they are journalists (such as Owen Jones); yet the people of Albion (outside of the bubble) knew nothing of it at that stage.

But read on.

The king had also been struck down with the plague, leaving the way open for plots and intrigues aplenty in the royal court.

On learning of the plots Banquo returned to court, he put down a revolt by the Dark Knight Sedwill and his supine lackeys to extend the Brexit transition period. Spun by the disloyal courtiers and their media lickspittles as a pragmatic tactic in the wake of the plague, Banquo knew that it would entangle Albion in a seven year budget cycle that would in the end entrap Albion forever in the clutches of the emperors across the water.

The courtiers were not pleased and, together with their media lickspittles, they outed Banquo's journey and made merry with the people of England's righteous anger.

The king defended Banquo but the people, weary from the plague, needed someone to blame for their misery. The lickspittles in the media whispered and tweeted their poisonous words so sweetly and eloquently that that people's anger rose to fever pitch.

A weary Banquo donned his tarnished armour and did defend himself in the Garden of Roses.

Yet the people's anger was strong, and was further tempered in the furnace of the lickspittles' poisonous writings, tweetings and Countess Maitlis's monologues.

The Dark Knight Sedwill (who himself was to be vanquished by Banquo), the lickspittles in the media, Countess Gina and those who would feign loyalty to the king in his own cabinet are working behind the scenes to vanquish Banquo and lay the way open to Albion being handed over to the emperors across the water.

The people of Albion need to be aware that, whilst their anger at Banquo's mistake was justified, their anger is being used by others to steal from them what they most most desired in the first place.

The lickspittles and their masters (Dark Knight Sedwill et al) need to be made aware that Banquo will not be vanquished.

I will leave the final words to Banquo himself.

Man Savours The Roses On a Sunny Bank Holiday Monday

On a sunny Bank Holiday Monday a thin, pale faced, balding man (who very few people outside of Westminster had ever heard of a week ago) decided to savour the roses in the garden and invited some of his chums (including Beth, Bobbie and Laura) from the media around to share the experience.

During the gathering he entertained them by providing them with a detailed account (down to the very minutiae) of a trip he took with his wife and kid to Durham back at the tail end of March, rounding it off with his "novel" and "unique" method of checking eyesight - henceforth known as the Barnard Method.

NB: as the police have correctly and wisely stated, the Barnard Method is not to be recommended as a means for testing your eyesight.

Anyhoo, so engrossed were his chums in his story that not only did they sit through it in the blazing sun, without complaint, but they asked detailed questions afterwards about the trip and the Barnard Method.

As to what the general public make of all of this is very much down to them. In retrospect the trip was highly unwise (for all manner of reasons) and the "optics", for want of a better word, are terrible. The media, and certain sections of the Twitterverse, are out for blood and (for the moment) do not intend to talk about anything else.

However, in four years time, when the general public vote in the next general election the country will be very different from how it is now. Their views, opinion and judgement on the government (and whoever is leading it) will be based on how well or badly the government has rebooted the economy post covid crash, on whether the manifesto promises (eg levelling up) have been kept and the overall landscape (social, political, economic, health, mood etc) of Britain. The actions (unwise as they may have been) of a SPAD will not be the primary thought in their minds when they vote.

As for the media and Twitterverse, this has moved on from a "simple" political scandal to a rehash of the Brexit battle where people are seeking to settle old scores and grudges - even Gina Miller has resurfaced!

Whilst the public may well be angry (with due cause) about the apparent hypocrisy of the Durham trip, they will also become tired of the same attack lines being used day in day out and will  begin to feel revulsion at the sight of a pack of journalists baying for blood encamped outside the family home of Cummings and the home of his parents.

Oh, and for those in the media who keep saying he didn't apologise, wash your ears out he did apologise - at the very beginning of his Rose garden lecture, when he said sorry for keeping you waiting!

Rayner Lacks Sagacity

Rayner’s SAGE Confusion https://t.co/5y2EmTWvVv pic.twitter.com/fERs1vUEEi

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) May 22, 2020

She appears to have now deleted her tweet.

Post Covid Consensus on Care

NEW: Care after Coronavirus: An Emerging Consensus

Policy Exchange and @IPPR call for a cross-party social care solution arguing that care should be free at the point of use

Polling suggests growing support for reforms in funding social care https://t.co/rTt4zBp277

— Policy Exchange (@Policy_Exchange) May 22, 2020

Covid has focussed attention and minds on the disconnect between the care system and the rest of the NHS.

This disconnect has been in existence for decades. However, as with many things in life, it needed a crisis to focus attention and minds!

UK Quarantine Rules

Foreigners and UK nationals will be fined £1,000 if they refuse to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in Britain. They must share contact details with authorities, which will then be subject to spot checks in homes by health officials and police.

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) May 22, 2020

Priti Patel will explain the details later today, apparently.

Parliament Has Voted To End Virtual Sitting - Apparently

MPs have just voted 350:258 in favour of abolishing the virtual parliament on the June 2nd. A majority of 92…

It seems that, if Guido is to be believed, that some members may not have fully realised this.

UPDATE: Some of Guido’s more pernickety proceduralists are taking umbrage, so he is happy to specify that whilst MPs did not directly vote in favour of abolishing the virtual parliament, that was the effect of how they voted.

This division was, in fact, a Labour amendment to a motion of the house to try and allow a vote on whether to keep the hybrid parliament. MPs rejected the vote meaning the Government will now be able to proceed as they wish without a vote. 

Liberal Democrats To Elect Leader In August

Good luck with that then!

I have to say I had forgotten that they didn't have a leader.

BBC Upsets Sturgeon

I’ve made clear my view on this report. I’m not ‘enjoying’ or ‘embracing’ an ‘opportunity’. I’m just doing what I judge best in very difficult circumstances. That said, I understand the scrutiny that comes with it and accept Sarah’s clarification. For me, the matter is closed. https://t.co/AhJEd2Lcn3

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 19, 2020

When Starting a Fight, Always Throw The First Punch

Work+Pensions Sec Therese Coffey explicitly blames scientists for mistakes in govt covid response: 'If the science + advice at the time was wrong, I'm not surprised if people think we made the wrong decision'. Something for Sage group scientists to ponder when they meet today... https://t.co/IRhPPmDPmL

— Jason Groves (@JasonGroves1) May 19, 2020

Given this punch, I would humbly suggest that the records of Sage advice be published.

Keir Starmer Donkey Farmer - Coming Soon To Viz?

A storyline for Viz to consider.

Blunkett Lays Into teaching Unions

This is a blistering attack by David Blunkett on the teaching unions - accuses them of stoking fear and "working against the interests of children" #bbcr4today

— Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) May 14, 2020

David Blunkett all too right on these matters pic.twitter.com/XPrR5ZZjzq

— Alex Brown (@_alex__brown) May 14, 2020

Unions Praise Sunak

Not something expected in a Johnson government, but it seems that the government and the unions working constructively together.

The unions welcomed in principle the workplace guidance last night, and will welcome the commitment to 80% today.

Unions praise Sunak for listening

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) May 12, 2020

We are truly through the looking glass!

Macron Copies Boris

Grâce à vous, le virus a reculé.
Mais il est toujours là. pic.twitter.com/ut8X0S4F9M

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 10, 2020

Well looky here, the Twitter meltdown from various idiots over "stay alert" has not deterred the French from using a similar phrase "stay cautious ".

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

The Media and Westminster Bubble Are Detached From Reality

Much hyperventilation has occurred in the media, and from those who inhabit the Westminster bubble, about the issue of travelling to work by Tube and other means of public transport.

In reality (outside of the media/Westminster bubble) most people don't use the Tube or crowded trains!

Can you really get to work without using public transport? Commuters in most of England already do, writes @JonnElledge https://t.co/SNX8fZjoPs pic.twitter.com/bRk1AUdcvC

— CityMetric (@CityMetric) May 11, 2020

Ryan Price Nails It!

"Be sensible... What do you want? A full handbook to tell you what to do?"

Plumber Ryan Price says the government guidance on returning to work is clear enough for the public. pic.twitter.com/dlxoGrsog0

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) May 11, 2020

The UK Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy

Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

The Government’s roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Published 11 May 2020

From:

Cabinet Office

Documents

Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

PDF, 1.77MB, 60 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

Details

This document describes the progress the UK has made to date in tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and sets out the plans for moving to the next phase of its response to the virus.

The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review as the epidemic, and the world’s understanding of it, develops.

Published 11 May 2020

Ask Boris

Do you want to ask me a question at today’s Downing Street Q&A?

If so, you can submit yours here: https://t.co/lZOlW960OF pic.twitter.com/Dq4UWzbxHA

— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) May 11, 2020

Ferguson Is Thrown To The Wolves

 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says it's "a matter for police" whether Professor Neil Ferguson should be fined for breaking coronavirus regulations

— Tom Rayner (@RaynerSkyNews) May 6, 2020

Professor Ferguson (he of the Imperial Model 250K-500K deaths fame) has stepped back from SAGE, following revelations that his paramour visited him during lockdown at least twice.

Aside from the breach of lockdown, and the snut snut headlines in certain papers, the key point of these series of trysts is that Ferguson's lover is married to someone who has Covid-19 and yet Ferguson was still happy to meet her.

For why?

He has already had Covid-19, and believes that gives him immunity!

That my dear friends is the key point!

Playing Politics With People's Lives

A Labour Councillor has been given a formal warning after being filmed working with Conservatives to deliver thousands of pounds worth of food to vulnerable residents.

Ian Henderson, who's a Councillor in Kensington and Chelsea, delivered the goods with others in mid-April when food banks in the borough started to run dry.

He was able to get £10,500-worth of food from Tesco, paid for first by a local charity, and then the council, and delivered that food in mid-April.

But, while doing so, he appeared in a short video with the Conservative MP and Tory Council Leader, which was later posted on the MP’s Twitter page.

That provoked serious complaints from his own side. He’s since been threatened with losing the Labour whip, unless he apologises and gets it taken down.

"Pandemic or no pandemic, you should seek formal advice and approval before appearing in media and publicity done by the Conservatives."

Coronavirus Doesn't Catch Piers Morgan

UPDATE: My COVID-19 test was negative. I was advised to take the test by my doctor after developing possible coronavirus symptoms, and was entitled to do so as a Govt-designated essential worker. I'll be back on @GMB as soon as my doctor advises I'm OK to return to work.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 4, 2020

In a roller-coaster 24 hours, wherein GMB had high hopes of reviving their flagging ratings, it would appear the Morgan will be back to work earlier than anticipated.

I see that he still believes that he is above royalty!

Coronavirus Catches Piers Morgan

I see that Morgan ranks himself above royalty, no surprises there!

Naturally I wish a fellow human being well, and trust and assume he gets over this. However, during his absence from GMB I suspect the falling ratings will reverse their decline.